Morgan Wade Plays to a Full House
-The following first appeared in The Floyd Press on February 1, 2018
Morgan Wade was back on the stage where she first performed her original songs in public. This time, she played with her band, The Stepbrothers, for the debut release of her new full length CD, Puppets with My Heart. It was a hometown Friday night show (January 19) at Dogtown Roadhouse, and the packed crowd was enthusiastic. Some fans sang along with the words to the songs. Some danced.
Both Wade and band member Joe Link are from Floyd. Link, who plays mandolin, keyboards and harmonica, and bassist Ed McGee are original bandmembers. More recently, Roanoke-based musicians Drew Sprinkle on lead guitar and Bengy Wagner on drums joined the band, filling out the sound and complimenting Wade’s songwriting and vocal talents.
Wade is a heavy hitter with an honest and raw delivery. Her Americana rock in the tradition of country storytelling doesn’t shy away from outlaw topics “… Mamma said don’t go taking no candy from strangers / she never said nothing ‘bout shots from boys…” But she also wears her heart on her sleeve “… I don’t know what’s wrong with me / but you came along and I finally see / what type of love I know need…” 
Her lyrics are strong and original “… I feel like you betrayed me / now I’m thinking you saved me…” and her songs connect on an emotional level. Musically, the band’s sound is rich and developed. Some of the CD’s 11 tracks have a psychedelic undertone, reminiscent of early Jefferson Airplane and other iconic bands of the late ‘60s.
Wade brings to mind rocker Chrissie Hynde meets country singer Miranda Lambert. Some have compared her to Janis Joplin. With a twang and a bang, the group pulls off the best of garage band grit ready for air play. The CD includes heartbreakers, rockers, and even a new take on the classic murder ballad (I Didn’t Mean To). The CD is available on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon and Google. Visit the band’s website (morganwadeandthestepbrothers.com) and visit them on Facebook for more information.
More Morgan HERE. – Colleen Redman
