Loose Leaf Notes

“All day there is a sadness running through my mind.  As I’m constantly reminded you once left me behind.”  –From Left Me Behind by Morgan Wade

– The following first appeared in the March 9, 2017 issue of The Floyd Press

Morgan Wade listened to a lot of Elvis Presley when she was growing up.  Three years ago, the 22-year-old singer/songwriter mustered enough courage to sing her own songs at a Dogtown Roadhouse Open Mic.

“I got a good response and it grew from there,” she said.

Today, Wade cites Raleigh-based American Aquarium as one of her current influences.  Last November, she and her band, Morgan Wade & the Stepbrothers, opened for them at the Harvester Performance Center in Rocky Mount.  In recent months, Wade and her band have played at Dogtown in Floyd, Martin’s in Roanoke, the Songwriter’s Round at the Daily Grind in Martinsville and 2 Witches Brewery in Danville. They’ve had gigs in Tennessee and played at Go Big Fest in NC, Front Porch Fest in Stuart and the Floyd Yoga Jam, where they will return this year.

With a gritty powerhouse delivery and her outlaw country twang, Wade comes across as rebel, but her songs are heartfelt.  She admits that her first public performance was to debut a song that she hoped would win back a lost love. It worked.

The Floyd native, who recently graduated from Jefferson College with a degree in Health Sciences, has been writing songs that draw on her life ever since that first open mic.  She has a knack for lyrics but doesn’t write anything down.  “The words start coming.  I just pick up my guitar and kind of run with it,” she said, adding that she usually has a rhythm in mind.

The Stepbrothers consist of Wade’s boyfriend, Joe Link, who is also from Floyd and plays the mandolin and harmonica, and Ed McGee, the band’s bassist.  Roanoke-based drummer Bengy Wagner and electric guitarist Drew Sprinkle round out the band’s full sound.

Recently Wade cut a single, Left Me Behind, for her upcoming debut CD/record. A music video for the song was filmed at Tuggles Gap Motel by Straight Jack-it media production.

The new CD, still untitled, is expected to be out in April. The video will soon be released online, and the songs from the album are expected to be available on iTunes, Spotify and Pandora. A tour is being scheduled by the band’s booking agent Jay Calfee, and Wade is up for it.  She’s ready to devote herself to her music and see where it leads.   “I really like how we’ve been progressing,” she said. ____________Colleen Redman

Post Note: Morgan Wade & the Stepbrothers will be at Martin’s Downtown Saint Patrick’s Day Block Party in Roanoke at 7:30.  Also, look for them at this year’s Cabin Fever 5 in Pilot. All proceeds from this June 9 – 10 memorial picnic bash will go to St. Francis Service Dog program.