The Steel Wheels Featured in Times Free Press
Steel Wheels rolling into Barking Legs
If you go
› What: The Steel Wheels› Where: Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Ave.› When: 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26› Admission: $15 advance, $18 day of show› For more information: 423-624-LEGS
The Steel Wheels, an Americana band, is strongly rooted in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. They take pride in their heritage of mountain music and have been drawing on those traditions for more than a decade. Yet, their name also evokes a sense of forward motion.The band has been stable for nearly a decade, with the vocals and guitar of Trent Wagler being one of its trademarks. Wagler is also the band's primary songwriter. Joining him are Eric Brubaker on fiddle, Jay Lapp on mandolin and Brian Dickel on bass.The Steel Wheels will roll into Barking Legs Theater for a performance on Friday night, Jan. 26.The band's name is a tip of the hat to steam-powered trains, industrial progress and the buggies of their Mennonite lineage. Their musical style weaves through Americana and bluegrass, folk and old-time music. By incorporating percussion and keyboards for the first time on their latest recording, "Wild As We Came Here," they added new textures to their catalog.The Steel Wheels have appeared on NPR's Mountain Stage, and at festivals such as Stagecoach, Bristol Rhythm 'n' Roots and Kerrville Folk Festival. Their songs and recordings have won repeated Independent Music Association awards.Bruce Kaplan, Barking Legs music director, says, "The Steel Wheels is a band we've tried to get at Barking Legs for years, but it has never worked out until now. They are a top Americana act, and we're delighted and honored to be part of a tour that is taking them to many of the top venues for acoustic music in the Southeast."Tickets may be purchased in advance online at www.barkinglegs.org.For more information: 423-624-LEGS.