Rewind: The last time I saw the Americana-Roots band The Wood Brothers was on March 7th, 2020. Little did any of us know at that point that within a few days things were about to get crazy, and the whole world was about to descend into chaos in the most chaotic of ways. Covering that show, long ago as it may seem, marked an apex in my career as a music photojournalist and writer. I felt like I was on the precipice of greatness and notoriety for my extensive work in the SF Bay Area music scene over the past 15 years. Except, well, things got wack.
Like many others during the last four years, I lost my way and descended into an alternate reality, one completely different from the rock and roll fantasy I had been living for over a decade. During those dark years of wackiness and fear, I gave up on that rock and roll fantasy, unsure if I’d ever do the boogie-shuffle to live music in dark venues again. For the fortunate, including myself, those years became a game-changer, allowing for deep transformation and leading the way towards a new type of experience of being alive.
Even as things slowly opened up, and we emerged from our fears and anger, I still found myself retreating into a non-musical way of being. I became quite feral, embracing my loner-hermit self, as being among crowds and indoors was energetically overwhelming for me—too much stimulus. It was then that I decided to stow away my rock and roll dreams in a shoebox and tuck it into my closet to revisit when I'm old and gray, so that one day in the future I can look back on all the wild adventures I had covering the SF Bay Area music scene when I was a younger gal.
Like many others during the last four years, I lost my way and descended into an alternate reality, one completely different from the rock and roll fantasy I had been living for over a decade. During those dark years of wackiness and fear, I gave up on that rock and roll fantasy, unsure if I’d ever do the boogie-shuffle to live music in dark venues again. For the fortunate, including myself, those years became a game-changer, allowing for deep transformation and leading the way towards a new type of experience of being alive.
Even as things slowly opened up, and we emerged from our fears and anger, I still found myself retreating into a non-musical way of being. I became quite feral, embracing my loner-hermit self, as being among crowds and indoors was energetically overwhelming for me—too much stimulus. It was then that I decided to stow away my rock and roll dreams in a shoebox and tuck it into my closet to revisit when I'm old and gray, so that one day in the future I can look back on all the wild adventures I had covering the SF Bay Area music scene when I was a younger gal.
But a nagging voice in my brain kept asking, “Are you SURE you want to give this up, this crazy life of music journalism you've created? Or are you truly over it, ready to retire to a life as a Luddite gardener?”
The nagging voice never quieted it's incessant blabber, so I thought it best to test the waters of rock and roll journalism once more to find the true answer.
The nagging voice never quieted it's incessant blabber, so I thought it best to test the waters of rock and roll journalism once more to find the true answer.
Fast Forward: It’s March 2, 2024, almost exactly four years since that fateful Wood Brothers show. Lo and behold, here I am again, full circle, worshiping at the feet of these Musical Gods, witnessing their sonic magic once more, and feeling joy.
The Wood Brothers are pure talent. Oliver Wood, the eldest, is a guitarist and a natural-born songwriter. His stories come across beautifully when translated into song. Younger brother Chris Wood is a musical genius, focusing on bass, whether with his standup, electric, or vintage instruments, as well as harmonica. His time with Medeski, Martin Wood solidified his technical prowess and jazz influences. Multi-instrumentalist and percussionist Jano Rix is not a brother in the familial sense but is one in the spiritual sense. His expertise at playing drums while laying down funky keyboard licks AND singing all at the same time was wicked to witness, making me think he had extra arms.
The Wood Brothers are pure talent. Oliver Wood, the eldest, is a guitarist and a natural-born songwriter. His stories come across beautifully when translated into song. Younger brother Chris Wood is a musical genius, focusing on bass, whether with his standup, electric, or vintage instruments, as well as harmonica. His time with Medeski, Martin Wood solidified his technical prowess and jazz influences. Multi-instrumentalist and percussionist Jano Rix is not a brother in the familial sense but is one in the spiritual sense. His expertise at playing drums while laying down funky keyboard licks AND singing all at the same time was wicked to witness, making me think he had extra arms.
From the first song to the last, The Wood Brothers' rootsy, rocking, dynamic, and intelligent music had me swinging and swaying. They are solid players, seemingly playing separately to what their spirits tell them to play, yet able to meld that separateness into this tightly-wound package of cohesion, with each man’s playing style syncing with the others. I was aware of all three playing individually while hearing what they did together. That, to me, is brilliant, like three colorful fireworks going off in the sky simultaneously, creating this majestic display of BOOM!
Showcasing the night with many classics from their impressive archive, such as “A Little Bit Broken,” “Cry Over Nothing,” and “Loaded,” and the bluesy vibe of “Glad” brought a funky groove with a killer bassline. The audience ate it up all while singing and dancing along. The band recently released Heart Is The Hero, showing with “Pilgrim” that they have not lost their touch lyrically or musically. Oliver’s voice has a hint of twang when he sings, and in conjunction with his brother Chris’s higher voice, the harmonies rip on songs.
Midpoint of the show, opening act The Rainbow Girls gathered around the one-mic with the Wood Brothers on “Sing All About It”. And yes, they sang their hearts out while smiles, laughter, and hugs were abundant between the two bands onstage. Ending the evening, The Wood Brothers played “Atlas” and “Kitchen Floor” as encores to the delight of all, including myself.
In many ways, this Wood Brothers show gave me hope that things can go back to a basic sense of normal after the worldwide lockdowns and horror. The band gave me a new lease on my creativity and showed me that I, too, can come out of the darkness and back into the light. I can safely say that I am back to where I left off four years ago, full circle in a sense. I am here to continue telling tales of the musical brilliances that heal our hearts and souls.
Showcasing the night with many classics from their impressive archive, such as “A Little Bit Broken,” “Cry Over Nothing,” and “Loaded,” and the bluesy vibe of “Glad” brought a funky groove with a killer bassline. The audience ate it up all while singing and dancing along. The band recently released Heart Is The Hero, showing with “Pilgrim” that they have not lost their touch lyrically or musically. Oliver’s voice has a hint of twang when he sings, and in conjunction with his brother Chris’s higher voice, the harmonies rip on songs.
Midpoint of the show, opening act The Rainbow Girls gathered around the one-mic with the Wood Brothers on “Sing All About It”. And yes, they sang their hearts out while smiles, laughter, and hugs were abundant between the two bands onstage. Ending the evening, The Wood Brothers played “Atlas” and “Kitchen Floor” as encores to the delight of all, including myself.
In many ways, this Wood Brothers show gave me hope that things can go back to a basic sense of normal after the worldwide lockdowns and horror. The band gave me a new lease on my creativity and showed me that I, too, can come out of the darkness and back into the light. I can safely say that I am back to where I left off four years ago, full circle in a sense. I am here to continue telling tales of the musical brilliances that heal our hearts and souls.
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