The Steel Wheels

The Steel Wheels are an American roots music, Americana group of folk musicians, based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

The Steel Wheels
The Jefferson Theater on February 16, 2019
Charlottesville, Virginia
Background information
OriginBlue Ridge Mountains, Virginia
GenresRoots, Americana, Folk
InstrumentsVocals, Guitar, Electric Guitar, Mountain Banjo, Mandolin, Fiddle, Upright Bass, Electric Bass, Drums, Percussion, Keyboards
LabelsIndependent
Websitethesteelwheels.com
MembersTrent Wagler
Jay Lapp
Brian Dickel
Eric Brubaker
Kevin Joaquin Garcia

Biography
Trent Wagler (guitar) and Brian Dickel (stand-up bass) perform with The Steel Wheels February 6, 2009

The Steel Wheels are an Americana roots band from Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Trent Wagler is lead vocalist, mountain banjo player, guitarist and the band's primary songwriter. Jay Lapp plays mandolin, guitar, electric guitar and sings. Brian Dickel plays upright bass, electric bass, and sings. Eric Brubaker plays fiddle and sings. Kevin Joaquin Garcia plays percussion and keyboards.[1]

From their base in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, TSW have played the most prestigious festivals, listening rooms, and clubs in the world, cementing a reputation as one of the top independent bands on the scene today. While 2017's stunning studio album Wild As We Came Here was still ringing in the air, the band shone a light on their concerts with the release of two LPs of live music; Volume 1: Live at the Station Inn, and Volume 2: Live at The Jefferson Theater. Ever ambitious and not content to let moss grow under their feet, the Wheels returned to the woods of Maine and studio-retreat of Sam Kassirer, producer of Wild, to record another studio album, Over The Trees, to be released in July 2019.

The Steel Wheels have appeared at numerous Americana festivals, including The Bristol Rhythm and Roots Festival,[2] the Kerrville Folk Festival, FloydFest, the Albino Skunk Music Festival, the Smoky Hill River Fest, the Folk Alliance and Appalachian Uprising. Other notable venues they have played include the NPR Mountain Stage,[3] Eddie's Attic, the Ark, the Bluebird Café and the Calgary Folk Club. Trent Wagler and Jay Lapp have also played at the 'Ards International Guitar Festival in Ireland, with Peter Rowan.

Wild As We Came Here (2017)

The group brought in Sam Kassirer, known for his work with Josh Ritter and Lake Street Dive, to produce Wild as We Came Here in 2017. They recorded the album "in a week and a half" in the Fall of 2016 in Kassirer's "renovated farm house studio" in Maine.[4] For the new album the band augmented their sound with drums and keyboards, which "expanded their sonic palette, adding a singer-songwriter element to their string band sound."[4]

This change in instrumentation "contributes emotional textures that flesh out the deeper concerns in Trent Wagler's lyrics," while Eric Brubaker's fiddle is "a piece of inspired alchemy, as he almost single-handedly keeps the listener entrenched in the band's rural landscape even as the songs tackle weighty matters."[4]

The Wheels deliver ten singularly brilliant songs that form a cohesive document of life in western Virginia. Subjects as diverse as environmental activism and religious oppression are all firmly rooted in a mural of rural life. At their core these stories are connected to the natural, tangible world, and as such, their struggles take on an epic, spiritual dimension, one that we immediately identify with.

— No Depression

Over the Trees (2019)

Released July 12, 2019 in concert with the group's seventh-annual Red Wings Roots Festival, their second studio album "is a bit of an experimental record at times, with new sounds and influences. We know where we come from. We are a string band from Virginia, but we are evolving with this album, and we are embracing the future," says Wagler.

The album is a collection of songs about surviving tragedy. Brubaker lost his 10-year-old daughter to a sudden illness earlier in 2019. "At times our human response is muted and resigned, at other times triumphant and steadfast. Over the Trees is an ode to the community that rises up to support those in need, and is dedicated to the memory of Norah Brubaker," he says.[5] According to No Depression, the album's lead single "Keep On" is "a propulsive folk-rocker, a catchy track that would sound at home in a small venue or at an arena concert."[6] The opening track "Rains Come", meanwhile, "takes a spooky melody that conjures up echoes of Tom Waits’ "Lowside of the Road" and adds a Mellotron and some Middle Eastern and African percussion."[6] "Road Never Ends" is described as "a sonic companion of sorts to "Rains Come," utilizing African rhythmic textures to heighten the drama of the song's lamentation of coping with the grind of touring and of a life, in general, geared toward a transient existence."[6]

The "SpokeSongs" Bicycle Tour

In step with the feel of their music, taking tradition and history and giving it a modern flavor, The Steel Wheels conduct an annual tour called "SpokeSongs". Different from usual tours, this one is done entirely by bicycle. They average ten shows and travel around 500 miles, and transport all gear on their bikes. The first tour, in 2009, featured The Steel Wheels Duo (Wagler and Lapp) traveling through the Virginia countryside. In 2010, the duo moved the tour to Michigan. And in 2011, all four band members participated in the bicycle tour, again in Michigan. They maintain a blog about the tour on their website.[7] The Michigan-based company Tree Fort Bikes is assisting in the tour.[8]

Red Wing Roots Music Festival

Since 2012, the group has hosted the Red Wing Roots Music Festival at Natural Chimneys Park in Mt. Solon, Virginia. The two main stages in "the music meadow" take advantage of the "perfect backdrop" provided by "limestone rock formations towering more than 120 feet above."[9]

The musical lineup for the sixth annual festival taking place July 13–15, 2018 includes: I'm With Her (Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, and Aoife O'Donovan), John Moreland, Josh Ritter, The Judy Chops, Kuinka, The Secret Sisters, Steep Canyon Rangers, and Trampled By Turtles — in addition to The Steel Wheels themselves. Wagler says of the success of the festival so far:[9]

Last year we crossed over the threshold of five years together. I know there are those who have said the honeymoon could not last, that sooner or later we'll just be another grumpy old festival losing the luster or shine of yesteryear. But it's not that way with us, Red Wing. Every year you surprise me with something new, something that keeps it fresh.

The seventh-annual festival takes place July 12–14, 2019 with The Wood Brothers, Mandolin Orange, Peter Rowan, The Tim O’Brien Band, Gibson Brothers, and Della Mae headlining.[10] Wagler says of the longevity of his group's festival, "Lucky number seven, can you believe it?"[11]

Contributions

Wagler provides lead and harmony vocals on Goodbye Virginia written by Missy Raines tour mate Robbie Fulks. The song appears on Raines's sixth album, Royal Traveller, released October 5, 2018 on Compass Records Group.[12][13]

Musical style

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 The Steel Wheels to anyone is an injustice, since after one listen you can hear that they stand very well on their own perch."[14]

— John Walker, Americana Roots

There is purity and power in the sound of this band that few come close to tapping. Tight pickin', passionate energy, and Wagler's voice soars like an eagle. Their new album Red Wing captures the spirit of their great live performances."[15]

— Martin Anderson, WNCW Music Director

Shenandoah Valley's newest, and brightest, songwriting force.[16]

— Blueridge Outdoors Magazine

Honors, awards, and distinctions

The Steel Wheels received seven nominations from The Independent Music Awards[17] in 2010. Their song "Nothing You Can't Lose" (from the album Red Wing) received the highest award of "Best Country Song" in the 10th Annual IMA Awards, and in the Vox Pop Awards. "Working on a Building" also won "Best Gospel Song" in the 10th Annual IMA Vox Pop Awards. Red Wing earned very high marks from critics and received airplay on radio stations across several markets. The album charted for 13 weeks on the Americana Music Association Top 40 radio charts, hitting No. 15.[18] It also made its way onto the EuroAmericana[19] charts, finding its way into the top 10. It was ranked number two across all independent releases charted by the Americana Music Association, and number 70 on the top 100 Americana albums of 2010.[18]

Discography

Albums
Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
US
Indie
[23]		 US
Heat
[24]
Journal of a Barefoot Soldier
{Trent Wagler)
  • Released: June 6, 2005
  • Label: Dojo Records
 — —
Blue Heaven
(Trent Wagler and The Steel Wheels)
  • Released: October 13, 2006
  • Label: Trent Wagler and The Steel Wheels
 — —
Adrienna Valentine
(Trent Wagler & Jay Lapp)
  • Released: March 13, 2008
  • Label: Dojo Records
 — —
Red Wing
  • Released: February 15, 2010
  • Label: Independent
 — —
Uncloudy Day
(Trent Wagler & Jay Lapp)
  • Released: May 10, 2010
  • Label: Trent Wagler & Jay Lapp
 — —
Lay Down, Lay Low
  • Released: March 5, 2012
  • Label: The Steel Wheels
 — —
No More Rain
  • Released: April 16, 2013
  • Label: The Steel Wheels
 — —
Leave Some Things Behind
  • Released: April 14, 2015
  • Label: Big Ring Records
 — —
Wild as We Came Here
  • Released: May 5, 2017
  • Label: Big Ring Records
 — —
Coo Coo Bird b/w Architect's Daughter + With It All Stripped Away
  • Released: 2017
  • Label: Need To Know
 39 —
Over The Trees
  • Released: July 12, 2019
  • Label: Big Ring Records
 32 12
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Live albums
  • The Steel Wheels, Live at Goose Creek (Goose Creek Music, 2011)
  • The Steel Wheels, Live at The Station Inn Volume I (Big Ring Records, 2018)
  • The Steel Wheels, Live at The Jefferson Theater Volume II (Big Ring Records, 2018)

References
  1. "(2009). ''About the Band''. Retrieved July 15, 2011". The Steel Wheels. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  2. "The Bristol Rhythm and Roots Festival". Bristolrhythm.com. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  3. "NPR Mountain Stage – Past Performers". Npr.org. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  4. McSpadden III, J.M. (May 11, 2017). "The Steel Wheels Release the Best Album of Their Career". No Depression. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  5. "The Steel Wheels Announce New Album and Red Wing Roots Festival". www.antimusic.com. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  6. Shahen, Jim (July 10, 2019). "The Steel Wheels Take New Roads on 'Over the Trees'". www.nodepression.com. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  7. thesteelwheels (July 11, 2011). "The SpokeSongs Bike Blog". Spokesongs.blogspot.com. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  8. "Tree Fort Bikes". Blog.treefortbikes.com. March 28, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  9. Calello, Monique (February 23, 2018). "Red Wing Roots Music Festival announces full lineup". The News Leader. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  10. Admin, B. R. O. (February 20, 2019). "Music Festival: Red Wing Roots Headliners Annouced [sic]". Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  11. "Red Wing Roots Music Festival announces music lineup for seventh year". The News Leader. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  12. "Missy Raines – Royal Traveller". AustralianBluegrass.com. September 22, 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  13. "Missy Raines release Royal Traveller". Crank 11 News. October 9, 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  14. Geil, Gregg (March 2, 2010). "American Roots, Defining Americana Music". Americanaroots.com. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  15. "Anderson, Martin. WNCW Music Director". Wncw.org. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  16. Blueridge Outdoors Magazine
  17. "The Independent Music Awards". The Independent Music Awards. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  18. Americana Music /. "Americana Music Association". Americanamusic.org. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  19. "The Euro Americana Chart". Euroamericanachart.nl. November 6, 2007. Archived from the original on February 9, 2010. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  20. "The Steel Wheels: Americana, Made By Hand" by CLAIRE MARIE BLAUSTEIN, NPR: Song of the Day—May 10, 2012.
  21. Martens, Todd (October 9, 2012). "Stagecoach 2013: Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum top the lineup". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  22. "Stickshifts and Safetybelts" performed by the Steel Wheels #smallspaces
  23. "The Steel Wheels Album & Song Chart History - Independent Albums". Billboard.
  24. "The Steel Wheels Album & Song Chart History - Heatseekers Albums". Billboard.
  25. Bjorke, Matt (July 26, 2019). "Top 10 Country Albums Chart: July 21, 2019". Roughstock. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
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