The Wood Brothers to perform at Kent Stage
March 27, 2011
For the first time ever, The Wood Brothers will be making their way to Kent on Tuesday to play at the Kent Stage.
“We’re always excited to play new places,” said Chris Wood, bassist for the band. “It’s always interesting to have a new adventure.”
Chris and Oliver Wood are a folk-blues duo that grew up in Boulder, Colo. Chris moved to Manhattan and Oliver moved to Atlanta to indulge in the blues. The two reunited in 2004 and have been playing together ever since.
The brothers just wrapped up a very successful tour on the west coast, Wood said. They toured through January and February and recently kicked off a spring tour on March 23 in Hudson, N.Y., at Club Helsinki to promote their latest album release, “Smoke Ring Halo.” The Kent Stage will be the seventh stop on the tour that will end in early May in the Midwest.
“The new album sounds more like a band now,” Wood said. “And we’re also bringing a drummer on tour.”
But concert goers can still expect to hear tracks that have a duo sound. Wood said the show’s tone will depend on the atmosphere.
“Some clubs have different atmospheres, so what you can expect really depends on that,” Wood said. “If it’s at a theater with seats, the audience is more likely to have a listening experience, where at a bar it might be a little different.”
“It doesn’t matter where we are as long as you feel a connection,” Wood said. “I like connecting with the fans. It is the most important thing.”
The performance will mostly feature songs off the new album. The first single, “Shoofly Pie” is now available for download on iTunes.
The duo also has a cover album titled “Up Above My Head.” Wood said they often include tracks from that album in the show as well.
“Last night (in Boston), we played the title track off that album,” Wood said. “We’ve also play the Beatles’ “Fixin’ a Hole.”
Like some other musicians, both Chris and Oliver perform separately as well. Chris is a part of Medeski, Martin and Wood, a jam-band who is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
“I go back and forth all the time,” Wood said about touring with the two.
Oliver has played some solo shows in the past as well.
The show starts at 8 p.m. with opener, Seth Walker, from Nashville. Tickets are $17 in advance and $20 at the door.