THE WOOD BROTHERS | 02.07.07 | NEW YORK
By Team JamBase Mar 12, 2007 • 12:00 am PDT

The Wood Brothers :: 02.07.07 :: Joe’s Pub :: New York, NY
![]() |
“We love playing in NYC,” says Oliver Wood. “We like playing at a smaller venue than we normally would. I like Joe’s Pub. It’s a lot of fun, and it’s a lot more intimate. There is such an awesome energy in the whole city. It’s exciting regardless of where you go.”
Oliver and Chris Wood (bassist for legendary jazz-rock trio Medeski Martin & Wood) produce a rootsy blending of blues, folk, and rock in a style that’s timeless. The brothers cite their father, also a singer/songwriter, as their earliest influence. They remember digging into his record collection at a very early age. Growing up in Boulder, Colorado, they jammed together often in their early years.
![]() |
This collaboration combines their shared childhood influences with everything they’ve learned since leaving home. “As far as being family, it’s cool. We get to see each other and hang out a lot because we’re working,” says Oliver. “Musically it’s cool, too. I feel like there is some sort of built-in genetic vibe that goes on, in our singing especially.”
The Wood Brothers debut studio release, Ways Not To Lose, produced by John Medeski, has been garnering critical acclaim since its release last year. The crowd at Joe’s Pub was treated to selections from that record in addition to great new songs. The pair plans to get back in the studio in the next few months to start recording their follow-up to Ways.
![]() |
“Chocolate on my Tongue” found Chris sliding a bow across the bass strings to accompany Oliver’s fine finger-picking for one of the sweetest songs off Ways. The new songs were fresh and played well for the quietly focused crowd. The first of the new selections, written by Chris, started out with Chris rhythmically banging the side of his bass as Oliver picked up the tempo for the fast paced number.
“The first record we just jumped in and made a record. I already had a bunch of songs,” says Oliver. “But, this new record, we’re basically writing almost every song together. It’s a total collaborative effort. We both start off writing stuff alone but eventually we bring it together. [We] both spend a lot of time with the songs and they become really collaborative. That is one of the things we are most proud of.”
For this NYC gig, The Wood Brothers brought along NYC drummer Kenny Wollesen, who also appears on Ways. The drums allow the brothers to stretch out a bit, get edgier, especially on songs like “Atlas.”
![]() |
This bluesy number was incredible. Chris blew the harp and played beefy, ferocious bass lines, not letting up on the harp for a single breath. Oliver’s National Steel guitar rang with beautiful slide sounds. Crisp and pristine when playing soft or crunchy like George Thorogood when needed, Oliver knows just how to compliment Chris’s bass.
Other highlights included “Luckiest Man,” “Walk Away,” and “Glad.” Every once in a while it’s nice to sit in a small, dark club with people that respect hearing every note of an acoustic performance. Yet, as Oliver Wood points out, this is a duo that can handle any setting. They will be joining MMW on the road soon, as well as playing festivals this summer.
“It’s a different kind of vibe! That’s one of the things that’s really special about what we’re doing,” says Oliver. “[We] sort of imply a larger group in a way. Chris is such a monster bass player; he’s so rhythmic and strong. It feels like between the two of us we can almost make it sound like there is a third person with us. We can make a lot of noise.”
JamBase | New York
Go See Live Music!