By Michael Wiles, Lead Music Writer

Every once in a while a band gets it just right. It’s a hard moment to capture, because so much goes into striking the right balance. Be too narrowly focused and you’re easily pigeon holed, be unfocused and you’ll be ignored. But, if you understand your art, your audience, and yourself from the inside out, you’ve got something truly unique and refreshing: You’ve got local alt-country band The Wayfarers.

Poised to release Sorrow & Snakes, their third album in eight years, on May 30th with a party at Austin Grill in Canton, The Wayfarers is that rare act that delivers consistency and versatility with every song.

From the opening title track, The Wayfarers demonstrate their ability to write heartfelt lyrics with universal appeal. For many bands, that often means cookie-cutter sentiment and unpolished ideas, but this band clearly knows the difference between corny and honest.

In fact, “Some Women” is such a perfect alt-country gem that a casual listen suggests a pre-identity-crisis Ryan Adams. As for variety, The Wayfarers are as diverse as their members. Brad Dunnells’s softer, folk-flavored vocals match Laura Malkus’s rock-tinged sound perfectly, while Jason Tinney, and a whole host of guest musicians, fill in the rest with precision. Sorrow & Snakes has something for everyone, from upbeat, swinging tunes like “Saturday Night Shirt” and the biting “Lucinda Williams” to the slower, introspective “Fallin’ Apart at the Dreams” and “Spiritual.”

Of course, this extensive talent translates easily to a great live show, and audiences are going to get the chance to hear for themselves on May 30th. When asked how preparations are going for the event, Dunnells shares that the venue is perfect for their CD release.

“Austin Grill is a nice venue for singer/songwriters. We will have a number of local guest musicians playing with us that night. They are all great players and we hope their participation will offer the audience a variety of sounds.”

Tinney, on the other hand, takes a more practical stance: “The CD’s have arrived, so that’s a great start.”

The Info:
The Wayfarers CD Release Party: Sorrow & Snakes
Friday, May 30
Austin Grill
2400 Boston St., Canton
410-534-0606

Want more? Read Michael Wile’s Q&A with The Wayfarers on our music blog, www.bmoretunes.com.