Indie Rock Hit Parade Live Session: Woods

It can be hard to pinpoint for the uninitiated the best mode of entry into the psychedelic-folk world of Woods, but as you can hear in our latest Indie Rock Hit Parade session, all roads lead to a wonderful place. Formed in 2005 around singer Jeremy Earl and guitarist Jarvis Taveniere, Woods is much more than just an inventive band with a nearly flawless catalog. The group has released six full length albums (including this year’s With Light And With Love) through their own label, the venerable Woodsist, all the while nurturing other like-minded artists like Kurt Vile, Real Estate and White Fence.They also gather the Woodsist family in Big Sur for a festival so popular that this year’s event is long sold out.

Our session with Woods finds Earl and Taveniere joined in the studio by bassist Chuck Van Dyke, drummer Aaron Neveu and John Andrews of the Boston band Quilt sitting in on keys (Quilt have been touring with Woods for the past few months). Drawing entirely from their new album, Woods effortlessly explored the many sides of With Light And With Love. There’s the easy-rambling “Leaves Like Glass,” the delicate “Feather Man,” the slide-guitar-dappled “Shepherd” and a charming performance of “Only The Lonely.” Though they left the tape loops and noise machines in the van, there’s no question that our session finds Woods at their breeziest.

Download the complete Indie Rock Hit Parade session with Woods: