Only in New York City would a cop pull a band over for blocking traffic by walking up to the vehicle and tapping on the window.
And only in Colorado would cowboys swing dance with their cowgirls at the bar.
Such experiences are just a few that local roots group Steppin' In It has experienced through playing more than 200 live shows per year across the United States.
Armed with an upright bass, with its wooden surface revealing the number of years it has been loved, Steppin' In It's Dominic Suchyta tells of a Lansing quartet that made it big. Well, as big as band members want to get, anyway.
The band has put 70,000 miles on its Ford Econoline van over the past two years, which has hauled the group, the instruments and a PlayStation all the way from West Virginia to San Diego, hitting a few panhandle states in between.
Steppin' In It plays roots music, about half original and half covers, live, with its albums being made up of about 85 percent original material, Suchyta said.
Recently, the group has performed live on radio shows such as Mountain Stage in Charleston, W.Va., and at the International Folk Alliance Conference in San Diego.
With a new album coming out next month, Steppin' In It is exactly where it wants to be. After being invited to perform at the Newport Folk Festival, arguably the best of its kind since the 1960s, Suchyta is all smiles as he describes what it's like to live out your dream.
"I wouldn't rather be doing anything else," he said. "I never get nervous. I would if I were playing with any other band, but I know I'm up there with my boys, and I know what we can do."
Despite the band's extensive touring, Steppin' In It remains loyal to its Monday night hangout - The Green Door Lounge, 2005 E. Michigan Ave. in Lansing. Every Monday, when the band's not on the road, it brings a blue-collar, music-loving crowd to the bar.
The majority of the songs are written by lead singer and guitarist Josh Davis and pay homage to everything from the Upper Peninsula's Copper Country to Ford Falcons to Woody Guthrie.
Steppin' In It's Americana roots-style music is timeless, Suchyta said.
"We play a lot of different kinds of music," he said. "What I like about our songs is that I know where they're coming from, and most of the time, I was around when whatever Josh is writing about was going on."
The band has been together for about seven years now and has been touring nationally for the past two.
"We have a band that's all on the same page. Everybody is willing to drive 20 hours for a show," Suchyta said.
And being part of the timeless niche of roots music helps the band out quite a bit - there's always someone excited to hear new artists.
"A lot of folk fests and folk societies have members that go to all the shows all the time," Suchyta said. "If we were a rock band playing in bars, no one would come."
Suchyta started out playing the electric bass in grade school while living in Detroit's Mexicantown. He's recorded with Jack White of The White Stripes, a childhood friend, and began playing a few gigs in Detroit.
"None of us had really been in bands that had gigged a whole lot," he said. "I used to play in Detroit a lot, but it's not like anyone was ever there."
On Monday nights, Steppin' In It draws a crowd when its harmonica, steel guitar, guitar and upright bass quartet is joined by drummer Bob Bryan and accordion/organist extraordinaire Mike Lynch. The result is a much more pumped-up, blues-rock sound in comparison with the more laid-back music of the quartet.
Steppin' In It's music is very grounding. It brings the listener back to earth. The steel slide guitar might make your heart jump a little bit, but the slapping rhythmic beauty of the upright bass will bring it back to the right beat. The band's four members have years of experience with their instruments, and it shows.
