AMERICANA ROOTS: DEFINING AMERICANA MUSIC

by John Walker

When you attempt to define true Americana music, you must believe in a blend of different genres. The term Americana represents artists who refuse to be stereotyped into one specific genre, and allows the freedom to express their passion in music…in whatever form it may take.

A new band based in the hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia certainly exhibits all of these traits. The Steel Wheels are a four piece band which blends the genres of bluegrass, blues, folk, along with the foot stomping music from their home base. Their new release titled “Red Wing,” also exhibits the innate ability to take from the roots of the past and build upon it with their own unique qualities.

The band is comprised of four very talented young musicians. Trent Wagler does a great job with his energetic and passionate vocals. He also has a hand in writing or co-writing 11 of the 14 songs which appear on the record. Jay Lapp shows amazing dexterity on mandolin, and also wrote the song simply stunning instrumental “Second of May,” for this record. Brian Dickel contributes on bass, providing the foot stomping grooves throughout. Playing the scorching fiddle is Eric Brubaker, who also wrote the instrumental “At Long Last” for the record.

The music here is quite compelling. From the subtle strings on the opening song “Love You Like I Should,” they draw you into the realm of their sound. The song builds slowly until it kicks in with the forceful vocals of Wagler. By the time Brubaker kicks in with his amazing fiddle, you are loaded onto the wagon and ready for the journey. And what an enjoyable ride it is, full of peaks and valleys painted exceptionally well in the mixture of tempos and sweet instrumentals.

It is difficult to pinpoint the highlights on this record, because each song certainly has its own quality and appeal. Whether it is the slow touching numbers such as “Walk This Way” or the title cut “Red Wing,” the more upbeat “Nothing You Can’t Lose” or “Long Way To Go,” or the amazing harmonies of the gospel numbers “Surround Me” or “Working On A Building,” which closes out the journey, each captivates you in a different way. I must say for me, however, the Blind Boys of Alabama would be proud of the a cappella version of “Surround Me,” and the instrumental “Second of May” has been on repeat several times as well.

If one must compare The Steel Wheels to another act in order to get an idea of their music, imagine a blend of the passion of The Avett Brothers, the instrumentals of Old Crow Medicine Show, and then sprinkle in the backwoods feel of The Legendary Shack Shakers. In truth, attempting to compare them with anyone is an injustice, since after one listen you can hear that they stand very well on their own perch.