Tyler Ballgame: The Bitter End 2026

The debut album of Los Angeles-based, Rhode Island-raised Tyler Ballgame, For the First Time, Again, landed at the end of January, a triumph of one man's vision for himself — with a little help from his friends and massive music industry buzz. There's an avalanche of good notices for this rising singer and songwriter, signed to Rough Trade. Ballgame's full-throttle live shows have notably made the most of his free spirit — all burly, beatific stage presence and rowdy, radiant vocals.

But now, there's that auspicious debut album. Ballgame — real name Tyler Perry — has a compelling backstory of foundering dreams and a big turnaround, which gives even poignancy to where his music lands, whether it's the big, sparkling swoon of "I Believe in Love" or the bluesier ache of ballads like "You're Not My Baby Tonight."

He's come back from depression and dead ends, reaching for the past to make sense of his present day, Yes, there's no denying that his vocals sway in the direction of influences like Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley, but there are myriad layers to Ballgame's delivery and range. Top that off with bright, buoyant production by Jonathan Rado (Foxygen, The Killers, Miley Cyrus) and Ryan Pollie (Los Angeles Police Department) — and For the First Time, Again arrives as the bighearted introduction that Ballgame deserves.

In a new "FUV Live" Marquee concert, recorded at the Bitter End, Ballgame, joined by Max Woobs on piano and Clay Fuller on guitar and backing vocals, stripped back some of those songs to their heart's core: "I Believe in Love," "Let You Down," and "Matter of Taste."

[Recorded: 11/13/25; Mixed by Jim O'Hara, produced by Meghan Suma, hosted by Sam Sumpter. Videos courtesy of The Bitter End.]