Never miss a Sunday Show! The Wood Brothers continued their fall tour in support of their new album "Heart Is The Hero" on Sunday night at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe, PA. The rustic mountaintop venue suited the Folk/Americana/Blues outfit’s style to a tee as they thrilled the crowd with a masterful evening of music. The Wood Brothers are comprised of Oliver Wood's smooth vocals and guitar, Chris Wood's masterful bass skills and vocals, and Jano Rix's percussion and keyboard contributions, which combine to create a rich and diverse sound.
Opening the night was Lancaster, PA native Maya De Vitry, formerly of the Straybirds, and her duo mate Joel Timmons for an acoustic set. The skilled singer/songwriter/storyteller De Vitry led the duo through some originals and covers, including one of her newest tracks “Stacy, in Her Wedding Gown” and the Roly Salley original “Killing the Blues,” often more recognized for the versions done by John Prine or Alison Krauss and Robert Plant.
By the end of the 40-minute set, as a listener, you felt like you had some insight into the life and experiences of De Vitry and how those experiences shaped her music. She concluded their set with a comment that she has purchased more tickets to see The Wood Brothers perform than any other artist, and she now is on tour opening for them.
The Wood Brothers then took the stage to run through a set primarily composed of originals, with a few entries off of the most recent album, including “Far from Alone” and the title track “Heart is the Hero”. The band also worked their way through a handful of tracks off of the 2020 album "Kingdom in My Mind," including “Little Bit Broken”, “Jitterbug Love”, and “Satisfied”. Rix came out from behind the kit for a few songs, including the well-known “Keep Me Around” from "Muse," to don his Shuitar; the byproduct of a beat-up acoustic guitar getting a Cajon makeover and becoming a dynamic, wearable drumkit. De Vitry came out to join the band for the title track “Muse” before inviting Timmons to join them for “Luckiest Man” for a real highlight of the evening.
After a nice ovation following their set, they came out for a 3-song encore including the aforementioned "Satisfied," as well as the "Smoke Ting Halo" track “Made it up the Mountain,” before closing it out with a cover of the Band’s legendary 1975 track “Ophelia”.
The Wood Brothers offered an engaging set that clearly delighted the crowd that had made the venture out on a Sunday night. Their music carries deep and emotional themes, and their live performances convey these feelings with authenticity and sincerity. You can really experience a profound connection to the music and the lyrics.
The Wood Brothers experience is marked by exceptional musicianship, intimate connections, and a sense of camaraderie among fellow concertgoers. It's a musical journey that appeals to the heart and soul, leaving you with lasting memories and a deeper appreciation for their artistry. Be sure to catch them on their fall tour as they continue throughout the east coast and Chicago.
Upcoming tour dates:
OCT 26 THU Union Transfer @ 8:00pm w/Maya de Vitry Philadelphia, PA
OCT 27 FRI Flynn Center @ 8:00pm w/Maya de Vitry Burlington, VT
OCT 28 SAT Palace Theatre @ 8:00pm w/Maya de Vitry Albany, NY
OCT 29 SUN Cabot Theater @ 7:00pm w/Maya de Vitry Beverly, MA
NOV 17 FRI A Beyond Hunger Benefit Concert - Thalia Hall @ 8:00pm Chicago, IL
NOV 18 SAT A Beyond Hunger Benefit Concert - Fitzgerald's @ 8:00pm Berwyn, IL
NOV 30 THU Culture Room @ 7:30pm w/The Watson Twins Fort Lauderdale, FL
DEC 1 FRI Orange Blossom Revue 2023 @ 7:00pm Lake Wales, FL
DEC 2 SAT Ponte Vedra Concert Hall @ 8:00pm w/The Watson Twins Ponte Vedra, FL
DEC 3 SUN Vinyl Music Hall @ 8:00pm w/The Watson Twins Pensacola, FL
DEC 5 TUE Tipitina's @ 8:00pm w/The Watson Twins New Orleans, LA
DEC 6 WED Iron City @ 8:00pm w/The Watson Twins Birmingham, AL
DEC 7 THU Georgia Theatre @ 7:30pm w/The Watson Twins Athens, GA
DEC 8 FRI Charleston Music Hall @ 8:00pm w/The Watson Twins Charleston, SC
DEC 9 SAT Charleston Music Hall @ 8:00pm w/The Watson Twins Charleston, SC
