The Steel Woods honor southern rock tradition in stylish debut

Fame Studios producer Rick Hall said that southern rock was born when Duane Allman goaded Wilson Pickett into covering the Beatles’ “Hey Jude.” Allman tore down Hall’s Muscle Shoals, Alabama studio with guitar fills that spawned a half-century of imitators.

That sound made its way from the Allman Brothers and other pioneers to Nashville’s country scene, where its sway remains today.

Enter the Steel Woods, a Nashville band that makes no bones about being “steeped in the ethos of southern rock,” which is obvious from the first steely twang of their debut album, “Straw in the Wind.”

The album blends styles but draws its strength from power chords and soaring guitar solos. Compelling vocals by Wes Bayliss wouldn’t be out of place on an early Marshall Tucker Band album.

Whether on a galloping romp called “Della Jane’s Heart” or the ballad “If We Never Go,” the band demonstrate with gusto that this genre isn’t played out.

So no, the Steel Woods may not open new doors here the way Allman and others did way back when. But they do walk through the door in style.