At first listen, Dead Winter Carpenters surprised me with their high-energy alt-country. The skilled fingers of the guitarist diddling up and down the neck, the easy vocals, telling stories of the road, the woods and the law, the combination of bass, drum, harmonica, fiddle and viola in a big sound, moved me. At second listen, I was a bona fide fan. Hailing from Lake Tahoe, the five-piece is on tour promoting their new EP, Dirt Nap, a look into the rooted Americana and fun-loving antics of a band that understands their genre. CMT Edge recently praised the band's "influences ranging from 1960s country to Del McCoury to Ryan Adams." Foot-stompin', hand-clappin' and whiskey-chuggin' is what comes to mind listening to Dead Winter Carpenters.

DEAD WINTER CARPENTERS, w/Danny Barnes & The Barnyard Electronics, 8:30 p.m., Olympia Ballroom, 116 Legion Way, Olympia, $10, 360.259.1589