Dead Winter Carpenters to play Mono Inn

Story and Photo By David Huebner

By now you’ve probably at least seen their name advertised around town, and perhaps you caught their set at Mammoth Rocks, but in case you haven’t, the Dead Winter Carpenters are a very accomplished up-and-coming band that has been touring heavily for a couple of years now, playing festivals and venues around the country and even opening up for some big names like Sam Bush. On Wednesday, Oct. 10 we’ll be graced with another appearance by DWC in the Eastern Sierra at the Historic Mono Inn just north of Lee Vining, right along the shore of Mono Lake, a venue that is both intimate and spacious, with picture perfect views of the lake.

You might be scratching your head thinking, “Now is that the same place as the Ansel Adams gallery? I thought that closed down or something.” And you are right, it was closed for three years, but has now been open again for the past two years, and is being operated by new folks Jim O’Meally and Mario Aguilar, who not only have a penchant for creating delicious food and offering great wine and beer, but for hosting live music events with bands that are passing through the Eastern Sierra.

The Dead Winter Carpenters know how to jam. I’ve seen them perform a few times, and every time has built upon the energy from the time before. While they channel the influence of bluegrass music, that hardly defines their sound which is much more rock’n roll / jam band than bluegrass. They are all very skilled musicians, and good songwriters, and just good people. You can find their music online at http://deadwintercarpenters.com and listen for yourself. The combination of this quality of music with good food and shoreline views of Mono Lake is not to be missed. There is ample parking and camping is available. Local Mammoth jam band Old Coyote Moon (http://oldcoyotemoon.com) which, in the effort of full disclosure, I am a part of, opens the show with a full band including didgeridoo and cello.