Join Sex 14’s on Thursday, April 30th at 11am when he speaks with Oliver Wood of Grammy-nominated progressive Americana trio, The Wood Brothers, ahead of their show at The Fillmore in SF on May 5th.
If you’re searching for insights into the state of the human condition, look no further than Puff of Smoke (Honey Jar/Thirty Tigers), the latest album of original music from The Wood Brothers.
Less a literal soundtrack to uncertain times or a roadmap showing how to live through them, Puff of Smoke posits a happily contrarian outlook: Life can turn on a dime, and all we truly have is the moment at hand. And that’s perfectly fine. “We’re not in control,” says guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Oliver Wood, “and that can be good news.”
Between the poetic observations of Oliver and his brother, bassist and vocalist Chris Wood — with percussionist and multi-instrumentalist Jano Rix completing the trio — Puff of Smoke is an 11-song collection brimming with joy in the face of challenges, 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.
Fans who have hopped aboard at waypoints along the journey that began with their now classic 2006 debut Ways Not to Lose already know to expect a new drop from The Wood Brothers will bring inventive songwriting, a grounded lyrical wit, and an adventurous sweep of sonic avenues. Unpredictability is part of the listening experience.
Photo: Laura Partain
