Rock N Roll Heart: A Night with Lex Bauman at the Hotel Café

Rock N Roll Heart: A Night with Lex Bauman at the Hotel Café

Hollywood was still humming with NAMM‑weekend energy when rising Columbus rocker Lex Bauman hit the stage at the Hotel Café for his first full‑band Los Angeles performance. Backed by the newly christened Untamed Hearts, Bauman delivered a set packed with sharp hooks, youthful swagger, and the kind of earnest storytelling that has quickly made him one of the Midwest’s most promising new voices. Fresh off a whirlwind weekend of gear talk, industry hangs, and new connections, Lex sat down with Highwire Daze to talk about his latest singles, working with producer Tuk Smith, memorable House of Blues shows, and the road ahead as he gears up for a big 2026.

We’re here with Lex Bauman at the Hotel Café in Hollywood. You just got offstage, Lex. How did it feel playing the Hotel Café?
It feels pretty good. This is actually my first time playing in L.A. with my full band, and it’s been such an awesome experience. The Hotel Café is a super cool venue.

And you just got back from NAMM. What were some of the highlights for you?
NAMM was so much fun. I met so many cool people. I got to talk to Billy Rowe from Rock N Roll Relics — he’s actually building me a guitar right now.

Where are you based, and what’s the music scene like there?
I’m based out of Columbus, Ohio. The music scene is a little dead. You can find musicians in random places, but there really isn’t a strong scene in Columbus right now.

Let’s talk about your recent single, Rock N Roll Heart. What inspired that song?
I really wanted a song like “Stacy’s Mom.” I always thought that was such a cool track. So we took that idea and changed it up — instead of chasing the preppy girl like Taylor Swift sings about, Rock N Roll Heart is about wanting the rock‑and‑roll girl. That was the inspiration.

And Evangeline — tell me about that one.
Evangeline is about when I was in high school. I didn’t really do all that well socially. I didn’t fit in, and I was treated pretty poorly. The song is about that experience — feeling out of place.

My new favorite song of yours that you played tonight is My Girlfriend’s Best Friend. What’s the story behind that one?
There’s a Cars song called “My Best Friend’s Girl,” and we thought it would be clever to flip it — My Girlfriend’s Best Friend. We just thought that would be super fun.

Who’s producing these new songs?
My producer is Tuk Smith. We really get along — he gets me — so we’ve stuck with him.

Tell us the story of how you met Tuk Smith.
I first heard about him when he was announced as an opener for The Stadium Tour — Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard — before he got kicked off during COVID. Later, I met him at a bar he was playing called Ace of Cups in Columbus. We talked, and I told him I’d love to make a record with him. It took a lot of meetings, but we made it happen.

You’ve played a few House of Blues shows — one with Lucky Boys Confusion in Chicago. What was that experience like?
That’s still one of my favorite shows I’ve ever played. It was such a fun night. Those guys are super nice, the whole crew was great, and it was just a really cool experience.

And the House of Blues show in Cleveland with Everclear — how did that go? Did you get to meet them?
Yeah, I did. They’re super nice dudes. They liked my music a lot — that was a big reason they wanted me on the show. They told me they’d been listening to my stuff before every show.

I recently interviewed the band Wicked. What’s your connection with them?
I met them through Tuk. They’re working with him too, and that’s how we connected. They liked my influences and my music, and we talked about figuring out shows together. I haven’t played with them yet, but I really want to.

If you could open for any band — past or present — who would it be?
I have two: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, or Cheap Trick. Those are some of my favorite bands and huge influences. It would be a dream.

What do you hope the rest of 2026 brings you?
We’re really hoping for a tour. The record’s going to come out, and we’re excited to get on the road.

And what’s the full name of your band now that you’ve officially announced it?
We literally figured it out tonight — it’s Lex Bauman and the Untamed Hearts. I really wanted my band to feel appreciated. They’ve been in bad situations with other people and mistreated, and they’re some of my best friends. I love bands like Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers — I wanted to give my band a real name. So: Lex Bauman and the Untamed Hearts.

In Conclusion

With a new band name, a growing catalog of hook‑heavy singles, and a record on the horizon, Lex Bauman is stepping confidently into the next chapter of his young career. Whether he’s swapping stories at NAMM, sharing stages with rock veterans, or carving out his own lane with the Untamed Hearts, Bauman brings an earnest spark that’s impossible to ignore. If tonight’s Hotel Café performance is any indication, 2026 is shaping up to be a breakthrough year — and we’ll be watching closely as Lex Bauman and the Untamed Hearts take their sound far beyond Columbus and onto bigger stages nationwide.

(Interview by Ken Morton – Photos by Karyn Burleigh of Rock Edge Photography)

Lex Bauman on Instagram