Wood Brothers

Pictured: Ashleigh Flynn

Special guest Ashleigh Flynn, who has been touring with the boys for the last leg of their tour, seemed a little bummed that this was also the last stop on the tour.  Or maybe that's just how she came across through her music. In a half hour solo acoustic set, Flynn spun tales of heartache, growth, existentialism, flood survivors in New Orleans, and the bittersweetness of the American dream.  Her latest album, as it happens, is entitled "American Dream", and is a truly ambitious collection of songs that spans the spectrum of folk, country, pop, and a little bluegrass.  Although the album features a full backing band, and has several toe-tappers, Ashleigh shines as a solo act, delivering the bare songs with some very nice fingerpicking and outstanding vocals.  She has a voice that fits well with country and pop: very natural, disciplined, and pleasant.  

I don't know if this happens at the Media Club all the time, but as the lights were dimmed, the sold-out room decided to crowd up against the stage....while sitting on the floor.   Ashleigh made a point midway through her set how much she was enjoying her time in Canada, particularly how nice and polite everyone is.  Great.  Not a good time to have to stand up and go to the can, because I'm a lumbering clod who probably would have stepped on some people's hands or spilled their drinks and totally ruined the show.  Even after Ashleigh finished her set, the people up front remained seated.  The Wood Brothers came tiptoeing through the crowd a few minutes later, and managed not to step on anybody. 

Pictured: The Wood Brothers, Chris (left), and Oliver (right, obviously)

Under even dimmer house lights, on that truly intimate Media Club stage, Chris and Oliver Wood put on one of the most instantly-accessible, good-time shows I've seen in a long, long time.  While Chris rocked that old standup bass with authority, jumping from jazz to waltzes to reggae to walking blues lines, Oliver plunked, twanged, plucked, and banged out bluesy southern gospel-laced folk.  At least that's what I think you'd call it.  It is a truly unique sound that would appeal to anyone who has a taste for genuine blues, jazz, rock, campfire songs, or just plain old Americana-inspired folk.  I bought a couple of their original albums,"Loaded" (parts of which were recorded by John Raham at Ogre Studio in Vancouver) and "Ways Not To Lose" (both produced by John Medeski), and will be looking for "Up Above My Head", the album of cover songs they did.

While the crowd remained seated throughout the first songs, including "Postcards From Hell", "Lovin' Arms", and "Twisted", someone finally couldn't contain their ass-shaking anymore, and leapt to their feet for the rollicking "One More Day".  Oliver would later joke: "Wow...you're dancing?  And here we thought you were civilized!".  The crowd would stay on their feet for the rest of the show, bouncing along to a reggae-fied version of Jimi Hendrix's "Angel", the heartwarming "Chocolate On My Tongue", and the best drinking song of the night, "Loaded".

Pictured: Chris Wood

While Chris may have had more success with Medeski and Martin than Oliver did with his band King Johnson (named after Albert King and Robert Johnson), he is by no means the more talented player.  They are both stellar musicians: Oliver has an impressive trickbag of percussive fingerpicking, blues slide, and a great voice that sounds like a cross between Van Morrison, Jack Johnson and Johnny Lang, sorta.   Chris also has a great voice that makes the bands dual harmonies sound fantastic, and can also rock a harmonica like nobody's business.

After a great rendition of the Beatles "Fixin' A Hole", the guys asked the crowd to help them sing the last song, "The Luckiest Man". It would prove to be one of those rare "goosebump" concert moments that I'll remember every time I listen to the song again.  As the Wood Brothers sat back and let the room do the rest, it really did hit me just how lucky I really am to have caught this show.  Pure magic.

Visit the Wood Brothers:  http://www.thewoodbrothers.com/

Visit Ashleigh Flynn: http://www.ashleighflynn.net/