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0:00/4:34
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Tired of Goodbyes 5:040:00/5:04
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0:00/5:50
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With Grace 4:400:00/4:40
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0:00/4:45
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Be Here Now 4:080:00/4:08
American roots music for peace, dignity, and shared humanity.
Available as a full band, or as a solo show with Hassan El-Tayyab.
The Music
At the heart of American Nomad is a belief in peace, dignity, and shared humanity. The songs carry stories, but leave room for connection, hope, and collective possibility.
American Nomad blends Americana, R&B/soul, folk, blues, and roots into music that is soulful, warm, groove-driven, and deeply human. It’s the kind of music that feels like Bill Withers, James Taylor, and John Prine trading verses.
Whether it's a full band with a horn section or a solo performer with a guitar, the goal is the same: to send people home feeling a little more connected to each other than when they arrived.
“Better Off Together,” an original song by Hassan El-Tayyab, received the 2026 Silver Medal for Freedom Song of the Year from the Songwriters Association of Washington.
About the Band
American Nomad is a D.C.-based Americana band led by singer-songwriter Hassan El-Tayyab. Drawing on R&B/soul, folk, blues, and roots, the band combines a warm, groove-driven rhythm section with a multi-part horn section and a troubadour's eye for a story.
Heartfelt and high-energy, American Nomad's live show moves easily between intimate storytelling and full-band grooves, with songs centered on connection, loss, hope, and the possibility of something better.
The band's latest album, Tired of Goodbyes, leans further into its soul- and horn-driven sound, building on the emotional depth of its folk-rooted debut, Country Mile, produced by Grammy nominee Laurie Lewis.
Recent Higlights
- Headlined Pearl Street Warehouse, Washington, D.C. — February, 2026: 192 tickets sold
- Songwriters Association of Washington — 2026 Silver Medal: Freedom Song of the Year for “Better Off Together”
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Takoma Park Folk Festival — Headliner, Crossroads Stage, 2025
Recognition
- Songwriters Association of Washington — 2026 Silver Medal: Freedom Song of the Year, “Better Off Together”
- Telluride Troubadour — Finalist, 2017
- Rocky Mountain Folks Festival — Honorable Mention, 2013
- International Songwriting Competition — Finalist, 2011
Lineup
Core lineup
Hassan El-Tayyab — lead vocals, guitar
Eric Lawry — vocals, drums
Johnny Seikaly — bass
Expanded lineup
Greg Boyer — trombone
Elijah Jamal Balbed — saxophone
Marcel Penzes — trombone
Available as a 3–6 piece band. The core trio can be expanded with 1–3 horns for a fuller, soul-driven sound.