Noah Levy is one of those “working drummers” who has built a strong career by being rock solid, musical, and ready for anything — the kind of drummer artists trust because the time feels great and the parts always serve the song. Based in the Minneapolis / St. Paul area, he’s become a go-to touring and recording player with deep roots in rock, Americana, and pop.
Levy has toured and/or recorded with a long list of well-known acts, including Brian Setzer (Brian Setzer Orchestra / Rockabilly Riot), Peter Frampton, Five for Fighting, Golden Smog, Soul Asylum, and The Honeydogs. He also held the drum chair with the BoDeans during the mid-2000s into the early 2010s (commonly listed as 2005–2012), a period that overlaps with the start of David Sierra’s run (2011–2017) — meaning Levy was in the band before Sierra took the role as their primary touring drummer. This stretch helped put Levy into the national touring world and further boosted his demand as a trusted “pro’s pro” behind the kit.
Recording-wise, Levy’s credits reflect the same thing people say about him live: he’s reliable, musical, and makes tracks feel finished. His discography includes extensive studio work across the Minneapolis scene and beyond, including releases connected to The Honeydogs and other artist projects, plus session-style contributions across rock and Americana.
Gear: While Levy doesn’t publicly advertise a specific signature setup the way some drummers do, his approach is very “song-first” — typically a classic rock/Americana configuration that emphasizes big backbeat tone, clean cymbal definition, and strong time over flashy or oversized setups.
What he’s doing now: Levy continues balancing touring-level work with a strong Minnesota base, staying active in both live and recording worlds. He has also been involved with the Minneapolis Led Zeppelin tribute Zeppo, and he’s spoken about building and expanding his home studio, keeping him active as both a drummer and recording contributor rather than focusing on only one lane.
Sources: Noah Levy Instagram bio/credits list; Noah Levy LinkedIn profile; Drum Click podcast episode 357 (career overview + studio discussion); BoDeans member history listing Noah Levy and David Sierra timelines; Discogs artist page (recording credits).
Update: 1/21/26