Guardrail Angel was born in the cold gray of January 2004 when the long-time rhythm section of Dallas Mount and Shelly Welker placed an ad in a local rag looking for musicians, along with a list of influences that included Uncle Tupelo and Lucinda Williams. The four strangers who responded to that ad have been writing and playing music with Mount and Welker ever since. "It was like four blind dates that all worked out," guitarist Dan Klepal said. The band's other influences range from Loretta Lynn to the Stones and Springsteen. GA has an equal range, with the ability to blister through an all-out rocker one minute, and switch gears to a melodic country ballad that will have you crying in your beer the next. They might even throw a waltz a'tcha from time to time. "We all have musicians that we love and emulate," says bassist Shelly Welker, "and I think each member brings those special influences to each song." This Southwest Ohio band's approach to music is the same as a Southern preacher to a sermon, reference the devil and deliver the goods with fire and passion.