Album Notes

Since 1999, the Wayback Machine has evolved from a folk duo to a Deadhead-style jam band of seven to its current core group of four, augmented by an ever-expanding rotation of Tucson's finest musicians. From one gig to the next, the band assumes every configuration from trio to nine-piece, combining traditional rock instruments (guitar, bass and drums) with saxophone, conga, keyboard, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, pedal steel, accordion, charango and more.

On this 2007 release, core Waybackers Steve Kemble, Jim Lipson, Bev Seckinger and Tom Woolley are joined by a dozen other Tucson musicians for a studio recording that captures the high energy vibe of their live shows. The tracks on Welcome to the Family range from rock and blues to country, swing, reggae, a calypso classic and some things we don’t even know how to categorize.

Welcome to the Family features original tunes penned by Wayback co-founder Tom Woolley, as well as local and regional songwriters John Coinman, Mitzi Cowell, Virginia Scharff, Jeanie McLerie, Rosie Flores and Tish Hinojosa, plus Wayback-ized versions of songs by The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Michael Franti and Pink Floyd.


"a beloved Tucson institution"
Chuck Graham,Tucson Citizen

"You get your meat and your pudding."
Gene Armstrong, Tucson Weekly