Interviews
89.7 WTMD Interview
Edge of the Wheel sat down with Sam Sessa to talk about the bands inception and music.
News
Request "Capture" or Coming Home" on WTMD 89.7 by calling 410.704.8938
Towson, MD
www.towson.edu/wtmd
The Grab Bag April 2007
If you are a regular reader of this column, you will no doubt be aware that most of the March edition of The Grab Bag highlighted a select group of alt-country/Americana artists, musicians and bands throughout the region. Unfortunately, less than a week after I finished the last column, I learned of another great new band in the area with a solid roots rock foundation that definitely deserves a mention in this column.
Baltimore's Edge of the Wheel is a talented quintet of experienced musicians that dares to challenge the typical music genre silos by breathing new life into old styles. The band does this by infusing elements of modern pop songwriting with older musical styles deeply rooted in the blues, thus creating a fresh sound that is both catchy and complex at the same time. The band calls this unique meshing of sounds and styles Neo Americana.
Clifton Hill, the band's founding father and a talented singer, songwriter and guitarist, describes Neo Americana as, "new American rock that comes from old American rock." Hill realized that there is an almost timeless quality to the Hammond B3-soaked, down and dirty blues rock sounds that ruled the airwaves in the past (most recently in the '70s), and he had a feeling that the time was right for a new band built on this foundation when he began to see more and more compilations of this genre popping up at stores.
Armed with an impressive resume in the music industry, Hill and his band Kilkenny Cats were an integral part of the nationally renowned Athens, Georgia music scene that launched the careers of bands like R.E.M . and B-52s in the '80s, and early drafts for some new songs, Hill placed an add looking for a guitarist and Shane Gardner answered the call.
During the audition, Gardner, a journeyman on the local music scene over the years, made an immediate connection and Hill not only had a guitar player but he also had a songwriting partner. With the core in-place, the lineup featuring John Kallenbach (drums) and Eric Simball (Hammond B3) was filled-in with relative ease. All five members of the band are longtime musical veterans and they all share the unique roots rock vision that would become Neo Americana .. a rare combination of shared talent and vision. As Hill said in a recent interview, "This is an incredibly talented group of guys. Everyone in Edge of the Wheel is an accomplished musician and they all respect each other as members of the overall ensemble."
With the band lineup completed, the band hit the studio to make its first recordings together and the result is a three-song EP called Capture that is available as streaming audio files on the band's Web site. Featuring guest appearances from local and national artists like John Allen (SR-71 & Forty Acres), Pat DeMent (SR-71, Kix & Cinder Road) and Derry deBorja (Son Volt), this EP not only reveals the incredible musical cohesion the players have developed in such a short time, but it also shows just how good Hill and Gardner are as a songwriting team.
From the poppy hook chorus in the anthemic "Coming Home," to the vividly visual wordplay of the title track and the smooth groove of "In Time" delivered by the distinctive tones of the Hammond B3 and the funky lead guitar lines, this EP showcases the considerable range and depth of Edge of the Wheel and its Neo Americana music in a mere three songs. I can onlyimagine what the band will do with a full-length studio album.
The real challenge a band like Edge of the Wheel faces in the current Baltimore music scene is to find good places to play so that it can build its audience organically. Hill has a plan, "You simply get the music out there, you get feedback and you build the crowd." Sounds simple, doesn't it?
-Greg Yost
July 30, 2007 Edge of the Wheel will appear at the Baltimore Music Conference on Sunday, August 26th, 2007 at Sonar - 4:30pm - 5:10pm - Club Side
June 29, 2007 Edge of the Wheel's interview and performance on 89.7 WTMD Baltimore will air on July 2nd, at 8:pm. We had a great time with Sam Sessa and the interview will reveal some personal background and reveal the meaning behind EOTW. Thanks for Listening and request request "Capture" often by calling 410.704.8938. Thanks Everyone!
June 15, 2007 The band is currently in pre-production for a full length release
June 15, 2007 Edge of the Wheel will be featured on 89.7 WTMD. The pre-recorded interview and performance will take place on June 27th. Stay tuned for air date.
March 13, 2007 Edge of the Wheel will be featured in the Grab Bag section of the April Issue of Music Monthly Magazine.
March 9, 2007 The band recently released a 3 song EP. Guest appearences include Derry Deborja of SonVolt, John Allen of SR-71/Forty Acres and Pat DeMent and John Cimbolo on Bass
Related Sites
The Official Edge of the Wheel Website
About Edge of the Wheel
Edge of the Wheel, Neo Americana rock band, was formed in the summer of 2006. The band features singer-songwriter-guitarist Clifton Hill, guitarist-songwriter Shane Gardner, drummer John Kallenbach, and Hammond B3 keyboard player Eric Simball.
Clifton Hill's credits include 2 releases on Twin Tone (The Replacements, Soul Asylum), and the movie, Athens Georgia Inside Out sound track IRS/MCA. In addition are the compilation releases Five Ring Circus on Flip Records, REM, B-52's Pylon, Flat Duo Jets and other Athens bands.
A Big Thanks!
Edge of the Wheel would like to thank Steve Wright of Wrightway Studios for making the disc sound so sweet! John Allen of SR-71, Forty Acres and Derry Deborja of SonVolt for their work on In Time and Coming Home; and also Pat DeMent for his work on In Time.
A Special Big Thanks!
John Cimbolo thanks for being there from the beginning and for all your contributions musically and personally most noted on In Time, Coming Home and Capture. Thanks John!!!