The Steel Wheels 11/16/12 Cafe 9

Oregon string band billed as a cross between The Avett Bros. and Old Crow Medicine Show was a very apt descriptor. Made it in for their second set which was great. Lead singer played acoustic and banjo, a second acoustic with mandolin, fiddle , and string bass rounded out this very tight quartet. Made great use of their old-timey microphone for There's a Rain Comin Down with close-vocal harmony and shaker stick. Covered a Tom Waits tune and closed with a great Shape I'm In by the Band.

Blitzen Trapper w/ The Mercies 10/27/12 Arch St Hartford

Opener Mercies starts off this show with a Grizzly Bear-esque set. Manic Productions making use of Arch St in the gentrified Convention Center section of Hartford. Blitzen Trapper takes the stage for a country-rock-metal set. Three guitar army with harmonica, shakers, multiple keyboards, capable bass, and drums. Hits from eponymous debut and Destroyer of the Void and two recent releases make for a rousing set. Covered Hey Joe, Dukes of Hazard Themesong, and concluded the evening with an awesome cover of Zeppelin's Good Times, Bad Times. BT had a good spot at Newport Folk and opened for Wilco on tour of the west. Portland Oregon natives BT are a band to watch.