The Wood Brothers Bear ‘Witness’ With Preview Of New Album ‘Puff Of Smoke’

The Wood Brothers announced they will release their ninth studio album, Puff Of Smoke, on August 1 via Honey Jar/Thirty Tigers. The Americana trio previewed the 11-song collection by sharing its lead single and opening track, “Witness,” along with an accompanying video filmed and edited by founding member and bassist Chris Wood.

Chris Wood and sibling guitarist/songwriter Oliver Wood along with multi-instrumentalist Jano Rix recorded the follow-up to 2023’s Heart Is The Hero at their The Studio Nashville facility. Puff Of Smoke “is brimming with joy in the face of the human condition in 2025, delivering lyrical wisdom with the winking subtlety of John Prine and the musical hive mind of a seasoned group with two decades of shared experiences,” as per press materials. The album embraces a refreshingly unconventional perspective: life is unpredictable, and the present moment is all we truly possess.

“We’re not in control and that can be good news,” explained Oliver Wood. “Puff of Smoke speaks to the idea of letting go and taking the ride.”

“This album is a little bit schizophrenic and eclectic,” added Oliver. “It goes in a number of different directions.”

Puff Of Smoke finds the trio moving forward as they continue down the sonic path started with their stellar 2006 debut Ways Not To Lose. “There’s a lot to unpack musically in this band, and it’s been this evolutionary process over the years and on each subsequent record,” Chris Wood noted. “Over time, the diversity of things we can do has all become part of our language.”

“Songs like ‘The Trick’ and ‘Witness’ are very much about mindfulness,” commented Oliver. “‘The trick is not to give a damn’ — so, that’s detachment — or, ‘I’m just a witness’ — I’m just watching things happen. I’m not gonna be my feelings. I’m gonna watch ’em float by. Even a song like ‘Pray God Listens,’ which is a little bit humorous and cynical, leaves room to go a little deeper to find the compassion.”

The Wood Brothers enlisted horns to add back-alley New Orleans brass to the Puff Of Smoke opener. Watch Chris Wood-directed “Witness” video below:

The Wood Brothers will start a busy touring season on May 3 with an appearance at Tedeschi Trucks Band's Sun, Sand and Soul concert vacation. The trio will then kick off their spring tour proper with three dates in support of The String Cheese Incident. Find a complete list of tour dates and additional information by scrolling below.

Witness Tracklist

1. Witness
2. Puff of Smoke
3. Pray God Listens
4. Money Song
5. The Trick
6. Is It Up To You
7. Above All Others
8. The Waves
9. Slow Rise (to the middle)
10. You Choose Me
11. Till The End