The Third Rails is a band that started with a simple, shared passion between two people: pianist Dave Gould and guitarist Andre Wakkerman. Studying at The New School in 2021, and coming out of the strangeness of the pandemic, they found themselves facing a city where traditional venues were slow to open up. For them, there was only one choice for playing music: the parks.

The band’s true origin story is a tale of shelping gear to Washington Square Park, where they began busking just for the pure joy of it. Those early sessions were beautiful—a raw, immediate connection with crowds who were just as eager to gather, listen, and feel alive again. That energy is woven into the DNA of The Third Rails. It's why our sound is often described as a “giant melting pot,” that perfectly mirrors the complexity and excitement of the city we love and represent.

Dave and Andre's music is deeply rooted in this experience. Our originals, which we sometimes perform at local venues, shed light on the many faults and issues of the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority and the persistent realities of living in a big city.

Our versatility honed on the street also quickly translated into private event work. The magnetic, high-energy performances we delivered in the park proved to be the perfect fit event and parties throughout the NYC and NJ area.