Song Spotlight: Gilbert Louie Ray's What I Have Left (a night at the Bigfoot Lodge)

I didn't get to catch the January version of the Americana Joy showcase at the Bigfoot Lodge. I decided I would just have to head over in February. It helped that Gilbert Louie Ray was scheduled to perform. Before heading off to the Bigfoot Lodge, I just couldn't help myself and took off to Zebulon to catch Cissi TV (a band that made my list of favorite new finds of 2025). As soon as their set ended, it was a 2 mile drive over to the Bigfoot Lodge. From art punk to Americana country -- that's just how I do things when it comes to the LA music scene. 

Gilbert Louis Ray at the Bigfoot Lodge

Talking about music genre mixing: in late 2025, Gilbert Louie Ray and Polartropica teamed up to release "Shiny Things" that blends Americana with art pop. It is a love song coming to a close: The world can be so cruel. 

Per his Spotify bio, he has the following info, "The Gilbert Louie Ray Band is a force to be reckoned with in the world of Americana music. Their performances are characterized by upbeat, high-energy compositions that infuse life into any room they grace."

Gilbert Louis Ray at the Bigfoot Lodge

That last statement was so true on this night at the Bigfoot Lodge. It only took a few seconds into his opening song "The Dwp" before couples took to the dance floor. It remained that way for much of the set. Someone may have over-done their dancing as I heard someone ask, "Did you pull a muscle?" The band's response to all the dancers was a, "Shout out to all the dancers." 

Gilbert Louis Ray at the Bigfoot Lodge

I've said this in past mentions of his sets (such as in this US Rocker Music here of a 2024 festival), he often sings at 2x the normal singer. He never seems to stumble on his lyrics. His unreleased song "Monterey" was a perfect example that had dancers spinning their couples during those rapid fire moments. 

The song spotlight goes to "What I Have Left." I have to add that one reason it is a favorite song is because Haley Spence Brown of The Doohickeys has a staring role as the heartbreaker.  The director of the video is the other half of The Doohickeys, Jack Hackett. Rapid fire lyrics are not a feature of this song and probably shouldn't with painful lyrics such as:

Gilbert Louis Ray at the Bigfoot Lodge

I packed it with the luggage that was put over head
Now she don’t return my calls

Partial Setlist: The Dwp, Monterey, What I Have Left, Daisy, Impulse Love, Allegedly, Shady Business, Out of Reach, Stranger.