The Bartenders take on aZzma’s Burning Horizon with an electrifying alternative rock cover that stays true to the emotional core of the original while infusing it with the band’s signature Ohio rock flair. Stephen Hanson’s commanding vocals lead the charge, delivering the song’s poignant message with raw intensity, while Johnny D. and Emma Hope provide hauntingly beautiful harmonies in the chorus, creating a layered and dynamic sound.

This version amplifies the original’s themes of devastation and resilience, with gritty guitar riffs, powerful drumlines, and a distinct alt-rock energy that reflects the band’s Ohio roots. The Bartenders’ rendition is both a homage and a reinvention, capturing the fiery spirit of the original while making it unmistakably their own. A must-listen for fans of heartfelt rock anthems and bold reinterpretations.

Burning Horizon (aZzma Cover)

The Bartenders and Emma Hope return with Hey Bartender! Part 2, a soulful and electrifying sequel to their signature hit. This time, Emma’s haunting vocals bring a new depth to the song, transforming the classic blues lament into a duet of heartbreak and resilience. While Johnny D. and Stephaan Rayes keep their signature groove alive, Emma’s presence adds a delicate yet powerful contrast—her voice both soothing and sharp, like the burn of whiskey after a long night. The song is richer, more intimate, and full of raw emotion, making it an unforgettable chapter in their blues story.

Lyrics:
"Hey Bartender"
(Verse 1) Hey bartender, I’m callin’ out to you, I’ve been prayin’, but you don’t hear me through. There’s a drinkin’ buddy, I’m lost in his charm, And I sip the whiskey poured from his arm. Every time he stirs from his drunken sleep, He grabs that bottle, takes another leap, And he pours me four for every tear I weep.
(Chorus) Oh, a weepin’ heart, torn apart by the miles, The one he loves is like a swayin’ pine. Sleepless nights and a soul in decline, Every thought of leavin’ makes him cry awhile. Why’s he cryin’ over things that ain’t come yet? Why’s he mournin’ for the sun that ain’t set?
(Verse 2) My eyes are dimmed, I can’t see no more, Since you left, the moonlight feels unsure. These tears run long, they blur my sight, And my broken heart joins the fight. Now I’m battlin’ sorrow and the pain of desire, A hopeless dream, a burnin’ fire.
(Chorus) Oh, a weepin’ heart, torn apart by the miles, The one he loves is like a swayin’ pine. Sleepless nights and a soul in decline, Every thought of leavin’ makes him cry awhile. Why’s he cryin’ over things that ain’t come yet? Why’s he mournin’ for the sun that ain’t set?
(Bridge) My folks keep sayin’ I’m a fool for this ache, They laugh and tell me it’s all just a fake. But my pain’s too real, I can’t make it less, It’s the hope and despair of this emptiness. A heart that burns, a tear that won’t stop, Knows its sins but won’t own up to the lot.
(Outro) Hey, you who turns away when I sing, My love for you’s growin’ in the spring. Don’t you dare call my love a lie, This heart beats true ‘til the day I die.


Hey Bartender! (Part 2)

The Bartenders team up once more with the haunting voice of Emma Hope to deliver "Wicked Wind Called Aqisa", a dark country ballad rooted in Moroccan folklore. With gritty guitars, ghostly harmonies, and a steady Americana rhythm, the song tells the tale of Al-Saliha and the sorceress Aqisa a parable of envy, justice, and resilience. Emma’s ethereal vocals echo like wind through desert canyons, while The Bartenders ground the tale in their signature bluesy storytelling. A mythical journey through sound, where tradition meets twilight.

Wicked Wind Called Aqisa

An unfinished collaboration between Da-Phonk and an unnamed singer, maybe Emma Hope. No Time in the City remains a fleeting sketch, lost in the cracks of the night.

No Time in the City (Deleted version)

A dark outlaw ballad where steel guitars and bass carve out a dusty highway of obsession. The song rides between vulnerability and danger, telling of a man who would sell his soul just to crash into the chaos of a woman who’s both fire and shadow. It’s groovy, bluesy, and soaked in grit.

Lyrics :

The Bartenders : Need Me a Ride 

[Verse 1]
I don’t need no whiskey, don’t need no flame
Ain’t lookin’ for money, or playin’ no game
There’s only one thing that keeps me alive
I need me a ride, straight into her eyes
[Verse 2] 
The boys at the bar, they laugh and they stare 
Say “you lost your mind, brother, she ain’t all there” 
But I’ve seen the truth that they’ll never find 
She’s chaos and fire, and she’s legally blind
[Chorus]
Hey bartender, pour me a lie 
Tell me I’m strong, tell me I’ll fly 
I got nothin’ left but a name on her skin
I’m needin’ a ride… back into her sin
[Verse 3]
She don’t talk sweet, she don’t dress clean
She dances with ghosts and rides in my dreams
Her voice is a highway, her touch is a knife
And I’d sell my soul just to crash in her life
[Bridge] 
I don’t want the fame,
I don’t want the crown 
Just give me that engine,
I’ll burn this town down 
I whispered her name in the back of a fight 
It sounded like “Krini”… and it tasted like night
[Chorus]
Hey bartender, pour me the blues
She’s got my wheels, and I got nothin’ to lose 
I don’t want no angel, I don’t want no sign 
I’m needin’ a ride… and she’s still mine


Need Me a Ride

An unrelenting outlaw anthem that burns faster and harder. Distorted slide guitars snarl against pounding drums as the lyrics spiral into a fever of devotion and destruction. This is the descent of the ride, obsession as fuel, memory as fire, and no road left but ruin.

Ride or Burn

The Myth brings The Bartenders and Emma Hope into a space where verse and sound move together. The text is written less as a story than as fragments of reflection, moving between images of love, time, and the cycles of existence. The delivery is closer to spoken cadence than to song, touched by Emma Hope’s voice that carries both clarity and restraint.

The music remains understated, shaped to hold the words rather than overwhelm them. It opens a quiet frame where language becomes texture, and where meaning is left deliberately unresolved.

The Myth

The Bartenders is a band founded in Toronto, Canada, by two passionate musicians: Johnny D. and Stephaan Rayes. This dynamic duo has mastered the art of modern blues, infusing it with soulful grooves and a touch of rock. Their signature track, Hey Bartender!, quickly struck a chord with music lovers thanks to its infectious energy and catchy riffs. Known for their captivating live performances, The Bartenders turn every stage into a vibrant mix of rhythms, blending classic influences with a refreshing modern twist.

rare_version is a label for what hides between the lines. Lost takes, demos, deleted cuts, and fragments that were never meant to be seen. Nothing polished, nothing staged. Just rare moments, released as they are.

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