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The Nashville Wreckers' name is full of contradictions. The group actually makes its home right here in Chicago and, despite calling the group "the Wreckers," the six-piece doesn't set out to create chaos. Instead, the crew plays a particularly weary brand of alt-country, songs such as "Rye Whiskey" and "Saints and Sinners" (both streaming at myspace.com/thenashvillewreckers) traipsing along like a junkman's horse.
The group was formed by duel singer-songwriters Don Melas and Andrew Wetmore in 2007. Writing on the MySpace site, the crew dissects the differences between the two frontmen, saying, "Melas sings of broken things and sadness. ... Wetmore's songs [are] filled with sarcasm and spite." Both ably capture regret and loss, as well, so be sure to grab a drink (or two) to drown your sorrows when you head out to catch the ramshackle gang live this weekend.
Andy Downing- Chicago Tribune - Andy Downing
The Nashville Wreckers may hail from the city’s South Side, but the sextet wouldn’t seem out of place taking the stage at the Grand Ole Opry’s Ryman Auditorium. And if the band’s four-song Alleyways is any indication, an invitation from the venerated venue could come soon rather than later. The brainchild of guitar/vocalists Don Melas and Andrew Wetmore, The Nashville Wreckers take up where Ryan Adams left off on Heartbreaker, especially on the album’s tour de force, “Streets Don’t Sing.” (www.myspace.com/thenashvillewreckers) Appearing: October 3rd at Chicago Country Music Festival.
– Janine Schaults
- Illinois Entertainer
Discography
Alleyways EP 2008
Liars 2010
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Bio
When Don Melas and Andrew Wetmore met just a little over 3 years ago in a “hole in the wall” dive bar on the south side of Chicago, they never could have anticipated the creative juices that would flow between them. It was an encounter that you couldn’t make up if you wanted to. Bernice’s Tavern is an extremely small bar that is meant mostly for locals. One must ring a doorbell just to get in, though there is no guarantee that you will be let in. One fateful night in early 2006, Wetmore entered the bar to find a handful of people passing about a guitar. It seems that the jukebox had been broken and needless to say, people wanted to hear some music. So when it was Melas’ turn he did a cover of “Winding Wheel” by Ryan Adams. That pretty much sealed their friendship, and Wetmore approached Melas about playing together. But as difficult as timing is, there was just not enough time in either man’s schedule to really get going and they eventually lost touch for about a year.
It was July of 2007 that they ran into each other at Bridgeport Coffee shop and decided to give it another shot, both had other bands under their belt by then and were a bit more seasoned and ready for work it would take to make a successful country band. Melas had previously done some solo work as well as was in the bands Stereo South and Horace Pinker. Wetmore also played in previous bands Sarah Says and The Candy Hearts and had been at work to release his solo album “Dog Roses”. Wetmore recruited bassist/guitarist Rev. Gary Brennan, whom he has been good friends with for over 10 years and has accompanied him in previous bands, and The Nashville Wreckers were born.
The Nashville Wreckers have deep country influences but also balance their sound with some catchy pop hooks such as in “Come Early Morning” (Wetmore) and “Alleyways” (Melas). The combination of two seasoned songwriters like Melas and Wetmore make the music border in deep drunken sadness and philosophical wondering about the late of us all. The twang of their country is there and is more subtle then is reminiscent of artists like Smog and Will Oldham. The band just recently has become cohesive enough to start touring, for months they had a rotating line-up with members coming and going. Now joined by musicians like Chris Elam from previous bands Hello, I’m Victor, The State Lines and Arwin and Andrew Huelsman formerly of The Emily Shrine it will be exciting to see this up and coming band grow before our eyes and really become part of the Chicago and Midwest country music scene.
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