On The Rise

Wheeler To Play During ‘Song’ Series; More Concerts, Album Coming

Like leaves from a fall tree, another bluegrass band has fallen from the rich musical roots of the Mountain Empire.
Call them Wheeler.
See Wheeler on Jan. 3 at the Lincoln Theatre in Marion, Va. for the year’s first installment of the monthly concert series Song of the Mountains.
Michelle Cupit, Nothin’ Fancy, Wayne Henderson and Jeff Little round out the impressive bill. However, odds are excellent that none are more jazzed about the show than Wheeler.
“It means a whole bunch,” said co-founder Kevin Wheeler, by phone from his home in Weber City, Va.
Bluegrass newborns, Wheeler formed in April 2008. Tiffany Wheeler sings lead, while her husband Kevin plays bass for the Weber City-based band. Mark Jackson drives on the mandolin, while Justin Salyer maintains rhythm on the guitar, and Steven Mounts amps it up on the banjo.
Fast or slow, loose or tight, funny or serious, Wheeler maintains a bluegrass sound rooted in gospel. However, that does not mean they don’t throw the fire to the strings.
“We like to throw it down,” Kevin Wheeler said. “We like to pick, and we like to jam. I think we do a great job of laying down a hard-driving tune, something you can clap your hands to.”
Must be working. Wheeler signed with Bristol, Tenn.-based Mountain Roads Recordings in October. A new album is on the way, and concert dates are mounting, including a booking at the next Rhythm and Roots Reunion.
“It’s huge,” Wheeler said. “We were picking at Chevron [on Euclid Avenue in Bristol, Va.] one night, and Larry Gorley heard us. Larry slipped Karl Cooler [owner of Mountain Roads] a CD of ours, and he called us.”
Now, a new album is set for release in early March. They have about five songs to go, Wheeler said.
“Man, I wish you could hear it,” he said. “We have one called ‘Turn Back Around,’ which I wrote. Another one is ‘Lord, I Want to Go,’ which was written by Mark Jackson’s grandmother. Then, there’s one called ‘Load ‘Em Up,’ which doesn’t sound like a gospel song. It sounds really funky.”
Now consider this. When Wheeler was asked to appear on the prestigious Song of the Mountains show, they did not have an album out. Still don’t. They had been together for much less than a year. April will mark one year for the band.
So how did they land a coveted spot on Song of the Mountains?
“We did the Pickin’ Porch a little while back,” Wheeler said. “Mark asked Tim [White, executive coordinator of Song of the Mountains], ‘How does a band go about getting on Song of the Mountains?’ Tim said, ‘Well, it’s a long line.’ ”
So there. Wheeler would have to wait – or so they thought.
“Tim got on stage and said that this young man asked him what it took to get on Song of the Mountains,” Wheeler said. “Tim turned around and said, ‘You just got on.’ ”
Another step up the ladder for the band named Wheeler.
“We were absolutely tickled,” Wheeler said.

IF YOU GO
What: Song of the Mountains featuring Michelle Cupit, Nothin’ Fancy, Wayne Henderson and Jeff Little, and Wheeler
When: Jan. 3, 7 p.m.
Where: Lincoln Theatre, 117 E. Main St., Marion, Va.
Admission: $15
Info: (276) 783-6093
Web: http://www.thewheelerband.com
And: http://www.songofthemountains.org

TOM NETHERLAND is a freelance writer. He can be reached at .