I first heard about Matt Woods when I saw Austin Lucas perform at The Well in Knoxville, TN (Woods’ stompin’ grounds) last February. With nothing but a recommendation from Lucas (just do whatever he says, okay?), I picked up a copy of Woods’ latest album, Manifesto, while I was there. Being a huge fan of independent and alternate country, I fell in love at first listen. If you like solid songwriting and authentic country influence, I think you will, too.
I was able to talk to Woods before his last show of a three month national tour at the V Club in Huntington, WV, a venue in which he’s been performing for years. (Go there. They have an indoor and outdoor bar, a mini-arcade, friendly staff, reasonably priced drinks, and pool tables. Did I mention they have a mini-arcade?) I was stoked to not only witness his dynamic stage presence but also to learn about his love of vinyl, his upcoming studio time, and a new album in the works.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2HmxNLoz20
So tell me what’s coming.
Well, I go into the studio in January, and I hope to be on tour again in February of 2013. We’re lookin’ to tour the South and the mid-west at that time. I don’t have a full-time band, so I like to bring in people I appreciate – players I admire – and that takes some time to schedule. And later in the year, I’m thinking of bringing my drummer to do a two-man show across Europe.
Oh, wow, Europe would be a great time.
Oh, for sure, but there’s more.
Oh! [laughs]
Yeah! I also want to release a 7-inch with one side featuring the full band and full production of “Deadman’s Blues,” and the other side featuring me and a guitar, and each side of the 7-inch featuring another track. “Deadman’s Blues” will be on the new record, but the rest of the songs on the 7-inch would be exclusive to the 7-inch.
Cool.
Yeah, it’s my first time releasing vinyl, so I’m pretty excited about it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=yN4EuVa2IN0&NR=1
Really? That surprise me.
Yeah, me too, because I just really love the product. I’m not a big MP3 person. I like the whole package vinyl gives you: the sound, the artwork—I’ve done all of my own graphic design work so far, though I might change that—and just the whole experience. The new record will be released on vinyl, too. I’m really excited for it.
Tell me more about the new record.
Well, I did most of the writing for it while I was recording Manifesto. Depending on which songs make the cut, there’s some that could be a little older than others, but most of them are newer. There might be one from the Broken Strings and Beer Specials time period, which was a record I made of songs I recorded with people from my other bands, and I just stripped ’em down to me and a guitar.
I think that’s a good way for you to go. You definitely have the kind of voice that can carry that.
Well, thank you…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVhwJ4pE-R0
Sorry you missed out? You can catch Matt Woods on December 29 at The Well for a rare reunion show with his former Knoxville band Magpie Suite and special guest Daniel Miller.
