Cafe Cuts showcases Stroke 9’s endearing blend of pop and indie rock stripped down to reveal the stories and feelings woven into each song. The group’s tunes offer expressive reflections on relationships, especially on “Washin’ & Wonderin,’” “Vacuum Bag,” and “Tear Me In Two.” Other songs featured on Cafe Cuts include “Make It Last,” “Just Can’t Wait, and “Do It Again,” as well as a new version of “Little Black Back Pack,” the band's #1 smash hit from their debut CD Nasty Little Thoughts. In addition to revisiting some of the band’s past tunes including the uptempo “City Life,” the poignant “California,” and the dark “Liar,” Stroke 9 also decided to include a new song called "Next Time."

Luke Esterkyn, the band’s lead vocalist and songwriter, says writing the wickedly catchy “Little Black Back Pack” was not as easy as it might sound. “‘Little Black Back Pack’ is a song that took a long time to write, and we went through many versions and re-writes to get to the end result,” he said. “I always find this interesting because most songwriters say that the best songs take only a few minutes to write.”

Stroke 9 grew out of a high school band class in the early 1990s and has since evolved into its current lineup featuring Esterkyn, John McDermott (lead guitar, backing vocals), Eric Stock (drums), and new bass player Jens Funke. The band’s music has been featured in such movies and tv shows as Scrubs, Malcolm in the Middle, Ed TV, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.