Made up of bassist Chris Wood -- one of the founding members of Medeski Martin & Wood -- along with his brother, guitarist and vocalist Oliver Wood, the Wood Brothers offer a wide spectrum of bluesy country songs, allowing their music to lead them artistically.
Like this Live at KDHX session, 2012's "Live, Vol. 2: Nail & Tooth" finds the Wood Brothers sharper than ever, reveling in their preferred live environment and spiriting listeners off on a journey of old and new takes from the duo's diverse catalogue.
"Smoke Ring Halo," from 2011's record of the same name, stands as steadfast, traditional country -- remorseful and bittersweet. The Los Lobos cover "I Got Loaded" features the delightful thrum and shuffle of Chris' stand-up bass, getting "loaded," yet with no hangover the day after. Oliver sings "I feel alright" with a hint of pain, nicely complicating the song's tone.
On the Wood Brothers' recently released live record, the song "Atlas" plays bombastically with electric guitar and full-band grandeur. But here, it retains its original tempo and mythological overtones, becoming shades lighter with slide guitar and bass soloing.
All photos by Jonathan Miller.
