Austin harmonica player and songwriter
Michael Rubin loves to subvert expectations. He pairs a serious musical pedigree—including playing in Broadway pits and backing up blues legends—with a droll, laugh-out-loud sense of humor. Think top-tier musicianship meets witty, relatable storytelling. On his latest album,
5 Minutes of Passion, Rubin lets his roaring
chromatic harmonica take center stage, proving you can deliver serious chops without taking yourself too seriously.
🎵 LISTEN & SUPPORT THE ALBUM
The Deep Dive
Opening with
Dirty Words, a New Orleans rag style track features Michael Rubin on vocal with excellent instrumental backing by
Guy Forsyth on banjo, Patrick Harwell on trumpet and trombone,
Michael Archer on bass,
Jason Corbiere on drums and Paulo Santos on sax and clarinet. Cool opener.
Big If is a dark, sweaty, old school night club rhumba with heavy accents by Archer and Corbiere, guitars by
Josh Fulero, Cesar Crespo and Matt Smith and a throaty sax solo by Santos. Rubin's Bromberg like vocals and distinctive harmonica styling really sets this track on fire.
Title track,
Five Minutes of Passion is really structured like a 40-50's country track with Rubin's vocals perfect, Sweet Gary Newcomb on
pedal steel, Archer on bass and Corbiere on drums. With outrageous lyrics and humor vs seriousness, this track is a winner.
Dig The Ditch gives Rubin a great opportunity to dig on harmonica and he's right there on it with a great swinging rhythm behind him by Crespo on jazz like chords and feel.
Nap is a cool rocker with a tight easy rhythm led by Corbiere on drums and Emily Gimble on electric keys. Understated bass harmonica and stinging guitar work by Crespo gives the track a real kick. Wrapping the release is Chicago style
Grudge, with real swagger. Josh Fulero slips in with some stinging guitar riffs and this track is groovin' (Texas style), double stops and all. Rubin closes the release out with some serious harmonica work taking the track from a "Kinky Friedman" kind of vibe to serious stuff. Strong finisher.
📋 Album Credits & Production Info Click to Expand
🎼 Track Listing & Personnel Click to Expand
Featured Personnel & Special Guests: Michael Rubin (Vocals, Harmonica, Bass Harmonica), Greg Izor, Cesar Crespo, Emily Gimble, Michael Archer, Jason Corbiere, Sweet Gary Newcomb, and The McMercy Family Band.
- Dirty Words
- Doo Doo Daa
- Big If
- Alien in a Chair
- 5 Minutes of Passion
- Dig That Ditch
- Little Circus Town
- Gravity
- Nap
- Propaganda (with Greg Izor)
- Grudge
🎵 Discography & Purchase Options Click to Expand
The album is an energetic, genre-hopping ride that slides from a spirited New Orleans jazz warmup into a gritty, late-night club groove. It playfully shifts gears into an unconventional retro country tune and a foot-tapping blues track driven by sharp harmonica work. The energy stays high with an effortless rock melody before wrapping up with a confident, swaggering finale that blends Chicago blues traditions with sharp guitar work.
Bman's Verdict
This record relies on a loose, genre-blurring charm that allows the songwriter’s eccentric wit to peak through a series of smoke-filled blues and roots sketches, all anchored by an undeniable, front-and-center mastery of the harmonica.
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Label: Many Hats Records
Released: August 21, 2026
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