Americana-rock from San Francisco’s legendary Hyde Street Studios, featuring veteran musicians from Steely Dan, The Tubes, and Earth Wind & Fire.

  BIO 

     Michael Ward with Dogs and Fishes is a progressive Americana-rock collective rooted in San Francisco’s legendary Hyde Street Studios, where Ward has been the owner since 1980. A songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, Ward has dedicated his life to carrying forward the creative energy of one of the most storied studios in American music. From its days as Wally Heider’s studio—where The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and Creedence Clearwater Revival shaped the San Francisco Sound—Hyde Street has been both a time capsule and a living, breathing hub of new artistry. It is here that Michael Ward with Dogs and Fishes was born.

      The band draws from a remarkable lineup of veteran musicians whose résumés span rock, soul, funk, and jazz. Prairie Prince, a founding member of The Tubes and an original member of Journey, has recorded and toured with Todd Rundgren, Tom Waits, David Byrne, and Brian Eno. Saxophonist Richard Howell brings a deep legacy of groove and soul, having played with Etta James, Taj Mahal, and Earth, Wind & Fire. Guitarist and vocalist Chris Von Sneidern is a Bay Area power-pop legend who has toured with John Wesley Harding and Chuck Prophet. Bassist Jeff Cleland contributes a solid low end forged in Bay Area projects like Hop Sauce and Funky Little Shack, while Bolivian-born percussionist Fernando DeSanjines colors the music with global textures drawn from his work with Samba do Coração and other world ensembles. Keyboardist Joshua Brody, the latest addition to the band, brings new harmonic textures to the ensemble. The late Drew Zingg, celebrated guitarist and longtime music director for Steely Dan, brought both virtuosity and heart to the group. His work with Boz Scaggs and Michael McDonald established him as one of the most respected players of his generation, and his time with Dogs and Fishes added a unique spark of lyrical guitar voice that helped shape their sound. His presence continues to inspire the band, most recently honored in a heartfelt tribute concert at New York’s Bitter End.

     Their latest album, Brighter Days (2024), recorded at Hyde Street Studios, is an eight-song set that blends soulful grooves and sharp lyricism with political urgency. Tracks like “Big Bite” channel raw energy and commentary, while “A Walk in the Park (Live)” captures the band’s improvisational chemistry.

On stage, the band thrives on interplay and musicianship, turning each show into a living conversation. Recent highlights include a showcase at San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall and a powerful tribute to Drew Zingg at New York City’s The Bitter End, which brought together an extended family of musicians in celebration of his life.

     Looking ahead to a Northeast club tour in Spring 2026, Michael Ward with Dogs and Fishes remain committed to carrying the Hyde Street legacy forward—blending Americana, blues, and soul into music that is politically charged, heartfelt, and unmistakably alive.