The 18 Wheelers Country Band from Miami, FL

"The Wheelers set themselves apart, tapping into songs etched with the authenticity of genuine, dyed-in-the-wool Americana. Listening to them crank out convincing covers of Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" or Merle Haggard's "Mama Tried," audiences can easily imagine they're not in South Florida but rather in some downtown dive in Austin or Nashville." Lee Zimmerman - Miami New Times "The Wheelers lure country-hungry locals with both original and mainstream C&W covers dating back to the '40s, when artists like Lefty Frizzell and Hank Williams first brought America a carnival-ride style of song directly from the small-town smoky bars known as honky-tonks. " Emma Trelles - Broward Palm Beach New Times "Well, the 18 Wheelers are here to remind us what rock was like before art and heroin got involved -- when blue suede shoes were cool and country musicians didn't pen songs about buying American flags at Wal-Mart. The band's 17-song CD, Songs from the Road, is proof that these guys know their roots." Jason Budjinski - Broward Palm Beach New Times Blending elements of classic honky-tonk country, western swing, rockabilly, roots rock, and bluegrass, The 18 Wheelers keep it upbeat and danceable. They're not afraid to do the occasional "cry in your beer" song either. This Miami based band has been entertaining audiences from the Palm beaches to the Keys with their combination of humor, good grooves and vocal harmonies for the past 19 years. Whether they're driving the train on a Johnny Cash number, rocking out on an Elvis tune, or singing an old classic by Buck Owens or Gram Parsons, the band seamlessly blends a deep catalog of covers with their own original songs. All the topics of the genre are covered – driving a big rig across the country, losing your girl, getting drunk, going to jail, and disappointing your mama. The group's repertoire leaned heavily on the Bakersfield sound of Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, Sun Records era material from Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and Gene Vincent, country rock songs by Gram Parsons, The Flying Burrito Brothers and The Byrds, and swinging truck driving songs by the likes of Dave Dudley and Commander Cody. The 18 Wheelers perform as either a quartet or quintet, utilizing electric guitars, pedal steel guitar, standup bass, and drums. The band is vocally strong, with three members capable of singing lead and harmony. You won't find them playing anything that sounds like it's been recorded in the past 40 years. All this notwithstanding, The 18 Wheelers sound is something that's best appreciated in a live setting where the drinks are flowing and people are ready to dance and enjoy themselves. The 18 Wheelers play local nightclubs on a regular monthly basis. Recent corporate clients include the Homestead Rodeo Association, The Pinecrest Chili Cook-off, The Florida Wildlife Fund Blue/Green Event, The Miami Heat, and The Miami Powerboat Club. The band is well experienced and has played in a large variety of settings throughput the years: festivals, private parties, wedding receptions, and nightclubs - and even once in a Chinese restaurant !