The Steelwells singer Joey Winter interacts with the audience during the band’s performance on Friday, February 25, 2011. The Steelwells are vying for a chance to get featured on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine and need votes to stay alive in the competition. | Job Ang/THE CHIMES

Every once in awhile, a musical artist gains so much momentum that it’s a given they are on their way to great things. Everything falls into place at the right times, while their fan base expands at an expedient rate. The Steelwells, an Orange County-based band, seem to be in that place right now.

The Steelwells gain award

The band recently took home the O.C. Music Award for Best Live Band, an honor they certainly earned when they took the stage at the Galaxy Theatre on Friday night, Feb. 25. In an event hosted by the O.C. Music Awards as a showcase for the top live acts in Orange County, The Steelwells put on a scintillating set of tunes taken mostly from their “Shallow on the Draft” EP.

Lead vocalist Joey Winter was on top of his game, belting out songs to a decently sized group of dedicated, adoring fans. Guitarist Andrew Eapen, bassist Robbie Gullage, drummer Jonathan Bradley, keyboardist Billy Kim and percussionist Greg Anderson supported their frontman well, providing a tight, well-toned musical performance.

Notable songs included the acoustically-tinged mover “This Dance Is Out of Our Hands,” a song about leaving behind the troubles and dancing the night away. The audience duly swayed to the lyrics “so we dance and we dance and we hold up our hands / and leave all we’ve got on the floor.”

”El Capitan” cinches award

What was clearly the highlight of the evening however was a rousing rendition of the band’s current single, “El Capitan,” a song that netted the band another O.C. Music Award last year for Best Song of 2010. For this particular number, Winter abandoned his acoustic guitar for a more personal approach, taking to the crowd with just a microphone in hand.

After delivering the ultra-catchy chorus, Winter led the entire venue into the cathartic “whoa-oh-oh” portion of the song, clasping hands with enthusiastic fans, while winning over the casual standbys with his disarming every-man personality. By the end of the song and set, it was clear who the winners of the night were.

The Steelwells participate in Rolling Stone contest

And the momentum doesn’t end there. According to Winter’s statement on the band’s website, Rolling Stone has contacted The Steelwells to be part of a contest to compete for a spot on the cover of the magazine and major label recording contract. The band’s street team, fans and management company, Hungry Mind Entertainment, are currently pushing hard at social media such as Twitter and Facebook to garner votes for the band.

“At the end of the day, the music speaks for itself,” said Steven Haddadian of Hungry Mind. “So even as we work on rounding the troops up all over the world in support of the band, it comes down to the fact that when someone listens to The Steelwells, they can’t help but to fall in love.”

Win or lose, however, the band isn’t letting this little competition define their careers.

“While it would be nice to win of course we are just really flattered to be a part this whole thing,” Winter wrote on the website.