Jake Leg joined KGNU’s Old Grass Gnu Grass for a live in-studio session ahead of the release of their new album, No One Lives Here Anymore, coming out June 13. The Colorado bluegrass band performed several new songs, including the title track and “30 Years in Yuma,” and shared insight into their collaborative songwriting process, where tunes often evolve significantly once brought into the full band setting.
The group also discussed their upcoming release show at E-Town Hall, which will feature a full album performance followed by an open community jam session with multiple pick-friendly spaces for musicians of all levels. Additional summer plans include appearances at the South Park Bluegrass Festival and Keystone Bluegrass and Beer. The interview highlighted the band’s strong roots in the Colorado bluegrass scene and their emphasis on collaboration, live energy, and community engagement (Air Date 5/30/26).
Listen to the studio session here:
Transcript:
Matt Malick: Hey, guys.
Jake Leg: Hi, Matt.
Matt Malick: Hey. You want to play some music for us?
Jake Leg: We do. We’re going to play a couple tunes off a record that’s coming out in a few weeks. The first one is the title track from the album, called “No One Lives Here Anymore.”
Matt Malick: That is Jake Leg live in the studio right now. You got another one in you?
Jake Leg: I think we do. This next one won’t come out until June 13th, when the full album releases. It’s called “30 Years in Yuma.” I wrote it after learning about the Yuma Territorial Prison in Arizona.
Jake Leg: Judge sent me to Yuma for 30 years to life for a man who found himself on the wrong end of my knife. If he only knew what that man had done to me, he’d be here in Yuma and I’d be out there walking free. Fifteen years in Yuma, fifteen more to go. My Lord, and I’ll be long gone in the hills of Mexico.
Matt Malick: Heard it first here on Old Grass, New Grass and KGNU. Thanks for coming in, guys, kind of at the crack of dawn here on a Saturday.
Jake Leg: Thanks for having us, Matt.
Matt Malick: Everyone knows you, but go around and introduce yourselves.
Jake Leg: I’m Erik Wiggs, guitar and lead vocals. I’m Dylan McCarthy, mandolin and vocals. I’m Justin Hoffenberg on fiddle.
Matt Malick: Tell us about how the band came together.
Jake Leg: We all knew each other from the Colorado bluegrass scene. We started playing together on a project recreating Béla Fleck’s Drive album. From there we moved into original music and formed Jake Leg.
Jake Leg: The new record includes songs written over the last couple years, some that were left off the first album, and some that have never been played live before. It’s a very collaborative process—songs often change a lot once the band gets hold of them.
Matt Malick: Tell us about the CD release show.
Jake Leg: It’s more than a performance. We’ll play the full album, then the rest of the night will be dedicated to jams. Bring your instruments—we’ll have spaces set up for organized and open jams throughout the venue. It’s very much a community event.
Matt Malick: What’s this next tune?
Jake Leg: It’s a John Reischman tune called “Salt Spring.”
Matt Malick: That’s Jake Leg live here on Old Grass, New Grass and KGNU.
Matt Malick: Tell me about the album cover.
Jake Leg: The artwork is by Adam Burke, who also did our first record. He’s known for heavier metal-style art, but we love his work and think it really fits this release. The album is called No One Lives Here Anymore, out June 13th on vinyl and digital.
Matt Malick: Where did you record it?
Jake Leg: We recorded at E-Town Studios with James Tuttle engineering. We tracked it over a few days and are really happy with the results. The release show will be at the same place where it was recorded.
Matt Malick: Any other summer plans?
Jake Leg: We’ll be at South Park Bluegrass Festival over Fourth of July weekend and Keystone Bluegrass and Beer in early August, along with a few other regional shows.
Matt Malick: How can people find you?
Jake Leg: We’re on Facebook and Instagram as Jake Leg Music, and our website has tickets and updates.
Matt Malick: Thanks for everything you do for the music community.
Jake Leg: Thanks, Matt—and thanks to KGNU.
Matt Malick: One more tune?
Jake Leg: This one’s called “The Yellow Hotel.”
