DENTED TRUCKS
Hello Blues fans, welcome to the Dented Trucks website. This smokin' Texas and Chicago style Blues
band out of Olympia, Washington has been tearing it up at venues across the Pacific Northwest with wicked guitar solos, a hard driving bass
and awesome drum grooves.
As lead guitarist and vocalist, Diane Wessels has a sound from the soul that
ranges from smooth and slow to hard and gritty. The seeds of raw talent were planted for Diane at a young age, who was born
into a musical family of accordion players, pianists, a drummer and professional opera singers. Like many musicians, she started
with piano and the school choir. When introduced to guitar the playing took off. Passion for playing enabled her, in a
short period of time, to put on a raw energetic performance.
Ricky Wessels originally played harmonica,
but took on the bass due to the bands need for a bass player. He turned out to be a natural. Ricky brings to the band
a punchy energetic upfront sound. Influences are Benny Turner and Tommy Shannon.
The Dented Trucks
drummer Jenine Wessels, formerly the bands keyboardist, puts on a very focused and precise performance. Her own distinct out
of the box technique contributes to the bands own style.
Songwriting is an ongoing activity involving
all band members. Over half of Dented Trucks music is original and their own style is applied to the cover songs. Influences
are Blues greats such as Freddie King, Howlin' Wolf and Albert King.
Dented Trucks audiences have
been enjoying honest electric Blues with a tight sound and slick arrangements.
The Blues comes from inside deep, like turning yourself inside out. That's the only way anybody should play this music, from
the soul. When playing the Blues, even with your own stuff, you want the audience to remember the people that it comes from,
the great musicians like Howlin' Wolf, Freddie King, John Lee Hooker, Big Mama Thornton, T-Bone Walker, Albert King, Lightnin' Hopkins,
Robert Johnson, Elmore James, Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, Mavis Staples and many others.
Diane Wessels
The Blues feels like perfect music, something special, like creating art and telling a story. Performing the Blues has
made it possible to go places and meet people that I normally would not . I enjoy seeing the audience having
a good time listening to the music that we created.
Ricky Wessels
To me the Blues is enjoying the creativity of composing the music and creating my own sound. I also like the comradery with
my band members. I love when it all comes together at the performance.
Jenine Wessels