You’ve got to love a band who, in the course of one set, opens with the gospel traditional “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” drifts into the ‘80s Judds hit “Mama He’s Crazy”, then veers wildly into a very country rendition of Motley Crue’s “Home Sweet Home”… and makes it all sound gorgeous. On most songs, statuesque soprano Linda May Wacker sings with the kind of breathy, sincere feeling that sneaks up and wraps its arms around you, reinforced by the standup bass and simple guitar strumming of Tom Mayer and Tim Woods, respectively. But it’s mandolin player and band namesake Matt Wissler who quietly drives the family—unlike too many of his lesser eight-string brethren, Wissler has a way of filling a performance with sweet-hearted textures and echoed countermelodies without ever getting in the way of the song. In concert, the band maintains a laid-back, family-reunion atmosphere, trading off on versions of songs as as down-home as John Prine’s “Paradise”, or as surprising (and surprisingly heartfelt) as Eddie Money’s “Save a Little Room in Your Heart for Me,” as well as the rare original. The effect, overall, is of a family of impromptu, very talented musicians gathered in a corner at the wee-hours end of a good party, playing all the songs they love.

 

Download "Home Sweet Home" (Windows Media Audio file, 2.8MB)

(Originally by Lee, Neil, Sixx)

Contact: 917-553-3851 or E-mail The Wissler Family

Visit The Wissler Family at www.thewisslerfamily.com

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