A green desert is a monoculture, a verdant expanse of sameness. This contravenes the ethos of Winged Wheel, as the primary commonality of its six members is that they’re making music together. Each of them brings a unique background and oeuvre to the band; they sprout from vastly different territories, and their sound epitomizes this. The term synergy is overused, but it applies here. Winged Wheel is the product of a set cerebellums glued together in a game of give-and-take, constantly evolving and maturing in their six-fold synaptic unity.
The group understands the irony behind the name Desert So Green, as this album — its third — is clearly sonically lush and demonstrative of a persistent progression. It parallels the journey of this indie supergroup’s amalgamation as a band: On No Island they worked from afar; Big Hotel was the product of in person collaboration and a swelling of the ranks; here they’ve got a bunch of live shows under their belt and are operating in full band mode. There is variation at play, along with sonic experimentation. The swirling juggernaut is now balanced by steamy jet streams and vaporous vortices. The textures are still thick, but not overly dense; you can discern shapes in the mist. The daydream nation is still thriving, but it’s embraced ambient drift and a variety of sonic signifiers.
Gentleness prevails in lead-off track “Canvas 11.” Insistent but restrained guitars create an interlocking pattern over a soft synth chord, building just enough tension to arouse the listener’s interest and set the stage for the adventure yet to come. A subtle shift in tone near the piece’s end is the first of many juxtapositions the band leverages to introduce new moods mid-song. Cut to “Canvas 2” and sheaves of Whitney Johnson’s viola swirl about, dancing alongside chiming guitars and a suspense-inducing pulse from the rhythm section. The anticipatory vibe evaporates when “Speed Table” breaks through the misty haze with a churning guitar energy redolent of drummer Steve Shelley’s former band. Johnson’s liquid vocals are tangible but elude our grasp as they pour over the music, tempering the Sonic Youth-ism and showing how unique this band can be. This is the closest Winged Wheel come to their past work, and they get downright kaleidoscopic with the mood from hereon in.
Winged Wheel travels across various territories and climates throughout Desert So Green. Moody dirges take them through deep caverns (“More Frog Poems” and “Beautiful Holy Jewel Home,” both of which feature vocals from guitarist Cory Plump), while the upbeat and ethereal vibes of tracks like “Bird Spells” and “I See Poseurs Every Day” reveal mountain vistas. What’s key here is that Winged Wheel is travelling together, as a unit. The eclecticism in mood proves that they’re enjoying the voyage.
The Magic Man himself, Detroit legend, NHL legend, ambassador to the game of hockey across the world, countless youtube videos, hockey hero, terror in all 3 zones on the ice..
2 time Stanley Cup ('02 '08)
4 time Lady Byng ('06-'09)
3 time Frank J. Selke ('08-'10)
4 time All-Star ('04, '08, '09, '12), Olympic 2018
Winged Wheel - Cactus Club, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, May 12, 2025
They were awesome to begin with. But Winged Wheel seems intent on just becoming more and more awesome as the years go by. Now a sextet with members of both Water Damage and Sonic Youth in the fold, their second LP Big Hotel from 2024 remains in constant rotation, a perfect blend of motorik experimentalism and hazy melodies.
As you can see from their pedigrees above, these are very busy musicians with an array of other projects — so a tour is a rare and special thing. And saints be praised, the mighty Milwaukee Taper was on hand to record a sparkling tape of Winged Wheel earlier this month. The jams run free in fine fashion — it says something about the considerable chemistry between the players here that the exploratory 11-minute improv might be the high point, as Steve Shelley takes everyone to one beautiful plateau after another.
