The Woodgrains

Athens-via-Waycross trio The Woodgrains—winners of the 2013 Flagpole Athens Music Award for Best Rock Band—have been making noise in town since 2009, combining recognizable classic-rock guitar tropes with CSNY-style vocal harmonies. But the band's history goes much further back. Friends from a young age, these three "skateboard rats" played together in the middle-school band and discovered new music—perhaps most formatively, the sweetly complex country sounds of another Waycross native, Gram Parsons.

Though it clearly owes to 1960s and '70s rock and pop, The Woodgrains' self-titled new sophomore record, which the band describes as "a lot riffier" than its predecessor, is an impressively original outing. It also sounds downright fantastic; thanks to the help of Full Moon Studio's Jay Rodgers, The Woodgrains is potent and pure with newfound confidence. Flagpole sat down with drummer Evan Amburn and bassist Nick Carroll (guitarist Dylan Crosby resides in Waycross) for a listening session. Listen to the Spotify playlist below as you read along. - Flagpole Magazine

By ANDRE GALLANT

The Woodgrains, simply, are old souls in unwrinkled skin.

To hear the band live, or on its debut record, one can’t escape a sepia-toned mash up of Crosby, Stills and Nash’s California, The Band’s interpretation of the American South and The Woodgrains’ own barely adult take on the region’s rock ’n’ roll history.
Classic rock, for sure, but as drummer Evan Amburn rolls into the story of The Woodgrains’ inception, the word refreshing pops into his speech several times.
But how can a throwback band be refreshing? For starters, The Woodgrains are a Southern rock band that doesn’t resort to country cliches or redneck rockisms.
And knitted into their drawly, heavily harmonized grassy pasture sound are more modern songwriting techniques likely borrowed from Philadelphia’s nostalgia freaks Dr. Dog.
The Woodgrains are a cross-pollination, really, of their Southeast Georgia hometown, Waycross, and indie mecca Athens.
Two-thirds of The Woodgrains moved to Athens right out of high school in 2009, quickly jumping into whatever scene would have them, saddling up next to Kite to the Moon, Adam Payne, Betsy Franck, and making their home in what the band calls the Nowhere Bar family.
“Not that there’s anything wrong with Waycross — it’s our hometown — but what better place to be a rock band than Athens,” said Amburn. “If you really want to do the damn thing, you’ve got to move on.”
Band members, just now turning the legal drinking age, played their first show at Tasty World in 2009, hopping onto a Barefoot Hookers bill, and have played any stage they could over their short time in town.
“It took awhile to get our feet wet and have our sound stick,” Amburn said.
But looking back, he doesn’t think their youth hindered The Woodgrains’ acceptance into Athens’ bar rock scene. If anything, it might have helped.
“We were so young,” Amburn said. “So maybe it was easier to impress people.”
In February of this year, The Woodgrains released “From Marshall, to Venita,” the title a reference to both the street where they first formed and their first apartment in Athens. The album, Amburn admits, though new, doesn’t accurately portray where the band is now. The Woodgrains prepped and recorded “Marshall” quickly, something they’re trying not to repeat as they enter Full Moon Studios in August to track a follow-up.
Much of the experimental and psychedelic elements on “Marshall” can be traced to their move to Athens, Amburn said. But he expects the new record to be less “flashy” and more focused on the trio, with more riffing, more singing like The Beatles and playing like Led Zeppelin.
“We’ve had a lot more time to put these songs together,” he said. The band’s bassist finally moved to Athens permanently this year, allowing longer and more frequent writing sessions. “We’ve been really hacking these tunes together.”
The Woodgrains is one of those bands that sound like a band, not a songwriter, not a recording project. And it’s made most evident in the tight three-part harmonies the group stitches into every song. Their dedication to the power trio format, coupled with the intended goal of simplifying their recorded output, is, as Amburn would say, refreshing. - Athens Banner Herald

Spotlight: The Woodgrains

BY AMY ISHII

When you’ve got something good, you go with it. Even though becoming a band was not in these three small-town Georgia boys’ original plans, they decided to officially become The Woodgrains after moving to Athens to attend college. A first-time listener may be shocked by the musical maturity they have already reached, both as performers and as songwriters. Most of their loyal followers have been earned though self-promotion and a good bit of them were initially convinced to give The Woodgrains that first listen because their genuine Southern hospitality and approachability. There are always familiar faces in the crowd at Woodgrains shows, whether they’re playing in a soup kitchen in Christiansburg, VA or on a weekday in downtown Athens.

The Woodgrains stay true to their roots in both music and demeanor. They create earthy rhythms that’ll swallow you whole if you aren’t careful. Guitarist/vocalist Dylan Crosby is quite the character, adding a dynamic that will snatch an audience’s attention and never let go. The voices of Old Crow Medicine Show’s Willie Watson and Jim Morrison influence the deep croon that is Crosby’s vocals.

Bassist/vocalist Nick Carroll tells it like it is with his direct lyrics and infectious bass lines. Coming from a family of musicians, drummer/vocalist Evan Amburn began his expansive musical evolution early on, playing in groups ranging from Christian heavy metal bands to various drum corps before finding his current place in The Woodgrains. He holds his own in the band, providing consistent in-the-pocket rhythms, and contributes to the band’s knack for unconventionality as one of the rare drummer-vocalists.

At first glance, they do not look as if they would belong in the same band, but they’re proof that the uncanniest ingredients create the most savory blends. Crosby is spicy, Carroll is sweet and Amburn will make your mouth water with his tangy beats. They fit together as naturally as the bark that grows on a dogwood.

The Woodgrains are out to prove they have something big to contribute, whether it’s their refined compositions or memorable stage presence. The premise of the band is to create tunes that are pleasing to the ear. Even though their individual writing styles vary, they all believe in the same philosophy that a composition is never too good to be improved upon. “A song isn’t worth creating without making the effort to refine it.” - Performer Magazine

Psychedelic music might have wandered into oblivion after Woodstock, but the grains that brought the harvest have spread throughout the Peach State.

With a sound reminiscent of the ’60s, psychedelic band The Woodgrains feeds off influences such as Crosby, Stills & Nash.
Featuring a blend of ’60s music style and southern rock, The Woodgrains have quickly excelled as a premiere South Georgia band.
The three-piece now has Athens set in its crosshairs.
“It kind of worked perfectly,” said Nick Carroll, bassist for the outfit and a sophomore magazines major at the University.
The Woodgrains’ sound comes from its harmony. The members all grew up listening to artists such as Crosby, Stills & Nash to help develop that flavor to their music.
“I feel like our voices blend well together,” Carroll said. “That makes it easier.”
As a whole, the group has matured over time. Its songwriting, musicianship and live shows are ever-changing as the band finds influences that used to stay hidden.
The members are continually gaining confidence in their stage presence.
“The live shows have evolved,” Carroll said. “They evolve every time.”
The three-piece has an album it plans to release by late March or early April.
“[The songs] are deep rooted in personal morals,” said Evan Amburn, drummer for the band. “I feel a lot of us are in many ways the same person.”
Songs such as “Tuscaloosa” are focused on stories relating to the band members’ personal lives.
“The songs are symbolic but they’re not incomprehensible,” Amburn said.
The Woodgrains wanted to gain a family feel from the album, and brought in an array of musicians and songwriters from Waycross.
“We feed off Waycross musicians much more than we do in Athens,” Amburn said.
One track titled “Saw it on TV” was written by Dave Griffin, who started the annual Gram Parsons Guitar Pull in Waycross. Griffin contributes his vocals in the song, and some of the songwriting was also done by Ian Dunlop, formerly of International Submarine Band.
Parsons was a part of International Submarine Band before his time with The Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers.
Carroll and Amburn reside in Athens, and guitarist Dylan Crosby still lives in Waycross.
Although Ware County is a four-hour journey south of Athens, the band still finds ways to practice and book shows.
“We’ll book a weekend and [Crosby] will come up and do that,” Carroll said. “Usually we’ll have time to practice in between shows.”
The Woodgrains got its first show through a high school journalism teacher at a Waycross fair, playing “Don’t Do It,” by The Band and “I Know You Rider,” by Grateful Dead.
The band’s name came from a contest: the group had a straw hat on stage and listeners put name suggestions in.
The Philadelphia psychedelic outfit Dr. Dog is also a major modern influence on the group.
As the Woodgrains work to incorporate its style into the modern day, it uses Dr. Dog as a reference.
“It was really refreshing to us that a band from today was doing things the way people used to,” Amburn said.
The Woodgrains hope the future will have them continuing to make “magic.”
“We will never be discouraged,” Amburn said. “No matter what, we will always know that we were part of something we thought was absolutely phenomenal.” - The Red and Black

It’s hard to establish an act in a 30-minute set.


The Woodgrains know this.

There’s the decision making of what songs the band should play, which equipment should be used.

Does the band cut some parts of a longer song out?

Is there enough time for a cover song?

The musicians are out there to showcase their talents. Thousands are in attendance for this festival, including some names from record labels.

Some even host their own showcases during the festivities – New West, BMI and Team Clermont just to name a few.

What is a band going to do to make fans and critics alike remember it?

The Woodgrains surely had to face these decisions for its opening slot Sunday on the Hull Street stage, but it quickly became obvious the right choices were made.

Perhaps more impressive was the Waycross band’s demeanor. There was no pressure for the up-and-comers.

Almost as if to say, “AthFest? Just another show.”

In reality though, that is all AthFest is.

It is just another show.

There just happens to be more bands, more people, more publicity and as all of us learned quickly on Sunday afternoon, way more heat.

And whether the band was performing originals such as “Tuscaloosa” or paying homage to Neil Young with “Southern Man,” what we heard was carefree, relaxed, but most importantly, authentic.

Then again, isn’t that what one is supposed to expect from South Georgia musicians?

Sure the music is layered and complex, but you sure as hell can’t tell that by their comfort.

That’s what people loved about the Allman Brothers, it’s what people loved about Waycross native Gram Parsons and simply put, it’s what people love about the Woodgrains.

It encompasses everything people love about Southern rock, without the rebellion.

The only rebellion is not fitting in an Athens clique.

The music is a little folky at times, psychedelic at others but remains leveled.

Most would be afraid to attempt a cover of “Southern Man” anywhere, much less Georgia.

Not these guys.

Even more impressive was the fact drummer Evan Amburn’s voice could be compared with old Crazy Horse himself.

But the band got people to dance.

If the fan base of Athens has shown me anything in my time here, if you get people to dance, you have the city behind you.

Having 30-minutes to make an impression can sound like a near impossible thing to do.

But 30 minutes on a small stage was all the Woodgrains needed. - The Red and Black

February 29, 2012

MUSIC RECORD REVIEWS

The Woodgrains
From Marshall, to Venita

By Jordan Stepp


The Woodgrains are a throwback to the days of psychedelic rock when the guitars were fuzzy, the vocals wailing, and the keyboard was played in an utterly non-ironic manner. In fact, The Woodgrains’ keys are one of the most appealing elements of their sound, along with their sweet harmonies and the occasional banjo twang. The wildly distorted mix of guitar and keys keeps them from getting too bogged down in the jammy nature of psych and allows the good parts to shine on like the craziest of diamonds.

The trio bills themselves as a mix of folk, psychedelic and soul. For the most part, that’s accurate. Naturally, the psych-rock elements are most apparent, but every now and then The Woodgrains throw in a folksy sliding guitar that shouldn’t work, but just does. The harmonies are pure soul, however.

“Tuscaloosa” sounds like a Hendrix B-side, down to the smooth spoken vocals and dripping guitar note-bending spree. It’s also one of the few times that The Woodgrains allow the vocal melody and song structure to get in the way of the actual music. The stop/start nature snaps you out of whatever groove you were in, but manages to grab you again just in time for the song to end. It’s pretty much the only problem song on the record, the rest being a smooth, colorful romp through psych-rock done right. The Woodgrains manage to avoid wandering too far into nostalgia by updating that '60s sound just enough to make it truly their own. - Flagpole Magazine

In a music-soaked town like Athens, you might quickly find yourself adrift in a roiling sea of weird, mediocre and sometimes, just-plain-bad music. Every band tries to separate themselves from the competition, which often leads to experimentation, which is often poorly executed, which then becomes merely a gimmick.
The crowd at the Melting Point on Friday, Dec. 3, in Athens, was lucky enough to be spared the gimmicks when The Woodgrains stepped on stage. Part of a three band line-up, headlined by The Packway Handle Band, The Woodgrains opened a few eyes and got every foot stomping with the kind of straight forward, bare-bones approach that has worked for decades.
Their track “Intrepid Traveler” tipped the show off well. The song’s strong back beat and twangy, reverb heavy guitar, laced with vocal harmonies, showed a bit of the band’s Waycross, GA roots. The next tune, “Storyteller,” was slower, sparse and easy going, another song with the stamp of Graham Parsons.
Moving into “Wild Iris Blue,” The Woodgrains showed their propensity for the psychedelic. A howling guitar solo highlighted the soulful romp that also displayed the band’s ability to compose a beautifully dynamic cut.
Dylan Crosby’s Stratocaster humming with heavy fuzz and the metronome precision of Evan Amburn’s Drums and Nick Carroll’s bass cooked well in the basement like walls of The Melting Point, creating a succulent stew of classic rock, country rock and psychedelia that is often overlooked by modern bands. A record player and a Foosball table with a couple of beers from your dad’s fridge would have completed the experience.
The show was mostly originals, but the cover tune for the night was a stripped down, yet plugged in, version of “Suite Judy Blue Eyes.” On this tune, the band’s proficiency with the three part harmony was clearly evident.
Each song drips with the soul of country blues and an attitude of pure adrenaline. Thoughtful compositions and lyrics, simple instrumentation and great musicianship make The Woodgrains a band that is not to be missed.
It is refreshing to listen to a band that sticks to a winning formula, and does it well. No gimmicks here, just good, old fashioned rock and roll. - The Blue Indian