The Wooden Sky

You’re at a show, a band you’ve never heard of takes the stage, they count in their opener. Silky smooth sound sound waves wash over you, and almost instantly your mind empties itself of every thought, in an effort to absorb every last note that rings out from the stage. Instinctively, you slam back the rest of your beer, because reaching for a drink and diverting even the most minuscule amount of cerebral energy from what you’re experiencing would be so wrong. And of course, you don’t want your beer getting warm! This was my reaction the night I had my first taste, of what is today, my absolute favourite group, The Wooden Sky. They are a Canadian indie rock band based out of Toronto, Ontario. Originally forming as Friday Mornings Regret in 2003, before changing their name to The Wooden Sky in 2007. The band is made up of Gavin Gardner, Andrew Wyatt, Simon Walker, Andrew Kekewich and Edwin Huizinga. They walk the line somewhere between indie rock and folk, led by Gardner’s rough, smoky voice. Primarily their sound is gentle and melancholie, but they don’t shy away from ramping up the emotion and the decibel meter, especially when closing out some of their tracks. “Call if you need me,” is a perfect example of how they meld their folk and indie rock sounds to lull you in and then send you rushing for the stage front.

Their debut album, as The Wooden Sky, “When lost at sea,” (2007) is rock solid and without a weak link, (in fact I honestly can’t name any song, from any album, that I don’t like). It features twelve twangy, folk rich tracks, including one of my favourite songs, (one that actually shares the band name, “The wooden sky.”) In which you’re exposed to this group’s true lyrical excellence. Their latest album, which was produced by former Arcade Fire drummer and Grammy nominee, Howard Bilerman, “If I don’t come home, you’ll know I’m gone,” (2009) is an absolute gem as well. Fourteen tracks carry you off to a place where indie rock blazes the path to welcome clarity and dammit, does it feel good! The good news doesn’t stop there. They will be releasing a brand new album, “Every child a daughter, every moon a sun,” on February 28, 2012. Some of the tracks can be sampled at their website, ifidontcomehome.com and can be found on the, “City of light LP.” After having listened to every available second from both, it’s sufficed to say that the 28th of February will be cause for celebration! Give the self-titled track, “City of light” a listen, as it gives you an excellent feel as to what this incredibly talented group is capable of. They are truly creative and uniquely experimental with their music. Be it live on stage, on a lake in a canoe, or even in the peak to peak gondola at Whistler, British Columbia, all unique venues that they have rocked. When this band starts to play, their presence is powerful multi instrumental sound. The banjo, harmonica and violin are all integral parts of what is a truly amazing live performance, which has you jumping wildly with a room full of friends, with tunes like, “When we were young.” Then back down to earth (and your seat) with a soulful song like, “Something hiding for us in the night.” It’s an experience all its own to listen to their soothing, mellow sound, on disc. Then go see and feel the energy that radiates from them during a live show. Not only do you get a genuine sense that these guys truly love what they do, they create music that makes you think, and for me, that ignites a great amount of respect.

Here are the stops for their 2012, North American Tour;

2/24 Ottawa, ON – Ritual Night Club
2/25 Quebec City, QC – Le Cercle
2/29 Charlottetown, PEI – Hunter’s Ale House
3/1 Fredericton, NB – The Capitol Bar
3/2 Moncton, NB – Tide & Boar
3/3 Halifax, NS – The Seahorse Tavern
3/5 Montreal, QC – La Sala Rossa
3/22 Hamilton, ON – The Casbah
3/23 London, ON – London Music Hall
3/24 Windsor, ON – FM Lounge
3/25 Chicago, IL – TBA
3/29 Winnipeg, MB – West End Cultural Centre
3/30 Saskatoon, SK – Amigo’s
3/31 Calgary, AB – Palomino Bar
4/5 San Francisco, CA – Hotel Utah
4/6 Los Angeles, CA – Silverlake Lounge
4/7 Sacramento, CA – Luigi’s
4/9 Portland, OR – Bunk Bar
4/10 Victoria, BC – Lucky Bar
4/12 Vancouver, BC – The Biltmore
4/13 Nelson, BC – The Royal
4/14 Edmonton, AB – The Pawn Shop
4/16 Regina, SK – The Exchange
4/18 Sault Ste Marie, ON – TBD
4/19 Sudbury, ON – The Townehouse
4/20 Toronto, ON – The Opera House
4/27 St. John’s, NL – The Ship
4/28 St. John’s, NL – The Ship