Biography
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
I just love the cool beat of the blues
Jenine Wessels
Past Venues:
Vancouver Micro Blues Festival
Edmonds Summer Concerts in the Park
Sprinkles Edible Art
Shoreline Arts Festival
Cascade
Blues Association
Siti Lites Cafe
First Night Tacoma
Rainier Arts Festival
C&P Coffee Company
Sand in the City
Forza Coffee Company
The
Matrix Coffeehouse
Rendezvous Rhythm and Blues Festival
Wahkiakum County Fair
Bellevue Arts Museum Arts Fair
Red, White and Blues Fest
Wolf
Creek Inn Father's Day BBQ, Blues and Microbrews
Point Defiance Music Festival
Olympia Harbor Days
Westport Art Festival
Annual Mountain
Mania Festival
Castle Rock Fair
McCleary Bear Festival
Yelm Prairie Days
Lacey in Tune Summer Concert
The Swiss
4th Ave Tavern
The Royal
Lounge
Cafe' Luna
Spring ArtsWalk
Fall ArtsWalk
The Mandolin Cafe'
Market Street Traders
Chai House
TV and Radio Airplay:
SCAN-TV
TCTV
KAOS 89.3 FM
KMHD 89.1 FM