The Steel Wheels – Americana Music and a Bicycle Tour that is Close to the Road

Easing up to a four-way stop and an intersection of east, west, north and south, travelers arrive at a point of decision and a confluence of possibilities. The road and potential journeys bring limitless options with new crossroads, exits, on ramps and roadways ahead.

The Steel Wheels are close to the road as a part of the growing Americana (Yes, the a on the end of the word is correct) music scene. They are travelling amidst an exciting convergence of passion, contentedness, neighborliness and music.

With instruments in tow, the members of The Steel Wheels, Trent Wagler (lead vocals, banjo, guitar), Jay Lapp (mandolin, guitar, vocals), Brian Dickel (upright bass, vocals) and Oliver Craven (fiddle, vocals - Oliver has been subbing for a year until original member Eric Brubaker returns) peddle their way to share something they believe in, excellent musicianship with substance and passion.

Once a year, since 2009, the band has dedicated part of their touring to riding bicycles through parts of Virginia, Illinois, Indiana or Michigan. This year’s tour was 550 miles, with one day requiring a 108 mile ride and a stretch including ten concerts in eleven days. The bicycle tour is more than a promotional gimmick or good exercise. It is an allegory of the group’s soul-full, journey. The hard work, meeting new friends and neighbors, remaining accessible to fans, staying grounded and depending on one another forge stories, spiritual revelation and inspiration.

Jay Lapp recalls leaving a show in Chicago and heading south along Lake Shore Drive, the trailer behind Brian’s bike, holding his upright bass, breaking down. Some good neighbors offered help and “anything from our shed that you may need.” The band was able to jury rig the trailer and be on their way.

A bit further down the road, Jay took a spill. Unhurt, he decided to take a rest and catch his breath. While contemplating all things road touring via bicycles, he noticed a large nest atop a telephone pole. Not long after, a small group of green parrots burst forth against the deep blue Midwestern sky. It was an omen. It was great to be doing exactly what they were doing,he thought.

Throughout their travels, they have discovered that good neighbors have unique things to offer. Tony and Joyce in Kalamazoo, MI purchased a home just for musicians to stay so the bands at least have a night on that road that is “home-like” and comfortable.

While not pegged to the genre of gospel music, some of their fans have come away with religious like experiences at the intimate concerts. “That was a religious experience. If that’s what church is like, I would go” Lapp says one fan told him after a recent show. And the band members want their fans to come away from a show moved, somehow changed, with something added to their lives. The band members believe in their music and it is important their fans do to.

The Steel Wheels is a vocals oriented group with strong musicianship. Both Wagler and Lapp grew up in churches singing a capella music and learning four part harmonies; Wagler also singing with his family quartet. Their influences cover the full spectrum of sounds and genres. “We have all been inspired by a wide variety of music. I listened to a lot of rock growing up, but learned how to sing harmonies in church,” Lapp says.

Americana music is an exciting amalgam of blues, rock, alt-country and bluegrass with a contemporary drive. It was a music genre created because of those playing a unique/contemporary sound steeped in traditional American roots music.

On the Americana Music Association website of top groups, some names may be familiar to a wider audience such as Alison Krauss and Union Station, John Hiatt, Ry Cooder and Wilco. Long time producers, musicians and bands such as Gram Parsons, The Band, The Jayhawks, Lyle Lovett and T Bone Burnett have been inspirations and early innovators for the Americana genre.

Bands such as Lucinda Williams, Old Crow Medicine Show, Carolina Chocolate Drops, and Gillian Welch can boast strong following among a wide age range of fans, including strong college age followers and hundreds of thousands of views on youtube videos.

Six years ago Lapp was traveling through Virginia touring with a different band. His band was scheduled at the same venue in Harrisonburg as Wagler, who was performing solo. One of the band members knew Wagler and they asked Trent to open the show for them.

Lapp offered Wagler a chance to use his recording studio in his home in Indiana. Wagler accepted the offer and spent four days recording his first album. Lapp ended up playing on the record. They collaborated and discovered they worked and played well together.

Bryan Dickel and Eric Brubaker joined the duo and The Steel Wheels was born. Their breakout album, Red Wing, was released in 2009. The album spent 13 weeks on the Top 40 Americana Music charts, climbing up to #15. In 2011 the group received five nominations (four are The Steel Wheel’s songs and one is from a duo project by Wagler and Lapp) from the Independent Music Awards.

The Steel Wheels are as fulfilled as they have ever been. They are recording their next album (it is named, but the name isn’t being released yet) and they know that the content will be exactly what they desire it to be. They are not beholden to executives, record labels or financial pressures. They do it all; record in their own studio, press and release the cds, market, sell and book their own concerts.

So once a year the four band members and three support persons hop on their bikes and hit the road. It’s the best possible scenario - staying close to the road – making music they believe in, keeping the money they make, meeting great people and creating a name for themselves in a growlingly influential music genre called Americana.