Ryan Dean and the Bricktops to play Visalia’s Cellar Door

With his latest project, Ryan Hakker trades in the indie-Americana vibe of Poor Man’s Poison for some soulful blues rock.

Some will remember Poor Man’s Poison won $100,000 and gained national exposure at the Texaco Country Showdown, a national competition with past winners like Brad Paisley and Garth Brooks.

While Poor Man’s Poison is on a break, Hakker put together a new group, Ryan Dean & The Bricktops. The band has been together for less than two months and already had a gig opening for actor Billy Bob Thornton, who plays in the American roots-rock The Boxmasters.

This story was originally published May 28, 2015 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Ryan Dean and the Bricktops to play Visalia’s Cellar Door."