Concert Review
The Founder
Tuesday July 29, 2025
Buffalo Iron Works
Buffalo, NY
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
After an eight year hiatus from touring Austin John Winkler brought his current band to town called The Founder. It may have been a Tuesday night but the Buffalo Iron Works faithful were on hand to witness Winkler and his current band. They had just released an EP in May entitled Walking Ded. For those expecting to hear nothing but songs from his former band Hinder well you should have known better. He is trying to showcase his current project and the set list was a good mix of The Founder, some solo songs and a couple of songs from his old band. I applaud him for not going the other route. Many artists who go solo make their show up mainly of songs from their previous band. As time goes on they forget about their solo material which is an injustice to not only the fans but the artist themselves.
One listen to The Founder’s new EP the first thing you notice is that familiar voice. The songs themselves are very personal as he is basically putting everything he went through in his songs. The songs sound even stronger live. All things considered, Winkler sounded pretty good for a guy who lost his voice just a few days before.
“The Fall” started the show off in perfect style as that was the song Winkler recommended to start off with for anyone curious as to hear what The Founder was all about. Then he hit em hard with the Hinder classic “Get Stoned”. “F The World” shows you exactly the type of music Winkler can deliver. It was just released recently as a stand alone single. Hopefully when he releases his full-length album that will be on it.
Winkler left the stage and allowed his talented band to play a Journey cover of “Don’t Stop Believing”. He returned and played his solo song “Phoneline” alone and acoustic. The song that most wanted to hear “Lips of An Angel” brought the biggest response as the crowd sang along. That is one song that will always forever be associated with Winkler.
Winkler and his band put on a solid 60-minute set. He is trying to rebuild his career as he had admitted at one point during the show how he had fallen out of love with music for a lengthy period in his life. He was over the music business in general until gradually over time he picked up a guitar and started to write again. To put his real life experiences into his music is really baring his soul to anyone who will listen to it. He has gone through so much and I commend him for handling things the way he has.
Rebuilding his career won’t be easy as he seems to have taken the approach from the ground up by doing a fresh and new project. Those who were left wondering how the show was should have been in attendance if you were able to. You missed an artist who is still true to himself and yet still leaves the crowd wanting more. I think he is heading in the right direction.
The Founder Photo Gallery
Aranda Photo Gallery
Set List
The Fall
Get Stoned (Hinder Cover)
Walking Ded
Fake Paradise
F The World
American Dreams
B.T.S.D. (Call It What You Want)
Don’t Stop Believing (Journey Cover- Band minus Austin)
Phoneline
Sometimes
Lips of An Angel (Hinder Cover)
Superjaded
