Music

Folk-Rock Jazz fusion band led by Levi Dalnodar aka Dal Nodar, Shaddai Johnson (Neaj), Kevin  "The Jackalope" Vasquez, and Caro De La Rosa. Based in Las Vegas, their music blends raw emotion and improvisation, with lyrics that confront violence and oppression.

Originally formed in 2012 in Iowa City, Dal Nodar, Liberty Hayward, and Nate Montgomery crafted a sound defined by spontaneity and emotional resonance, drawing a loyal following in the local music scene. But everything shifted in 2015 when the band lost their friend to police violence, sending Dal Nodar’s lyrics spiraling into a realm of grief and defiance. After this heartache and the departure of Hayward and Dal Nodar from Iowa City, We The Ravine disbanded.

Dal Nodar continued as a solo artist in Denver. It was here that many of We The Ravine’s original songs were recorded and finally written down, though the improvisational beauty of Dal Nodar’s lyricism still shone in live performances. He then released the introspective album Needle + Thread in 2018, carrying the spirit of the band.

In 2022, following Montgomery’s unexpected passing, Hayward and Dal Nodar reunited at Dead Man’s Cave, a creek flowing beneath a train track overpass in Iowa City. They revived the music of We The Ravine, honoring their late friend and reigniting the creative spark. This features a fresh lineup forged in UNLV’s Jazz program.

The current musicians have since taken the band in a new direction. Their sound now fuses New Orleans jazz with 1960s-era R&B, Bossa Nova, and Folk, capturing the classic vibe of those genres while confronting contemporary issues. We The Ravine's music speaks to those who challenge systemic injustice, inviting listeners to reflect and sing along to the shared struggles of our time.