Tips Up: Live Music with Sgt. Splendor

Sgt. Splendor is the musical fusion of acclaimed singer-songwriter Kate Vargas and guitar wizard Eric McFadden. Both formidable solo artists in their own right, Vargas has earned praise from NPR, SPIN, Vice, and Rolling Stone, while McFadden has shredded stages with George Clinton & the P-Funk All Stars, Eric Burdon & The Animals, and Fishbone’s Angelo Moore. Together, they craft a sonic landscape that’s part desert noir, part carnivalesque blues, and all raw chemistry.

Their latest release, Death of the Hoochie Koo, distills their combined influences—Tom Waits-style mystique, Southwestern soul, and gritty alt-funk—into a deeply original, groove-forward sound. Whether channeling brooding desert ballads or raucous rock ’n’ roll, Sgt. Splendor lives up to the name, delivering dark charm and electric performance with every show.