Los Angeles based singer-songwriter and recording artist Chris Laterzo will make an appearance in Coeur d’Alene Wednesday at the Live After 5 concert.

The artist, who is known for his unique “American cowboy-rock” style, just released his fifth album: "West Coast Sound."

With his passionate and insightful music that blends varying degrees of folk, rock, and alt-country, Laterzo is touring both solo and with his band, Buffalo Robe, throughout various parts of the U.S. and Europe.

Laterzo was drawn at an early age to the addictive tunes of Cat Stevens and Elton John, and later to the raw elements of CCR, Neil Young, Willie Nelson and Springsteen.

His first few albums, "American River" (1997), "Waterking" (2002) and "Driftwood" (2004), found him experimenting with sounds from rock to folk. Without losing that cowboy-rock trademark, "West Coast Sound" has more of an air of ease about its production and is a much more concise album.

“This record I wanted the listener to be able to get in and out of the songs — and the album as a whole — in one breath. That’s one of the reasons I kept it to eight tunes and under 35 minutes,” Laterzo said. “I write songs that I feel good about, and when I record them, I try to produce them in a manner where the production doesn’t become the song.”

Laterzo, according to his short biography, has the ability to articulate things both moving and straightforward, which makes the listener realize he is a singer with an observant mind and a big heart.

Performing Songwriter magazine described him as “a gifted melodist with an ear for hooks that sink in more deeply with each listen” and “…a worthy figure in a lineage that includes Neil Young and Gram Parsons.”

One of his fans gave a great review of Laterzo on his website. Frank Gutch Jr. wrote “God knows what in music makes us respond but Laterzo has me looking out windows of trains and sitting around mountain campfires and even isolating myself in whatever landscape is available... Laterzo has something within that captures my ear…”

Laterzo will capture Coeur d’Alene’s ear Wednesday night at Live After 5 on the corner of Sixth Street and Sherman Avenue. Live music starts at 5 p.m. and goes until 9 p.m. Entry costs $5 per person 13 and older, 12 and younger is free. There will be food vendors, booths and a beer garden.