Steel Train

The latest in a bumper crop of rootsy, genre-straddling bands (such as Moonshine Still, Soul Live, New Monsoon, Town Hall and Animal Liberation Orchestra) to garner a national buzz, New Jersey's Steel Train is steadily expanding its fan base by notching lauded performances at a wide array of fests, including the neo-Woodstock revel Bonnaroo, last year's Vans Warped Tour and a stint at Vegoose two weeks ago. Likewise, the quintet has shared the stage with a broad-cross section of talent, including the Crystal Method, Blackalicious, Idlewild and Finch. On Twilight Tales From the Prairies of the Sun, the act's latest effort, Steel Train makes skilled use of acoustic and electric instrumentation and deftly showcases its diversity by mixing elements of classic rock, Latin, country, funk, folk and bluegrass to pleasing effect. Now, that's what you call a piece train.