Winged Wheel

Winged Wheel is a collective of figures from the U.S. music underground who bring several lifetimes of experience and abstract practice to their collaborative sound. The five-piece, multi-location band is made up of Whitney Johnson (Matchess, Circuit des Yeux), Cory Plump (Spray Paint, co-owner of the venue Tubby’s), Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth, Orcutt / Shelley / Miller), Lonnie Slack, and Fred Thomas (Idle Ray, Tyvek). Their sound melts together hypnotic kosmische, dual guitar exploration, viola freakouts, Throbbing Gristle-style vocal assaults, and extended technique lap steel, all connected with a web of dubby production . WW have played shows in the States and Europe with Neil Young, Guided By Voices, Bob Mould, Guerilla Toss, and Eric Copeland.

Their third album, Desert So Green (2026 via 12XU), has been receiving praise from Pitchfork, Brooklyn Vegan, Stereogum, Bandcamp, Aquarium Drunkard, and others.

With each member living in a different, far-flung location, the Winged Wheel collective sometimes breaks off in smaller configurations that reframe the greater vision of the band in new, more granular explorations.

While the trio and quartet versions of Winged Wheel reflect the full band's commitment to improvisation and deep listening, the small groups also offer a rare opportunity to hear the dynamic between these players on its own terms, outside the framework of the larger ensemble.