“This is actually perfect,” said Dana Newman, songwriter, vocalist, harmonica, and melodica player for the band Someone You Can X-Ray. We were talking for a second time, after my recorder malfunctioned. “This is where the album title, Screaming at Inanimate Objects, came from: frustrations with technology not working and lots of yelling.”

Founded in 2012 by couple Dana and Bryan Newman, Someone You Can X-Ray released three albums in quick succession. Then came COVID. Things changed, including the band’s lineup and sound: they still have the blues-influenced rock and roll the Newman’s love plus Latin vibes and Klezner, an Eastern European Jewish folk music. 

“Early on a lot of the band’s sound was dictated by me and Bryan,” Newman said. “As we became used to each other, we started bringing other ideas and influences. It has made the sound richer.”

These influences are only part of the story. The other part is the band’s improvisation. This isn’t a tossed off riff; it’s the product of musicians who trust and respect each other. It also lends itself to wild live performances: Newman’s known to jump off stage and start spontaneous conga lines.

“We’re all ex-theater kids,” Newman said. 

And, like ex-theater kids, they know how to put on a good show – on stage and on your speakers.