Brooklyn-based psych-folk band Woods just released their latest album, an EP called Love is Love–a political album that explores new themes for the band, but still maintains the band’s indie-whimsical sound with their plethora of instruments (played by Jarvis Taveniere, Aaron Neveu, Chuck Van Dyck, and Kyle Forester) and the airy, hippie-esque vocals of Jeremy Earl.
On Woods’ earlier discography (especially on albums like How to Survive In + In the Woods and Songs of Shame) there’s definitely more of a folky vibe–one that’s meant to sound imperfect, more jam session-like, and seems to favor simplicity. Songs like “Ring Me to Sleep” and “Broke” best showcase that softer side, but it’s on later albums like At Echo Lake (which features artist Kevin Morby who has since pursued a solo career) as well as Sun and Shade that the band begins to embrace a more full-bodied sound–one that’s more “experimental” and dreamy, flooded with sunshine, and very “folk band at a commune.” There’s always a slight element of surprise when it comes to Woods and their songs, which are released on their own label called Woodsist (naturally), but there’s still a continuity to their music. They’ll always be recognizably Woods.
With their performance spanning ten years of music, seeing them play live at Bowery Ballroom will be quite an enlightening experience (no matter what songs they choose for their set). But no matter what, prepare yourself for sensory overload, and to be reminded that, no matter what, love is love.
Bowery Ballroom
7/15
w/ John Andrews and the Yawns
9 p.m.
$15
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