The music of Steel Petals is grounded in roots and as such conjures up a warm familiarity we can all identify with.  Combining elements of southern rock, country blues, gospel, soul, and funk, their music is driven by inspiration wholly unique to their own.  Gritty lap steel, Hammond B3, electric piano, groove based drums and bass vanguard a style reminiscent of groups such as The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Allman Brothers Band,  Mofro, The Black Crowes, James Gang, and Derek and the Dominoes.

While the band is not above the occasional jam, songs are concise but powerful and capable of attracting a diverse audience during live performances.

Steel Petals has come a long way in its two short years of evolution. Their hard work finally paid off when they were voted Best Original Band at the 2009 and 2010 TUW Battle of the Bands at the Music Farm in Charleston. The band released their first full length album in April 2010 and continue to perform and attract fans all throughout the Southeast region.

Blake Ohlson

Steel Petals began in 2003 by guitarist, singer/songwriter Blake Ohlson, who is originally from Cleveland, OH.  He first began playing guitar at age 13.  Bitten by the “blues bug” during college, he spent countless hours learning the riffs of greats such as Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Eric Clapton and Duane Allman. He soon began writing songs and catchy riffs that would later become the foundation of the Steel Petals sound. Ohlson states, “I can play a little bit of everything, be it piano, drums or whatever.  I love the guitar and can hold my own pretty well.  But it took me a few years to figure out that good guitar players are a dime a dozen whereas good songwriters are not.  I love a good guitar lead like the next guy but write a killer song and you can shake up the world.”

Always drawn by the “Sound of the South”, Ohlson moved with his wife and family to Charleston, S.C. in 2007 where he began practicing as an orthopaedic surgeon.  Steel Petals was soon summoned to life as a new lineup began to take shape. The current lineup consists of Whitt Algar on keys and guitar, Shank Wilson on drums, and Jeffrey Narkiewicz on Bass. Introduced with a fresh lineup of seasoned musicians, Ohlson points out that “the sound you hear today by the band is really what I had floating around in my head for the past ten years.  It just took eight of the ten to figure out who and how to do it.”
Blake along with his wife and two boys reside on Daniel Island, S.C.  He spends his time between family, music and maintaining a busy surgical practice.

Shank Wilson

Born in Greenville, S.C., Shank has lived in Charleston for most of his life and has been involved in the local and regional music scene for the past decade. Auditioned for Steel Petals off of a recommendation from Whitt, who Shank has played with in the cover bands Make it Go and Simple Possession. Shank is a groove oriented drummer that brings a Blues, Funk, and Modern Rock feel to the band. His previous bands include Big Black Building, Atlasphere, and Maradio.

Whitt Algar

Whitt Algar grew up in Charleston and has been playing professionally since he was 16.  His current projects include The Bushels and The Travis Allison Band.  As Whitt so poignantly notes, “I wanted to be a guitar player but decided it looked too cool, so I opted for piano instead.”  In his spare time, Whitt enjoys long walks on the beach and slaying dragons with a Nord Electro.

Jeffrey Narkiewicz

Born in New York and raised in New Jersey, Jeff graduated from West Virginia University and then promptly jumped in the van and began touring throughout the south and east. It was after playing shows at Cumberlands and the Windjammer in the late 90′s that he decided the sand and sun of the Lowcountry was preferable to the gloomy skies of the Mountain State.
Over the years Jeff has performed and recorded with Carnival Whig, Karl Shuman, New Day Shine, Atlasphere, Big Black Building, Dewey Muggles, Travis Allison, Lime and the Coconuts and the V Tones.
Along with making music, Jeff also makes wooden puzzle boxes, which can be found at the Charleston City Market and at www.narkarts.com.