3 albums and 164 shows together and counting.
The Little Wheels Band is a West Coast Americana Band with a big sound and a downhome flair. As compelling to watch as to listen to. And really fun to dance to.
Founders Michael John Ahern and Lachlann Kane bring to the stage a decade long musical partnership sustained on vocal harmony and crafted musical arrangement. The Little Wheels Band offers a huge songlist, tight vocal harmony, a great live sound and a crafted stage performance. The rhythm section of bassist Rob Wenig and drummer Harold Ohashi drive the LWB machine along with pedal steel guitarist Gary Chiappetta adding to the mix the country twang uniquely woven into the texture of everything The Little Wheels Band does.
Something for Everybody
LWB is known for turning on a dime from high energy rock and roll to the syncopated, to the funky and then into straight ahead country. Milestones include over a 160 live performances in their 6 years together and sharing the stage with notable acts including Jefferson Starship, Sara Evans, David Nelson Band, and James Nash,
Notable performances include the 2005 Jerry Garcia Amphitheater Dedication Concert in SF, CA and 2 magical Main Stage performances at the HMB Pumpkin Festival. In Spring 2008 LWB released their third album (The High Road), a strong collection of studio and live tracks with two songs receiving international airplay. .
LWB records many of their shows and some of these recordings have been posted for free download on this website.
Rob Wenig started playing bass at the ripe old age of 22. He was first captivated by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Clapton, Allmans, and Grateful Dead and then began a lifelong interest in jazz in high school. Rob studies with the Berkeley Jazz Workshop and also plays in a trio with guitar and piano. In 1992 he began playing 6-string bass (Michael Tobias Design) after being inspired, on more than a few occasions, by Phil Lesh. Rob has also been influenced by Dave Holland, Ron Carter, Paul Chambers, Anthony Jackson, Marcus Miller, and Paul McCartney.
As a self-employed technical writer, Rob authors operation manuals for professional audio equipment. He lives in Berkeley with his wife Lisa and son, Skylar. The family cycles around town in style with their Burley bike trailer. Rob is also an avid mountain biker, riding his Yeti in Marin and to more exotic locations such as Tahoe, CO, and UT for annual adventures.
Lachlann Kane aka Plaid Man plays keyboards, sings, writes, and complains a lot. Besides being a veteran of Bay Area bands like the Usual Suspects, Strawman, Thirstn Howl, the Castaways, the Crawdads, The Webs, and The Sun Kings, he has had the pleasure of playing with Clarence Clemons, and Peter Tork from the Monkees. A Philadelphia native, he enjoys playing the funk-pop sound, and vocal doo-wop. He took his first piano lesson from a ruler-wielding nun in 1963, and has played religiously every since. Lachlann is now playing Bay Area blues haunts with the DB Walker Band.
Harold Ohashi plays drums like a rock star dedicating his waking moments to the three D’s. Drums and two other academic pursuits that good taste prevents us from listing here. This has earned him the nickname “Triple D”. Born in the state of Hawaii Harold came to California on a balsa raft barely escaping the effects of hyperthermia. Legend has it that when they found young Harold washed up on shore and shivering it was in perfect ¾ time. Harold also drums for the legendary rock band Switchblade Nixon, lives in Pacifica, CA and enjoys off-roading to places law enforcement can’t find him.
Michael John Ahern (guitar and vocals) is an Emmy nominated Northern California ASCAP songwriter and musical producer with songs heard around the world on country music radio. MJ is a co-founder of the The Little Wheels Band and the American Dream, a rock party band.. MJ has built a broad musical repertoire spanning the last century and across several genre. MJ's influences include James Taylor, Warren Haynes, Bad Company, Glenn Phillips and the Allman Brothers. MJ contracts as a recording engineer and is voting member of the Recording Academy. When not playing music MJ is also a teacher and student advisor at an award winning public continuation high school. Michael's hobbies include coastal fishing, mountain biking, baseball, golfing and lives near Half Moon Bay.
Drew Pieros is a self-taught percussionist originating from New Jersey. Trained as an alto sax player from grade school, Drew realized his true musical calling and picked up percussion while attending college (MANY moons ago), and has been playing with a diverse group of musicians ever since. Accompanying a wide range of musical styles as far flung as reggae, jazz, R&B, folk rock, funk, and experimental instrumental music, Drew's excitement and enthusiasm for the Little Wheels' music is demonstrated in every performance. Drew now plays in the Robin Campbell Band. Aside from playing music, Drew is also a Dad to two great kids, and owns his own marketing research consultancy, PRC. After living stints in NJ, Boston, Los Gatos, and Santa Cruz, Drew now makes his home amidst the lovely redwoods in Felton, CA.
Gary Chiappetta is a veteran of the Bay Area country music scene. Gary plays the peddle steel guitar bringing to the Little Wheels Band over 50 years of country music tradition. His playing is richly textural with an amazing ear and excellent chops.
LWB
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The Little Wheels Band
