NEW YORK CITY — Guitarist Lenny Kaye appeared at the City Winery Loft at the Grammy Museum in New York City on June 23, 2026, to celebrate the upcoming release of his debut solo album, Goin' Local, scheduled for July 17, 2026. During the event, Kaye performed songs from the new album, including "The Things You Leave Behind," the title track "Goin' Local," "Poppy," "World Book Night," and "Yes I Will." He discussed his creative process with Michael Imperioli and integrated stories from his book, Lightning Striking: Ten Transformative Moments, into the performance, reading an excerpt that described New York's music scene in 1975.

Patti Smith attended the event. Kaye is a founding member and guitarist for the Patti Smith Group and previously compiled the album Nuggets: Original Artyfacts of the First Psychedelic Era. The 79-year-old musician stated that "music helped explain myself to myself." Kaye explained his perspective on songwriting, saying, "I believe a song exists because there is a need for it to be written, to explain the dynamics of the human relationship, to look at yourself as if in a mirror, and get in touch with a deeper emotion, one that needs to be sung."

Regarding his solo project, Kaye stated, "I wanted to call the shots on this album." He added, "I wanted to find my way so that I could show my true voice." Kaye emphasized his independence during the album's creation, saying, "It was important to me not to filter it through anybody's preconceptions." In addition to his work as a musician, Kaye has worked as a record producer, critic, and memoirist, collaborating with artists such as Allen Ginsberg and Suzanne Vega.