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Woodshed Mercy’s sophomore effort, “Second Fiddle,” stays true to the band’s musical philosophy and self-proclaimed genre of Eclectic Americana. From the jaunty violin of the title track and “The Devil Don’t Live in Indiana…“ to the jam band inspired “Ariel,“ Woodshed Mercy pays homage to traditional country (“Grandad Came to the City”, “Leavin’ the Big City”), old time railroad Americana (“Mercy Blossom Special”), heartland rock (“The Grass Ain‘t Never Greener”, “Open Range Torch Song”, “Injustice“) and instrumental grunge (“Mexigrunge”) . And no Woodshed Mercy CD would be complete without at least a brief tribute to cowpunk (“Johnny’s Muzzle Loader…” clocks in at a hillbilly minute).

WM core members (Jennifer O’Neal, Drew Clair, Matt Kasl, Dave Kasl) recorded “Second Fiddle” at Cleveland’s Track Six Recording, with guest appearances by some of Cleveland’s favorite musicians. Guitarists “Tall” Tom Denk (Waterband), Bobby Latina (Jack Fords, ex-Cowslingers) and Doug Price (Renegade) added their signature licks to the tracks. Itinerant piano player Miss Magnolia, a staple on the Town Fryer music scene, and Top Rail’s Eric Miller (dobro) also lend a hand, so to speak.

Since releasing their self-titled debut CD in August 2005, Woodshed Mercy have generated a small but loyal following which helped earn them a nomination for “best band” in the Americana category of the 2007 Free Times Music Awards. Nine of the ten tracks (all but “Dona Nobis Pacem”) received radio spins locally (on the now-defunct “Native Noise” local music show on 100.7 WMMS-FM, 91.1 WRUW-FM and 88.7 WJCU-FM) and abroad (the Netherlands, Belgium).

Semi-regulars on Cleveland’s close-knit roots rock music scene, Woodshed Mercy have played dates at the Beachland Ballroom & Tavern, the Town Fryer, the Barking Spider and other venues with Deke Dickerson & the Ecco-Fonics, the Jack Fords, Whiskey Daredevils, Hayshaker Jones, GS Harper, Brian Lisik Band, Crooked Mile, Whitey Morgan & the Waycross Georgia Farmboys, Amy Fish & Yonder Blue, 500 Miles to Memphis, Ryan Humbert, Vital Mines, Ryann “Guitar” Anderson, Bobby Lanphier, Zach, Crookneck Chandler & the Tibbee Bottom Boys, Robert Cornelius, Pale Blue Sky, Brent Kirby & the Flashing 12s, Gusti, Derek DePrator Band, Paul Baumgardner, the very knees, Saul Glennon Trio, the Breakup Society, and other area bands. They’ve participated in the 40th Kent State Folk Alley ‘Round Town, 2006 Cleveland Peace Show, Berea’s National Rib Cook-Off, ActiveMuse.org’s Peace/Music/Arts Fest, Rock the Vote shows, the Town Fryer’s Americana Music Festivals, and charitable benefits for the American Red Cross (Hurricane Relief), the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Now available on CDBaby.com and Apple i-Tunes!