For most travelers, the next stop out of Bakersfield is either the high desert and Las Vegas, or the sprawl of Los Angeles. Â Musically, Bakersfield leads to the honky tonk of rural California, or the alternative rock and roll sprouting out of the Mojave. Â There’s a third path, though, north to the mountains and the live jams of High Sierra, Strawberry, and other music festivals. Â Lake Tahoe-based Dead Winter Carpenters are on that latter path. Known for their live shows, DWC’s latest release, Washoe, aims to showcase their performance talent with a strong Bakersfield accent.
About half the album delivers tight, honky-tonk/indie tunes that are playlist friendly. Â Good Old Time and Winning Hand showcase pedal steel, fiddle, and guitar parts that would be right at home in the Buck Owens Theater. Â Midnight Ghost and Love Amongst Thieves have more of an indie sound that captures your attention from the first chords. Â If I Wrote You A Song is a vocally haunting song that’s hard not to hit repeat on.
For the other half of the album, the band stretches out their musicianship and creativity to take you on a longer journey. Â Is It Enough starts with a speedgrass feel before it slows down and twirls with the bass and fiddle parts. Â White River Junction has an almost old-time feel to the instrumental parts. Â Aftermath takes you back to the 70’s and progressive rock.
 Dead Winter Carpenters faced a kind of challenge with this record.  How to keep their long-time fans happy with musical jams, but also spread their appeal with first-time-listen friendly tunes that leave you wanting more.  With Washoe (named after the local native American tribe if you’re interested), they walked that fine line and is worth a listen whether you’re new to DWC or a dedicated follower.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.