“I’ve never heard a three-piece band sound so full!”

- Some guy at one of our shows.

It's been a long road for Chuck Mountain. With roots in Southern rock, blues, and country, this Greensboro, N.C. outfit is a force to be reckoned with, having already gained a reputation in their regional circuit for their blisteringly high-energy live performances and catchy, memorable songs. After releasing a handful of singles in the years since their inception, 2023 sees the trio set to release their first full-length album, Fool's Journey. 

This new album is a collection of road-ready anthems vividly documenting the struggle between virtue and vice through a decidedly Southern-tinted lens. The band draws influences from The Black Keys, Cage the Elephant, and Gary Clark, Jr., but Chuck Mountain’s particular brand of Southern rock evokes a certain swagger that fits right alongside fellow genre luminaries like Blackberry Smoke and Cody Jinks. 

Fool’s Journey features blazing guitar riffs from Beau Wigington complemented by a rock-solid rhythm section comprised of drummer Sammi Printz bassist Jeff Wysosky (who trades off vocal duties with Wigington) to create a wall of sound that punches well above the weight of what one might assume from a humble power trio. The band cheekily credits “some guy at one of our shows'' with a ringing endorsement: “I’ve never heard a three-piece band sound so full!” 

While not a concept record per se, Fool’s Journey takes listeners on an intentional story arc. From the opening title track serving as a summons to adventure to book-end “Stop Holding It In” reminding us to let go of anything we’ve bottled up inside, the album is rife with universal themes of overcoming the challenges of modern life. “Cycle” and “Tryin’ To Take” document the rock-bottoms of addiction, while “More To Life” and “Gambling Man” show the other side of that coin in overcoming pitfalls while working towards something better. These are heavy topics drawn from a collective lived experience, but Chuck Mountain isn't afraid to face down demons as they invite listeners to do the same. 

Tracked at Earthtones Recording Studios in Greensboro, the record came together much faster than anticipated, thanks in no small part to the group having honed their chops on the live circuit. "We went in wanting to get a record that represented what we sound like live," Wigington recalls of the band's approach to the studio. The original goal was to get three or four usable tracks in just two days of studio time, but after nailing seven songs on the first day, they followed through and came out the other side with a full-length LP at the ready.

Community is at the heart of the band's endeavors both in and outside of music. They launched an online streaming series "Live at Linda's" in 2022 as a platform to share their live performances when not on the road, with the series gaining enough traction that the band started receiving booking inquiries from others who wanted to play this "new club" called Linda's (spoiler: Linda's is actually the band's home studio, although they do plan to invite guests and add an interview component in 2023).

In addition to the album release and the success of Live at Linda’s, the band has recently partnered with Little Brother Brewing Company for the release of their very own craft beer, "Fool's Journey" (marking their second beer collaboration). This Hazy Pale Ale is set for release February 24th, 2023 and will be accompanied by the release of the album’s title track.

Inspired by the grit and soul that are hallmarks of the band’s home region while remaining universally accessible in its messaging and sonic leanings, Fool’s Journey is a triumphant debut that sees the trio firmly planting their flag after years of putting in the work. Having successfully captured the energy of the live performances they’ve staked their claim on, this record is sure to satiate longtime fans while turning some new heads along the way. This is an album that was worth the wait, and shows that for Chuck Mountain, the journey is anything but folly.

Untapped: @ChuckMountain

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Vocals, Guitar / Beau James Wigington
Bass, Backing Vocals/ Jeff Wysosky
Drums / Sammi Printz