The band launched in 2001, when guitarist Jason Crigler and Adam Levy were both busy as sidemen to many of the local NYC singer-songwriters. They started Lackawanna as an instrumental soul-rock-jam band. Their repertoire consisted of some of their favorite modern-day songs (such as Gillian Welch's "Revelator") and guilty pleasures (the Motels’ "Only the Lonely"). Over the next year or two, Lackawanna played several gigs at the Living Room — the centerpiece of the New York indie folk-rock scene. But just as the band was finding its groove and its audience, two unforeseen events put Lackawanna on hold. First, Levy's job as Norah Jones' guitarist was suddenly taking him on the road for many months at a time; and in 2004 Crigler had a major brain hemorrhage that kept him from playing guitar (let alone walking or talking) for a while. Eventually, Crigler eventually made a full and miraculous recovery (documented in the film life.support.music (www.lifesupportmusic.org) and Levy's gig with Jones began to wind down.

So, in early 2007, the guitarists decided it was finally time to make the Lackawanna CD they'd dreamt of all along. They knew it had to be a live session, because the band thrived on the energy and spontaneity of live audiences. The Living Room was the obvious place to do it, not only because the band had gotten its start there, but because the club is wired for stealthy live recording. As a twist, Crigler and Levy decided to play mostly original songs instead of an all-covers set. Two full nights were captured, then the band turned the recordings over to producer Todd Sickafoose for mixing, editing, and extra mojo. Eight years in the making, Lackawanna's debut Whenever the Blues Become My Only Song is finally available.