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Band History
Billed as five people who like to get funky, Left Wing Bourbon is a popular blues based band. The band really revolves around the stellar voice of Faith Ulwelling, lead singer for the band.
The roots of Left Wing Bourbon’s musical tree go deeper than you’d expect for a band filled with members in their 20’s and 30’s (except for the Guru, who is ageless). Four of the five members, all originals to the group, once hailed from Durand, a little town in West-Central Wisconsin. In the 1990’s, the River’s Edge bar put this little town on the blues map with its legendary open jams. It was at these jams where the core of Left Wing Bourbon cut their musical teeth, some even as teenagers, jamming along with and learning from local veterans and the occasional “big time” player just passing through. As the fledgling ‘wingers began to form their own, and often different, bands, they still met at the blues jams, which by the late 90’s were now going down in not only Durand but in nearby Stockholm, Maiden Rock, and Eau Claire. As the would-be Left Wing Bourbonites explored various musical settings on their own—from classic rock to heavy metal to acoustic pop—they continued to share a common strand of blues as they kept ties through the various open jams.
In the early 2000’s, the members which would go on to form LWB were in two similar yet distinct blues acts. As members came and went, and fill-in roles became permanent and some members found themselves in two increasingly identical bands, the idea of consolidating players was put on the table. Then, in the winter of 2006, Left Wing Bourbon was made official. Let the fun begin…
By spring of 2006 Left Wing Bourbon was a fixture in their hometown of Durand, Wisconsin, but wasn’t satisfied with entertaining just family and friends (as entertaining as some of their friends are when they try to dance!). Before long LWB was making a march through roadhouses along the outskirts of Eau Claire, in Chippewa Falls and still finding time to play “hometurf” shows when the occasion arose.
In 2007 and 2008, Left Wing Bourbon continued to improve its playing and expand its touring. Summer festivals from Sparta to Eau Claire, and even a new one back in little Durand, exposed LWB to a new base of blues-craving fans. Left Wing Bourbon’s bone-deep, high-energy blues and funk proved infectious, and by the end of 2008 the band was enjoying an explosion in number of shows, new towns visited, and size and enthusiastic response of the crowd.
In 2009 Left Wing Bourbon continues to entertain at summer festivals, and year-round in indoor venues from dusty honky-tonks to neon-soaked downtown clubs. LWB’s energetic blend of funk, blues and feel-good music leaves the audience wanting more, and marking the band’s return on the calendar. Left Wing Bourbon plays down and dirty Chicago blues, dance-inducing funk and Motown, foot-stomping Texas blues, slabs of classic rock, and gorgeous ballads. The band is blessed with not one but four excellent vocalists. They’ve got something for everybody. Left Wing Bourbon plays blues and funk with one foot on its musical roots and one foot forward, paying homage to the old-school forms while injecting vitality and sweat into every number.
Genre
Blues with overtones of funk.
Hometown
Durand Wisconsin
Contact
Members
Faith Ulwelling -- Vocals
Jacob Ulwelling -- Bass
Jason Keisler -- Guitar
Derrick Biederman -- Drums
Tim Caswell -- Keyboards
Occasional Members
Sue Orfield -- Sax.
Mike Ulwelling Harmonica Mike -- Harmonica
Former Members
Discography
Live Shows
Left Wing Bourbon plays around the Eau Claire area often. Check the Schedule at the Mousetrap, in downtown, if you don't want to check the band's web site directly. The playlist tends to be funkified blues numbers. The lead singer has a very Aretha Franklin sounding voice.
Influences
Awards
Winner of the 2010 Freaky Award
Press
[Underdog Radio does the first half of the show on local band, Left Wing Bourbon]
[Videos available for viewing at Google]
Freak & Geek Reviews
http://www.freaksandgeeks.org/component/content/article/1-latest/231-left-wing-bourbon-back-at-the-mousetrap
http://www.freaksandgeeks.org/bands-reviewed/219-left-wing-bourbon-at-the-mousetrap
Web Sites
http://www.myspace.com/leftwingbourbon
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1570546395
Trivia
Lead singer, Faith and bass player, Jacob are brother and sister. Harmonica player, Mike, is the father to both children.
Image Gallery
Videos
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