from Brooklyn back to his Texas roots in
Austin, Kenny is now fronting the Wooden
Birds, who are embarking on a North
American tour in support of their sophomore release, Two Matchsticks.
While the Wooden Birds’ sound is a
departure from the layered, drone-pop styling
of the American Analog Set, Andrew Kenny’s
marquee guitar work, progressions, and storytelling about life, love, and heartbreak are
omnipresent. This record draws on rich and
dynamic folk rock with subtle backing beats,
all held together with hypnotic crooning by
Kenny and other members of the band.
The Wooden Birds boast a solid lineup
of three other Austinites—drummer Sean
Haskins, and guitarists-singers Leslie Sisson
and Matt Pond. Magnolia, the Wooden Bird’s
first release, was conceived by Kenny before
the band actually existed. In the case of Two
Matchsticks, the majority of the songs were
played and worked out live before going into
the studio—a methodology the band was
pleased with as it allowed them to set the
songs’ tempo and styling before rolling tape.
That said, one beauty of this album is that
the live sound of the Wooden Birds is not
necessarily captured on the recording. Yes,
Kenny’s trademark guitar sounds ooze from
the album, but he is the bassist for this collaborative effort while on tour. Additionally,
you won’t hear any drums on this album—
like Magnolia, most all the backing rhythm
beats were created by banging on Kenny’s
“world’s most poorly cared for” Gibson J- 45,
along with some maracas and tambourine.
The Wooden Birds have concocted a
superbly blended elixir of vocal harmonies
and atmospheric twang with a spot-on balance of folk-pop, country, and indie flavor.
Movingly catchy, soft, and beautiful, this
record will quickly inspire the need to take
a summer road trip. —Rich Osweiler
ALBUM
Matt Schofield
Anything But Me
Nugene Records
This fourth record
from Matt Schofield
continues the British
bluesman’s trend
of upping the ante
with each move he
seems to make. That’s not an easy task when
you consider that he and his last album, Heads,
Tails & Aces, won the 2010 British Blues
Awards for both Guitarist of the Year and
Album of the Year. Anything But Me, which
was helmed by veteran blues producer John
Porter (B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush)
suggests that Schofield is looking to repeat the
feat while winning even more fans and accolades as he supports the album with a US tour
this summer.
On the majority of these 10 tracks, which
are mostly co-written originals, Schofield uses
just a touch less grit than most blues players
rely on these days. Paired with his Texas blues-
“Schofield’s approach to his
craft is anchored by a remark-
able respect for the blues, but
complemented by a brilliant
sense of what the genre has
to offer.” —Joe Coffey
leaning chops that emphasize meaty, sustained
notes and vibrato over the shrednastics
between them, the result is a modern blues
guitar vocabulary that can still plumb some
of the more vulnerable depths you might
normally associate with the likes of B.B. King
or Robert Cray. Schofield fronts a tight trio
with drummer Kevin Hayes and keyboard
player Jonny Henderson, whose dripping B- 3
parts and funky Wurlitzer rhythms stay tightly
fused with his left hand as it holds down the
group’s low-end. Standout tracks include the
Booker T-esque “Anything But Time,” jump
number “Don’t Know What I’d Do,” a tremendous nod to Hendrix called “Dreaming
of You,” and slow churner “Where Do I Have
to Stand.” Schofield also puts his own mark
on Albert King’s “Wrapped Up in Love,” and
Steve Winwood’s “At Times We Do Forget,”
driving each with vocals that are as strong as
his guitar playing.
Like some of the famous British blues-men before him, Schofield’s approach to his
craft is anchored by a remarkable respect for
the blues, but complemented by a brilliant
sense of what the genre has to offer, which
is particularly appealing to guitar players.
No longer just a guitarist to keep an eye out
for, Schofield has arrived, and Anything But
Me cements his status as an important contemporary bluesman. —Joe Coffey
ALBUM
Levon Helm
Ramble at the Ryman
Vanguard Records
Throughout the year, Levon Helm—
legendary drummer and vocalist for the Band—
hosts “Midnight Rambles” at his home
studio in Woodstock, New York. These
events are open to the public and often feature special guests. Helm decided to pack up
the band and head to the “Carnegie Hall of
the South,” Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium,
to record his latest album, Ramble at the
Ryman. There are few American institutions
with as deep a connection to roots music as
the Ryman, and it serves as the perfect setting for Helm’s melting pot of blues, soul,
and country.
