Of all the ways to deliver music to fans amidst a global pandemic, The Steel Wheels took a very clever—and quite intimate—approach. With their signature blend of Appalachian Americana stylings, The Steel Wheels’ primary songwriter Trent Wagler began crowdsourcing personal experiences of fans and forging them into songs in 2020. The project quickly became an avenue for fans of the band to commission works and send musical greetings to their loved ones as well, and the initiative sparked a surprisingly impactful and intimate songwriting process. Eventually, the band released a batch of their new tunes as a full-length record, Everyone A Song, Vol. 1., much to the delight of fans and critics alike. No Depression wrote, “Wagler and the rest of the Steel Wheels have found a way to make the most out of what’s been dealt to all of us in a difficult year. In doing so, they’ve found a way to not only bring their music closer to their fans, but to bring their fans closer to each other."
On November 5th, the band will once again open the treasure chest of these special songs with Everyone A Song, Vol. 2. Each song on Vol. 2 was commissioned for a specific relationship or event—a birth, a wedding, a memory of home—yet the emotions evoked are universal. Building on the body of work begun with Vol. 1, the 9 songs of Vol. 2 also have an identity of their own, with themes that reflect the zeitgeist of a country dealing with tragedy and unsettling change. Fans can pre-order or pre-save Everyone A Song, Vol. 2 right here and can visit the band’s merch shop here. And for those who haven’t heard Vol. 1, it can be streamed here.
Lead off track and first single “Where I’m From” introduces a tension between nostalgia and progress while showcasing the band’s deft balance of traditional instrumentation and driving rhythm. Commissioned for an old Catholic school in Chicago, the song paints a tangible picture of home. The image of slanted floors in the old church building are framed by low-tuned, fretless banjo, a smile-inducing drum groove, and a soaring fiddle solo. The music video for “Where I’m From” is out today and can be viewed at this link.
Additionally, The Steel Wheels are heading back out on tour in October, stopping in Bristol, Virginia, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Asheville, North Carolina–to name just a few. A list of tour dates is just below and more information can be found at thesteelwheels.com/tour.
Catch The Steel Wheels On Tour:
Oct. 14 - Bristol, VA - Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Oct. 15 - Thomas, WV - The Purple Fiddle
Oct. 16 - Peninsula, OH - G.A.R. Hall
Oct. 17 - Goshen, IN - Ignition Music Garage
Oct. 19 - Grand Rapids, MI - Listening Room
Oct. 20 - Stoughton, WI - Stoughton Opera House
Oct. 21 - Cedar Rapids, IA - CSPS
Oct. 22 - Bloomington, IL - The Stable Music Hall and Lounge
Oct. 23 - Bellefontaine, OH - The Holland Theatre
Oct. 24 - New Cumberland, WV - Music and Art at Oak Glen
Nov. 4 - Rocky Mount, VA - The Harvester
Nov. 5 - Bridgewater, VA - Sipe Center
Nov. 6 - Norfolk, VA - Roper Performing Arts Center
Dec. 1 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle
Dec. 2 - Chattanooga, TN - Arts Avenue
Dec. 3 - Knoxville, TN - Bijou Theatre w/ Acoustic Syndicate
Dec. 4 - Raleigh, NC - Motorco
Dec. 5 - Vienna, VA - Jammin’ Java
