Audio
Here is some recent audio from Wheel to the Storm and our acoustic duo, Radio Signal.
Wheel to the Storm plays "Tennessee Jed":
Radio Signal plays "Crazy Fingers":
Events
Tuesday, March 3, 8:00-8:45: Radio Signal opens Dead Night
Haze, 24 Main Street, Northampton
Radio Signal opens for Black Sweatpants at Dead Night. $5/21+.
Thursday, March 5, 7:00: Progression open mic
Progression Brewery, 9 Pearl Street, Northampton
Wheel to the Storm will play a few songs and provide a full backline. With host Billy Moon. We suspect we might see the UMass blues rock band Fusebox as well!
Tuesday, March 17, 8:00-8:45: Dead Night
Haze, 24 Main Street, Northampton
Wheel to the Storm opens for Dead Night; main act TBA. $5/21+
Tuesday, May 12: MSP Anniversary Celebration
Private event for UMass faculty union members.
News
Dead Night Listings Now Have a Website!
Haze, at 24 Main Street, hosts a Grateful Dead night every Tuesday from 8-12pm. $5 cover, 21+. Check their listings at deadnight.org
Dead Night Now Has Opening Acts, Including Wheel and Radio Signal
Dead Night at Haze has expanded its hours, now running 8-midnight instead of 9-midnight, to allow for opening acts. Radio Signal will be the first opener, on 3/3, followed by Wheel on 3/17. Plans currently have Wheel playing every other week after that. Check here or at deadnight.org.
Contact Wheel to the Storm
You can reach us at info@wheeltothestorm.band to say hi or if you are interested in having us play at your event. We are available in electric and acoustic format.
About Wheel to the Storm
Win (rear), Brian, Sigrid, Connor, and Lurene (front), that time we got lost trying to find the stage
Our genesis was a Grateful Dead rock band class Win and Brian independently asked Downtown Sounds to organize. Garrett at DS got local Dead band keyboardist Parker McQueeney to teach, and the magic began. Over 24 weeks, our technique improved and our fervor for playing and being together became undeniable, and we left the nest as Wheel to the Storm.
The Liberal Arts Open Mic
Lurene backs "Stand By Me," July 2025
We hosted street musicians, full bands, and dozens of musically inclined people from the neighborhood. Experts, first-time performers, regulars, and one-timers all joined in. There were jam sessions and scripted sets. Some participants were unhoused. A few had raging addictions. It was a home for chaos and magic.
In November 2025, Liberal Arts gallery has closed its doors after a five-year run. Huge thanks to Jen and Liberal Arts for the opportunity to play weekly as the open mic host band.
Personnel
Sigrid and Win as Radio Signal
Lurene Grenier: Lead vocals, lead guitar
Connor Grenier: Bass guitar
Brian Hell: Rhythm guitar*, backing vocals
Win Close: Drums*, backing vocals, Radio Signal**
Sigrid Schmalzer: Backing vocals, percussion, Radio Signal**
* Close-as-Hell sets: Win and Brian tend to forget which instruments they play, and sometimes end up playing a set with their instruments switched.
** Close and Schmalzer also perform as Radio Signal, a tribute to Mike + Ruthy/The Mammals
Dead Night
One-time string band combo at Dead Night, October 15, 2024
Many Dead musicians and bands rotated through Dead Night since it started in 2022 at its original Bishop's Lounge location. Drummer Kade Parkin organizes it. Full bands that have appeared regularly include Dead Collective, Owsley's Owls, Drunken Noodles, and Shakedown CT. Regular and one-time combos have come and gone with the likes of lead guitarist and Jerry sound-alike Mark Paradis, keyboardist Parker McQueeney, rhythm guitarist and young Bob look-alike Mike Parham, and bassist Brian O'Connell. All of the above-mentioned musicians have helped teach Wheel to the Storm, as have the weekly Dead Night performances.
Dead Night has been a major source of inspiration to Wheel to the Storm (as well a host), and we are happy it has found a new location. Wheel to the Storm's first original, Little Dark Bar, is a tribute to Dead Night.