Poor Man's Poison

Emerging from the heart of Hanford, California, Poor Man's Poison has carved a unique niche in the American folk landscape, also incorporating influences from Americana, pop, rock, and country music. Established in 2009, the band was founded by lead singer and guitarist Ryan Hakker, bassist Dustin Medeiros, guitarist Michael Jacobs, and mandolin player Tommy McCarthy, all of whom have shared musical histories since their high school days, previously showcasing their talent in the band Done For Good. During the first half of its career, the group released three studio albums—Poor Man's Poison (2009), Friends with the Enemy (2011), and Providence (2014)—and a live LP recorded at Hanford's Fox Theatre. The popularity of their songs earned them the New Best Act in Country Music award at Nashville's 2012 Country Showdown and secured them opening slots for other established artists such as the Charlie Daniels Band. Despite going into hiatus in 2014, Poor Man's Poison reemerged in 2019 and adapted to the streaming trends by mostly releasing standalone singles such as "Hell's Coming with Me" (2019), "Let Us All Down" (2020), and "Every Day Is Exactly the Same" (2021). In 2023, their resonance with the digital generation became evident. Their 2020 single "Feed the Machine" not only gained massive online traction but also became the anthem for the Minecraft-End the Mob Vote movement.