Live: The Wheel Workers/The Wandering Bufaleros/Jealous Creatures/Second Lovers

FITZGERALDS — 3/2/13: When you have been in bands for 25 years, you can tell when a band has put everything they’ve got into a performance. This kind of effort was on display at Fitzgerald’s last night.

With the release of their new album, Past to Present, The Wheel Workers (though they’ve never been slackers!) made the point to ratchet it up another big notch with their own lights and video show. The imagery moved me to tears several times through the show, especially the video of the chicken being born (knowing the band’s commitment to animals), and the song “Rainbows,” which is likely one of the best love songs ever written by a Houston rock band.

Here’s to a bright future for The Wheel Workers. Opening the night was an excellent bill, including Houston “supergroup” Americana band The Wandering Buffaleros (including members of Finnegan, Poor Pilate, The 71’s, Don’t Poke the Bear, and The Winter Wallace Band), Jealous Creatures, who have also released an excellent album recently, and Second Lovers, one of Houston’s best up and coming country-rock outfits. END

(All photos by Jason Smith.)