MEET THE ARTIST

lousy little gods

lousy little gods is a Huntington Beach original-music trio led by songwriter, singer and guitarist Randy Davis, with Ken Kowalski on drums and percussion and Darren Smith on bass, keyboards and vocals. They play a blend of Americana, country rock, R&B, blues and the scrappier edges of alt-rock. Their present lineup has performed together since 2018, with a commitment to the groove and feel of real musicians in the same room.

Some music is familiar because you have heard the song before. lousy little gods make original songs familiar because the feeling already belongs to you. Randy Davis writes with the ear of a storyteller. Ken Kowalski gives each turn urgency and weight; Darren Smith gives the low end texture and unexpected angles. The result is an Americana band built from three very different musical histories, with none of the edges sanded away.

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lousy little gods · live at JAX

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WHY YOU SHOULD KNOW THEM

Five reasons to keep listening.

01 · THE WRITING

Randy Davis writes the songs.

The principal songwriter turns everyday experience into narratives that can carry both a little grit and a lot of humanity.

02 · THE DRUMMER

Ken brings rock power to a country-rock groove.

His hard-rock and metal background is part of what makes this trio sound different from a familiar Americana template.

03 · THE LOW END

Darren refuses to let the bass be ordinary.

His alt-rock and punk background adds independent character to bass lines, keyboard parts and harmonies.

04 · THE REBIRTH

There was another chapter before this trio.

The earlier band included Rick Weller and Greg Boyer. A return to performing, and new collaborators, brought the music into the current era.

05 · THE MOMENT

Tonight becomes part of the JAX collection.

The October 13 broadcast pairs with Randy Davis JAX Momento 006-A, preserving a January 17 archival performance. A qualifying A claim unlocks eligibility for a separate 006-B companion once it is created and released.

THE STORY

From the original band to the trio in front of you.

The lousy little gods story began well before the current lineup. Randy Davis built the original band with guitarist Rick Weller and bassist Greg Boyer, writing and performing across Southern California. That first chapter included high-profile opening slots, recordings and the long labor of making original songs in a crowded musical landscape. Years later, the pieces of the story came back together. Randy and Greg reconnected musically from different parts of the country, then Randy met drummer Ken Kowalski and brought a different kind of energy to the writing. Darren Smith completed the local trio, bringing a recording background and a punk-influenced sense of motion. Together since 2018, they play music that makes space for both country-rock storytelling and the unexpected dynamics of a power trio. Tonight at Campus JAX, the point is not nostalgia for the first edition. It is hearing songs with the confidence of musicians who know exactly who they are, played in front of an audience that gets to become part of the story.

CAREER & COLLABORATIONS

Each musician brings a different musical passport.

The roots of this trio reach beyond one genre. Ken's hard-rock and metal background changes how the band breathes. Darren comes from punk and alternative music as well as engineering and production. Randy brings country-rock guitar and the continuity of an original songwriter who has lived with these songs through multiple iterations of the band.

SONGWRITING & GUITAR

Randy Davis

Lead vocals and the narrative center of the band, with a writing history that predates the current lineup.

DRUMS & PERCUSSION

Ken Kowalski

Country-rock precision with hard-rock urgency and an instinct for dynamic arrangements.

BASS · KEYS · VOCALS

Darren Smith

A punk/alt-rock musical upbringing that introduces new rhythmic and harmonic textures.

SPECIAL GUEST RECORDINGS

Bob “Boo” Bernstein

Pedal steel contributed to the band's 2024 single “I Don't Know When” and 2026 release “Dreamin Soon.”

RECORDINGS & MEDIA

Original songs, new releases and live moments.

The band's recordings reward the same attention as its live performances. Follow the new singles, then return to JAXblast for the stage version: tonight’s broadcast captures the trio as it exists now, while Randy Davis Momento 006-A protects an earlier Campus JAX performance and creates a collectible link between the two evenings.

2024 · ORIGINAL SINGLE

I Don't Know When

A Randy Davis composition, with Bob “Boo” Bernstein on pedal steel and the trio's distinctive rhythm section.

FEBRUARY 2026 · SINGLE

Westbound Highway Signs

One of the band's recent original releases, available through their official channels.

AUGUST 2026 · SINGLE

Dreamin Soon

New single featuring Bob “Boo” Bernstein on pedal steel.

CAMPUS JAX LIVE · OCTOBER 13

lousy little gods — live from Newport Beach

Tonight's performance, starting 6:30 PM Pacific. Broadcast: https://youtube.com/live/PoPt2ctAJPY

JAX MOMENTO · NO. 006-A

Take Randy Davis's moment with you.

A free archival collectible from January 17, 2026. Qualifying claims October 13 from 4 PM until 1 AM Pacific; later 006-B will feature a new moment from tonight.

LIVE AT JAX

The Room Comes Alive.

START HERE · LIVE PERFORMANCE · CAMPUS JAX APPEARANCE · Oct 13, 2026

lousy little gods — Live from Campus JAX

JAX HISTORY

lousy little gods at Campus JAX

A selective history of live performances and appearances, preserved across visits to the room.

FROM THE ARCHIVE

Previous JAX moments

REPLAY · Oct 13, 6:30 PM

lousy little gods

Original Americana & Roots Rock · Live at Campus JAX