The Steel Wheels have long been at home in the creative space between tradition and innovation, informed by the familiar sounds of the Virginia mountains where the band was formed, but always moving forward with insightful lyrics and an evolving sound. Over thousands of shows at the world’s most prestigious festivals, listening rooms, and clubs, the stubbornly independent band has formed deep bonds with each other and the audience that sustains them. (The Steel Wheels, 2021)

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.

On November 5, 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 have not 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 highlighting 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 now and can be viewed at this link.

The Steel Wheels are heading back out on tour this month. A full list of tour dates is available online.

Catch The Steel Wheels On Tour:
November 4 – Rocky Mount, VA – The Harvester
November 5 – Bridgewater, VA – Sipe Center
November 6 – Norfolk, VA – Roper Performing Arts Center
December 1 – Asheville, NC – The Grey Eagle
December 2 – Chattanooga, TN – Arts Avenue
December 3 – Knoxville, TN – Bijou Theatre w/ Acoustic Syndicate
December 4 – Raleigh, NC – Motorco
December 5 – Vienna, VA – Jammin’ Java

Everyone A Song, Vol. 2 Track list:
1. Where I’m From
2. Time Is All I Need
3. Mark On Me
4. Memories In Mind
5. Adventures Of Grace And Henry
6. Lifeline
7. Where Our Future Begins
8. It’s Your Fault
9. Lullaby