Hostetler follows the 2026 ‘Midwinter Blues’ and ‘A Man in Black’ single releases with an end of summer offering reminiscent of “a 70’s style vintage Rolling Stones-like mid-tempo rocker.” The storytelling is simple, direct, and delivered with an emotional impact that has induced tears among early listeners. With a tip of the hat to the social media scrolling set he commented, “Melodic breakdowns are timed to carry even the casual streaming listener through the entire 3:25 minute song.” Hostetler foresees more single releases in the future until an upcoming album reaches completion.

Artist’s Comments:

“I Remember…” was the working title for this song. It sprang up from an inspired raucous slide guitar thing I stumbled on some months back. Nothing that original I guess, but it reminded me of a Keith Richards feel from long ago. At that time I was reading a book about the importance of remembering on many levels. Those memories stirred up and become the hallowed ground of this single.

Musically speaking, it is a virtual patchwork quilt of memories from over 60 years that include the privilege to write, play, and perform everything from blues to folk to rock and beyond. The more I thought about the song as I went along, the more I decided that in numerous ways I was“walking on hallowed ground.”

The new single ‘A Man in Black’ is an interpolated song about a song. It is about the writer of that song and about a mother pleading with her son: “don’t take your guns to town”. It also refers to Johnny Cash’s memorable 1971 album ‘Man in Black’ and the powerful statement it made. Now in 2026 after watching millions of lives lost or injured in wars and countless attacks on civilians around the world, ‘don’t take your guns to town’ takes on a new resonance and traction that rings continuously in my ears. In these times of worldwide protests it is a clarion call for people to forgo violence wherever and whenever possible for everyone’s safety.
The rise of oligarchs and authoritarians who care only for themselves has caused worldwide hardship and suffering. In the midst of an ocean of helplessness there is a need to speak out before we are all shipwrecked and isolated from each other. Mothers around the world cry for their lost or wounded sons and daughters. My native country has been turned inside out and upside down into a violent place with shootings and the perceived need for carrying firearms for protection. This is where the American icon, Johnny Cash, the man in black returns. He dressed in black explaining “it was for those who didn’t have a voice: the poor, the imprisoned, the soldiers sent into war, and the marginalized who lived outside the spotlight.” Cash had the audacity to deliver a powerful message about guns to nation obsessed by them. He came to be identified as a truth teller. Bearing these things in mind a little known indie artist tries with a little help from an American icon and his song to cast a glimmer of light into the dark gloom of the present human condition, hoping every day people can return to their daily lives in peace.

Blues Bytes review: “A Man In Black” is a song about a song from singer/songwriter Fred Hostetler. Based on the 1958 Johnny Cash song, “Don't Take Your Guns To Town,” Hostetler crafted the song as a cry for help in a violent society and an urgent need to stop the violence by any means possible, but hopefully by keeping your guns at the house for starters. The track has an ominous feel that captures the later Johnny Cash sound that mixed blues and country with modern touches and, hopefully, the message will get across to those who need to hear it. ..Blues Bytes

… “I gotta a case of cabin fever I just can’t lose these icy cold midwinter blues.” Late in February of last year, I woke up one dark gray morning knowing I had to get up, but I didn’t want to. I sat on the end of the bed and just started singing, “I got the midwinter blues. I got a case of cabin fever. I just can’t lose”, etc. in a sort of country yodeling style. After three minutes of improvisational singing, I suddenly stopped and exclaimed; “Holy smokes, I just wrote an entire song, I better get this down before I forget it.” I grabbed my trusty iPhone and quickly recorded as much as I could remember of what I had done. Now a year has gone by and winter is nigh and I finally get to send this song off into the cold winter wonderland of the music business. I hope it helps whoever hears it in getting through the bleak midwinter. The human animal, like a bear in winter time, just wants to hibernate. The nights are long. The days are grey and it's cold. Seems like a good time to stay indoors. You don’t wanna slip on the ice, get frostbite, or slide off into the ditch with the car. Stay at home and listen to some music that you love.