Since forming in 2001, North Carolina bluegrass group Deeper Shade of Blue have solidified their place as a keystone in the genre, having released six self-produced albums while touring and earning high billing on festivals nationwide. In celebration of their two-decades long career, November of 2021 saw their seventh album, Twenty, released to high praise. Kicking off 2022, the band announced their Traveling Down the Blue Road Tour, latest single “Four Wheel Drive” followed by its music video, premiering today exclusively with The Country Note.
Written and recorded by the late Larry Rice on his album Hurricanes and Daydreams, Deeper Shade of Blue makes sure to pay homage to Rice’s original approach while adding their own flair. “We were looking for an up-tempo, driving grass tune for the new album and ‘Four Wheel Drive,’ written by my nephew, Larry Rice, checked all the boxes,” says Frank Poindexter. “It’s a fun filled song that takes the listener out through the backroads paying a visit to pick up their sweetheart in a big, bad four wheel drive! It features Wyatt Rice on lead guitar and an amazing Tony Rice tag that wraps up the tune! Many thanks to The Country Note for premiering our brand new video!”
Watch the exclusive video premiere of “Four Wheel Drive” below:
“Four Wheel Drive” is the third single off Twenty, following “Whether or Not” (co-written by Brink Brinkman and Frank Poindexter) and “Broken Lady” (penned by Larry Gatlin).
The Deeper Shade of Blue quintet includes Jason Fraley (mandolin/vocals), Troy Pope (guitar/vocals), Frank Poindexter (dobro/vocals), Scott Burgess (bass/vocals), and Steve Wilson (banjo). Jim Fraley, Jason’s father, retired from the band in 2020.
Download/stream Twenty here.
For more information on Deeper Shade of Blue, visit their website at deepershadeofblue.com and follow them on Facebook.