Article Contributed by David Burton
Published on 2026-04-13
Buffalo Traffic Jam: Take Me Home
Last October, Buffalo Traffic Jam—the duo of Frankie Cassidy and Nathan Ross—released their debut EP, Take Me Home.
The record is soft, acoustic, and gritty, showcasing the group’s raw and authentic blend of folk, indie, and country music.
There isn’t a better fit for the often catch-all “Americana” genre than Buffalo Traffic Jam.
Growing up in the mountains and valleys of Bozeman, Montana, their music both sounds and speaks to real, human experiences.
Buffalo Traffic Jam’s music isn’t glamorous or pretending to be something it’s not—it’s vulnerable and deeply emotional. Take Me Home isn’t an album that will cheer you up, but one you can sit with and relate to. It hits you right in the feels while reminding you that struggle is a part of life—everyone’s life.
There’s a difference between sounding sad and actually feeling it—Take Me Home does the latter.
The title track, “Take Me Home,” serves as an immediate introduction to the storytelling of struggle and emotion that carries throughout the EP. The song is led by Frankie Cassidy’s soulful, folky vocals alongside acoustic strumming, while a melodic electric guitar weaves through the opening with subtle harmonics.
“Take Me Home” explores the perspective of someone who doesn’t feel comfortable with themselves and is struggling to let go of the past. It’s an honest introspection on fear, loneliness, and vulnerability—setting the tone for the rest of the project.
“Black-Eyed Susie” follows as a slower piano ballad, making the EP’s central theme of heartbreak even more apparent—a feeling also explored through a nostalgic lens in “Broken Love.”
Across tracks like “Fool’s Gold” and “Comfort in Misery,” the narrator turns to cigarettes and drugs as a way to cope with emotional pain.
Take Me Home may remind listeners of another popular indie-folk band, Caamp, who describe themselves as “a folk band from Ohio making beautiful noise.” The similarities are hard to ignore, both in sound and message. Each group draws out raw emotion through acoustic instrumentation and gritty vocals. As Caamp has seen an ascent in popularity in recent years, it’s clear this style resonates with listeners.
At a time when indie-folk is increasingly polished and commercially refined, Buffalo Traffic Jam lean in the opposite direction. Still, they would benefit from continuing to push themselves to further distinguish their sound from comparisons to bands like Caamp. While the stories behind Buffalo Traffic Jam are uniquely their own, their sound can occasionally blur into familiarity. As they grow in their careers and refine their direction, the duo has an opportunity to evolve—leaning more into their namesake and embracing a looser, more improvisational edge. In doing so, they could become just as musically dynamic as they are lyrically compelling.
There’s something comforting about music that doesn’t sugarcoat everyday experiences. That honesty feels even more meaningful coming from Buffalo Traffic Jam—two friends from Montana who met in college and decided to make music together, united by a shared love of storytelling.
Beyond its storytelling and acoustic foundation, Take Me Home highlights the group’s evolution from fireside jam sessions to studio recording. The production stays true to their roots as a gritty, folky duo while showcasing their growth and musical depth.
Most recently, the duo released a single titled “Hanging on Hope,” continuing to build on their momentum of powerful, emotional storytelling.
Buffalo Traffic Jam is currently on tour—their first headlining run—making stops across the U.S. this spring before heading to Europe this summer and returning stateside to close out the tour.
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