Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on February 11, 2026
There’s something stirring up in Buffalo — part surf shimmer, part ‘90s grit, part deep-pocket ‘70s groove. Witty Tarbox, the four-piece jam rock outfit steadily building momentum across the Northeast, have just received the masters for their forthcoming album, marking their next chapter since 2019’s Origins of Schmitty.
Formed in 2016, the band has developed a sound that pulls from multiple decades without sounding trapped in any of them. Sunny, reverb-laced passages can suddenly give way to crunchy riff-driven rock, only to pivot into sax-infused funk workouts that keep crowds locked in and moving.
Witty Tarbox features Cody Tarbox on bass, Alex Khoury on guitar and vocals, Colin Grey on drums, and Seth Bykowski on saxophone and vocals — a lineup that allows them to stretch beyond typical jam-rock frameworks. The addition of saxophone gives their live shows a distinctive edge, expanding their palette and pushing arrangements into unexpected territory.
Since releasing The Adventures of Schmitty (2018) and their full-length debut Origins of Schmitty (2019), the band has shared stages with regional and national acts including Aqueous, Magic Beans, and Tropodelic, while also appearing at festivals such as Cobblestone Live!, Night Lights Music Festival, and Borderland Festival. Sit-ins from players like Mike Gantzer and Rob Compa further signal their connection to the broader jam scene.
At its core, Witty Tarbox carries a classic rock ‘n’ roll ethos — high energy, dynamic shifts, and a willingness to stretch. Rather than settling into a single genre lane, they lean into unpredictability, building a reputation through live shows that emphasize feel and flow as much as precision.
With a new album ready to roll out, Witty Tarbox continue to expand their footprint beyond Western New York. As more details emerge around the release, they’re a band worth keeping on the radar for jam and rock fans alike.
