Wrangellites playing music for the masses

Once upon a time, Wrangell sported a band of local musicians with their sights on domination of the world – or at least the Seattle music scene of the early 1990s.

That band, DXD, who at one time were the house band for the Stikine Inn, took their music south to the Emerald City in 1994 in an attempt to ply their trade in the bigger market where so many bands cashed in on the hugely popular “grunge” movement.

The band, which was fronted by the husband and wife duo of Glen and Kelly Decker, played for more than a decade in the Pacific Northwest before returning home to Wrangell to work and start a family.

But musicians never stop playing music. And the Decker team has proven that.

Their new band, Deck Wench, which includes Glen on guitar, Kelly on vocals, Ryan Kirschenmann on keyboards and guitar, Dustin Johnson on bass, and Frank Sheppard on drums, have been together since February and have been prepping for a big gig next week during Wrangell’s annual Fourth of July celebration.

The band, which plays cover tunes exclusively, will play at the Totem Bar on July 3.

As one of three bands playing during the Independence Day festivities, Deck Wench will be the only local group to play live for reveling crowds.

As the vocalist for the band, Kelly said she pushes herself hard to sing her best – especially with the band’s varied repertoire.

“I try to do the best I can with what I’ve got,” she said. “Doing covers, you can’t mimic someone, so you have to learn to work with the voice you have and make the best of it.”

Sheppard, who hails from eastern Tennessee originally, said the love of music is what brought the quintet together.

“We got together because we enjoy playing music,” Sheppard said. “Nobody in Wrangell was really playing live music so we decided we would fill that void.”

And for those who trek downtown on July 3, lovers of rock music can expect to be satisfied.

“We’re going to be playing all covers,” Glen added. “But we’re going to be bringing a wide range of styles to the show. It’ll cover a whole spectrum of rock music from the 70s to the 2000s.”

In addition to the Fourth of July show, the band is scheduled to play at Rayme’s Bar on July 7.