The name itself foreshadows the simplistic beauty and honesty that the band is grounded in, much like they are rooted in Americana. The Wood Brothers was founded by brothers, Oliver Wood and Chris Wood (Medeski, Martin, and Wood). They grew up around a bonfire in Boulder, Colorado, whilst father performed classics and mother free-versed poetry of folklore, one could imagine the absurd headful of influence the two young boys inhaled. However, their musical careers veered into a split path of polar opposites. Oliver headed south to play the funky country blues, and Chris settled north to study jazz bass before moving to NYC. But just like the unexpected ending of the folk tales they grew up with, some fifteen years later they reunited as fellow musicians. Joining forces, Oliver on electric acoustic and Chris on upright bass, the Wood brothers became The Wood Brothers. An all-natural sense of brotherhood is easily sensed within every harmony, you’d think they’d been playing together their entire lives.
Havin
g consistently released new material every year since 2005, when the two brothers were already reaching the age of midlife crisis, they have only bloomed since. I choose the word ‘bloom’ with great thought. With every release, they seem to have only found room to improve.
Just when I thought Postcards from Hell (2008) was one of the most beautiful things ever to be exposed, then I heard “Mary Anna” from Smoke Ring Halo (2011). Now, we have The Muse (in stores 10.1.13) It is a soul-saving church choir in a burning building, somewhere between the long lost and newly born again. An album that arouses every sense, but is felt more than anything else. I can’t recall anything as soulful since the Alabama Shakes debut in April 2012. The vocal harmonics are as raw and moving as the beaten paths the brothers once walked alone. Having brought in a third member, Jano Rix (multi instrumentalist), for the new album, recorded mostly live in Nashville, Tenn., The Wood Brothers have redefined themselves again. They have taken their signature sound, held and cradled it, the hammy down sounds of the early folk, and have watched it grow and bloom into something with even more fullness than ever before. Amped up raw acoustics with the words of an old poet, the worn jazzy upright bass, and cries of the train horn harmonica. It is an album of wise truth, lost muses, late night whiskey symphonies, and early morning blues.
Come sing these whiskey symphonies with The Wood Brothers at Proud Larry’s, September 24. Let your early morning blues bloom.
