Steel Wound is wound up to kick off 2019 at the first Coldstream Coffee House. The acoustic trio plays the first show of the year Saturday, Jan. 19.
Brian “McBass” McMahon is not available for this performance, so Kerry Parks and Paul Fisher will regale us with a duo show. Doors open at the Coldstream Women’s Institute Hall on Kalamalka Road and open mic signup starts at 6:30 p.m., the open mic portion starts at 7, and the feature act starts about 9. Admission is still only $5, and concession by donation.
Also playing this weekend: Semple shares love of music in Vernon
You can also catch Steel Wound in Enderby Feb. 8 at Little City Merchant at 7 p.m.
Trading lead vocals, blending three part harmonies, chopping chords and picking a variety of strings, Steel Wound cycles through a repertoire that reaches back to the 1800s. They present thoughtful original tunes and “semi-obscure alt-roots jazzy country blues,” citing influences as varied as Fred Eaglesmith, Mississippi John Hurt, Big Bill Broonzy, Bob Dylan, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Leon Redbone and many others.
In 2014, the band released their first CD, “Last Dance at the Starlight Lounge.” It features eight originals by songwriter Parks along with four characteristic cover tunes to present the Steel Wound sound.
In 2017, Parks released a second CD, “Farther Along” with Steel Wound and Friends. Continuing on where the first CD left off, the new opus contains a baker’s dozen of tunes, with 10 Parks originals, two reworked traditional songs, and one tasty cover.
See: Street Sounds: Kerry Parks’ new album reviewed
Fans have compared Parks’ writing style and voice variously to John Prine, Bob Dylan or Gordon Lightfoot: “…sings like Leonard Cohen.” He eschews comparisons and says he just tries to express image and emotion with honesty and an element of universality.
Fisher on lead and harmony vocals, lead guitars and mandolin, has been playing guitar since his teens, with a long history playing in country and rockabilly bands. Paul teaches guitar and tutors several students
Brian McMahon on acoustic bass and harmony vocals, is familiar as “Mr McMusic” to decades of band students in the North Okanagan. McMahon is much in demand for his creative work with many local groups.
Parks on lead and harmony vocals, guitar, dobro, banjo and harmonica, croaks out the blues, croons sweet ballads, or lays out what he likes to call message tunes in tones that rasp or rumble, with a passion gentle or righteous.
With an obvious enjoyment for the music they make, Steel Wound puts a new twist on the old tunes and make the new ones sound comfortably familiar.
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