June 3, 2008Jeff Center shows and The Wood Brothers "Loaded"From Jeff Center and DLP Concerts: - Medeski Martin and Wood on 7/12 For those of you who don't know, I am a Derek Trucks Band *freak*. I'm a total fanboy. I love it so much that I might not be qualified to review that show. As for Medeski Martin and Wood -- I like that band a lot, as a trio or with John Scofield. But today, I'm most excited about my mail -- MMW bassist Chris Wood's project with his brother, Oliver, came to me today. I'm listening to The Wood Brothers "Loaded" right now, and digging it. I'm saying to myself, "that's my boy Oliver!!" He's singing great and playing really nice guitar. Back in the late 1980s, I studied drum set at Musicians Institute, in Hollywood, Calif. One of the best people I knew back then was Oliver Wood. A great guy, generous, cool and talented. Basically, it was Oliver, his roommate, Toshi Yanagi (now guitarist on the Jimmy Kimmel show), Jean-Marc Porson, Roger Fox, with Bob Popielaski, Geurric Maruzzi, Phil (I can't remember Phil's last name. Urg.), a few other guys and me, spending a ton of time together. I will never forget those days, and if senility takes those memories, someone should just kill me. I was a mess back then, as a person and as a musician, but I was learning, and I'm better for having spent the time there around guys like those. I stayed in touch with Jean-Marc, Oliver and Toshi over the years, and am really happy that they're all in good places in life. J-M and I are the only ones who aren't playing for a living, but I write about music, and he sells canned music to stores and stuff -- so if you notice the muzaky tunes you're hearing in the store are better than they used to be, blame either your old age or J-M's good sales skills. I got off on a tangent there, I guess because I miss those guys so much a lot of times. So back to the point. "Loaded" is the Wood Brothers second CD, following "Ways Not To Lose," which was also really good, though sparser than "Loaded." I'd recommend either one, but "Loaded" includes a cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Angel," featuring the rest of MMW, and a cameo from Amos Lee. Maybe I'm biased, but I think Oliver sounds better. What's funny is, none of us ever heard Oliver sing a lick back then. "Make Me Down a Pallet on Your Floor," done all jazzy-rag, features Darick Campbell, from the Campbell Brothers sacred steel guitar band. Some of you all might remember the Campbells from FloydFest a couple years back. Thanks for staying in the game, Oliver. I'm proud of you. |
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Comments
[June 4, 2008 6:34 AM]
TeresaThanks for the info - I am a thrilled to see both MMW and Derek Trucks heading to Roanoke.
Been listening to the Wood Brothers after downloading it on a recommendation from iTunes - and was pleasantly surprised - maybe they will visit Roanoke soon?
[June 4, 2008 1:50 PM]
Tad : →http://www.roanoke.com/entertainment/insideout/musicI hope they will. Back before I was the music reporter, I used to try to get Dylan Locke to book King Johnson here. They were a lot of fun, and made good records, too. I still have a copy of "Hot Fish Laundry Mat."
Sadly, I would never have heard of KJ if not for my friendship with Oliver. More people should've heard that band.
I meant to mention, there are some really good originals on "Loaded," too. It just so happened that "Angel" and "Make Me Down ..." were playing when I was writing the original entry.
"Postcards from Hell," and "Pray Enough" are stuck in my head, and I don't mind at all.
[June 4, 2008 3:12 PM]
TeresaWe are all very lucky to have Dylan Locke here in the valley. He has brought amazing shows to town - I just wish more people would realize how lucky we are to have the Jeff Center, Sun Music Hall and even the Lyric (a nice, intimate venue for live music).
Thanks to you guys covering the music scene - even when I can't get to a show, I feel like I've been there.
[June 5, 2008 4:08 PM]
Tad : →http://www.roanoke.com/entertainment/insideoutThe best thing about Dylan is that he is a fine musician himself, as you probably know. He's a heckuva bass player, and he did it professionally for a long time before he got into promoting shows.
I think his experience and knowledge as a musician is what makes him such a good promoter -- he knows what is good, and he brings it in.
Down at 202 Market, Gary Jackson is kind of in the same category. He's new to this area, but he ran the Birchmere, in Alexandria, for years, and has run sound for tons of fine artists.
He, too, knows a good act when he hears it, and he knows how to make it sound good when the act plays his room.
And thanks for the nice words, Teresa!