Wiley Fox

A Florida band with western Kentucky ties is sharing its brand of country music with area CD buyers. Wiley Fox, a five-piece group based in Hudson (in the greater Tampa-St. Petersburg area) is keeping a presence in this area with the availability of Wiley Fox, their 6-song CD.

Wiley Fox, whose members have family origins in Butler and Grayson Counties, has opened for a slew of name country acts, most recently Ricochet and Michael Peterson on March 28. Their club-ready approach to country could match the tastes of country fans here, who tend to have an appetite for country marinated in southern and classic rock.

Three brothers and a brother-in-law comprise Wiley Fox: Jesse Embry (lead vocal/guitar), Brandon Embry (lead guitar/vocal), Eric Embry (drums/vocal), and Mike Kaczmarek (bass). The lineup was expanded last fall to include Scott Williams (keyboard), after the recording of Wiley Fox.

Most of the group’s originals are written by Jesse Embry and Morgantown songwriter Tim Phelps, who as cousin to the Embrys continues the familial connection within the group. On Wiley Fox, Jesse Embry is the primary writer, with Tim Phelps, Eric Embry, and Jack Grossman sharing cowriting credits with Jesse.

The 6-song Wiley Fox CD was recorded at Studio 19 in Nashville and mastered at DBS Studios in nearby Antioch. The music on the CD has that “country band” sound — guitars and group vocals dominate the sound rather than steel guitar, fiddle, or twang. While this subgenre traces most strongly to Alabama, Wiley Fox is more similar to Toby Keith and Ricochet and to ’70s bands Firefall and Poco.

The character of the album’s sound revolves around Jesse Embry’s lead vocals and Brandon Embry’s lead guitar. Jesse has a high midrange country voice that handles mainstream country and driving uptempo songs equally well. Brandon leads and fills assertively with strong rock colorings, putting more energy in the songs. The Embry brothers offer well-arranged harmonies. The performances are musically solid and well recorded. Keyboard tracks by guest Barry Walsh enhance and compliment the group’s guitar and vocal orientation.

The highlights of Wiley Fox include “What’s Done Is Done,” a strong track showcasing the group’s overall potential, and the fun ode to playing the field “Pathalogical Lover.” Though the lyrics could be more consistent, they also show promise, particularly on the solid “What’s Done Is Done” and the phrase on “Pre-Conceived Notions” that goes “A time-tangled web of old broken down dreams/Leads to paper I-love-yous torn at the seams.”

In addition to Ricochet and Michael Peterson, Wiley Fox has opened shows for Blackhawk, Sammy Kershaw, Lorrie Morgan, Tanya Tucker, Willie Nelson, Lari White, Kevin Sharp, and Charlie Daniels. Currently, Wiley Fox is working on a full-length recording project of new originals. Also, the band reports they are in negotiations with a Nashville management firm and are working toward relocation from the Tampa-St. Petersburg area to Nashville.

The Wiley Fox CD is available at Pac Rats and Disc Jockey in Bowling Green, and at Entertainment Plus in Morgantown. For further information on Wiley Fox, contact Tim Phelps at 526-3503.

Don Thomason is a writer and musician living in Dunbar. Visit him at www.myspace.com/donthomasonmusic