Wood & Wire

Wood & Wire is one of the most promising new bands on Austin’s bluegrass and acoustic scene. Mixing in elements of Americana and swing, its healthy dose of original music and traditional bluegrass tunes keep audiences riveted. The band keeps people on their toes, too, with a cappella ballads, funky acoustic jams and rippin’ fast instrumentals. Wood & Wire features Matt Slusher on mandolin, Tony Kamel on guitar, Trevor Smith on Banjo, and Dom Fisher on bass. When the original trio got together in the fall of 2011, things started happening quickly. From the very beginning, their chemistry made collaborating easy, and they practiced relentlessly as they built their sound. Focusing hard on three-part harmonies, thought-out arrangements, and some hard-driving pickin’, all of which is anchored by Dom’s solid bass playing. Old tunes that Slush and Tony had written in the past were given new life, and the group’s collective energy created inspiration for new songs along the way. Trevor started jamming and performing with the trio in December 2011 and officially joined the band in March 2012, adding a whole new element to the quartet. Anyone that has seen Wood & Wire in the act can see their enthusiasm shine through on the stage. In just a few short months, the group has already played at legendary venues such as Gruene Hall and the Cactus Cafe. Bluegrass and acoustic music are becoming more and more popular in the Austin scene and in central Texas as a whole. The members of Wood & Wire feel privileged to be a part of a much larger community that boasts some of the best acoustic musicians in the world. They’re ready to keep playing throughout Texas and neighboring states until recording an album sometime this summer. Matt Slusher – Mandolin A talented multi-instrumentalist from McAllen, TX that plays with several bands in the Austin area such as La Tampiquena, Shawn Nelson, and Rodney Hayden. He is also a founding member of the South Austin Jug band. A veteran of all styles. Matt & Tony met at the Old Settlers Music Festival in 2009 where they picked at the campgrounds all night and have done so every year since then. Dom Fisher – Bass Dom studied Jazz Studies at Ithaca College in New York and Moved to Austin two years ago from Nashville. In Nashville he played with several Bluegrass and Old Time groups like The Howling Brothers and Stop Gap. Here in Austin he also plays with bluegrass groups My Pet Possum and Flatiron with Tony. Tony Kamel – Guitar Tony hails from Houston, TX and started playing bluegrass music in 2008. Since he started performing in 2010, he joined with Dom in two other bluegrass projects, My Pet Possum and Flatiron. He also plays frequently with The Bluegrass Outfit with a bunch of other talented bluegrass folk around these parts. Trevor Smith – Banjo Trevor Smith came to Austin via Tucson, AZ in 2005 to join up with Green Mountain Grass. Since then he’s toured the country playing Banjo, Guitar, & Mandolin with Green Mountain Grass, The Asylum Street Spankers, and various other projects. Trevor officially joined with Wood & Wire in March 2012, adding a whole new dimension to the band.