The Wallflowers, widely acclaimed for their 1996 album Bringing Down the Horse, are set to perform at Bogart’s this June. Jakob Dylan — the band’s principal songwriter and only constant member — has stayed busy in the years since. A string of successful Wallflowers albums was followed by three solo records, one of which, Echo in the Canyon, the soundtrack to the documentary film of the same name, features collaborations with artists as diverse as Beck, Norah Jones and Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age on covers of songs by classic Laurel Canyon artists like the Byrds.
The Wallflowers formed in the early ‘90s and released their self-titled debut in 1992 to modest sales. It wasn’t until the release of their second album, 1996’s Bringing Down the Horse, that they really caught the attention of the music world. Yet becoming a musician wasn’t always the path Jakob Dylan envisioned for himself. Seeking both self-discovery and distance from the towering legacy of his father — arguably one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century, Bob Dylan — Jakob Dylan spent his early twenties in New York City studying painting at Parsons School of Design. Still, the family trade ultimately proved too strong an influence, and after teaming up with a few childhood friends to serve as a backing band, the Wallflowers were formed.
Jakob Dylan’s songwriting has evolved since the early ‘90s and has seen him embracing pop, country, alternative and at times even hard rock. Early in his career, Jakob Dylan shied away from comparisons to his famous father, but those days have long since passed. He’s emerged as a confident and talented songwriter, having long since shrugged off his father’s shadow to step into his own light.
The Wallflowers play Bogart’s on June 15 at 7 p.m. More info: bogarts.com.
This story is featured in CityBeat’s June 11 print edition.
This article appears in Jun 11-24, 2025.