The Woodsman Wields His Axe

Now Whatcha Playin?

I had the pleasure of visiting the MySpace site of an exciting rockin' group from the Detroit area - The Woodsman. You know, so many bands out there are putting out music that's in tune with what Dr. Kervorkian practiced - assisted suicide. C'mon, we've had enough Nirvana and Pearl Jam and Soundgarden wannabes and also death metal sound alikes.

The Woodsman proves the Motorcity still rocks (and I am not biased as I live in Chicago) and shows us that Seattle music is for sleeping (or dying) but Detroit music is for LIVING BABY!

The Woodsman is influenced by, what else, Motor City Rock. I saw them on You Tube doing the Amboy Dukes "Good Natured Emma". Who woulda thunk that the band has the original Amboy Dukes' keyboardist, Rick Lober. I think they called him "Nervous Ned" back in '67. More on Rick later.

The band, which has been together for about 3 years, consists of Mr. Jeffrey Faust (formerly of the Nuclear Dukes) and a student of great guitarists proving that sometimes the student outdoes the master. Rick lober handles the ivories. Also in the band is the thumpin' Tony Chistlaw formerly of Powder Keg (talk about an explosive name!) on drums and Scott Boyden of Rampage (Wow, Detroit has some great names for rock bands!) on bass and vocals. Jeff Faust, besides the axe, also handles the mike and most of the songwriting.

I played their song from MySpace "Mr. Miles and Miles". This is a refreshing instrumental that you want to loop-play while you're driving out in the country on a nice warm day with the top down on your Mustang or Malibu. This song is reminiscent of early Jeff Beck, but only briefly because as the song picks up and takes off it develops an uncanny sound in the vogue of the Allman Brothers in their heyday. What I like is no depressing chords, just fly like the wind melodies and upbeat rhythyms. Other songs at their My Space include The Blame, Mount Olympus, Cold blood, March of Times, and Thunder in the Sun. Check them out here >>>> http://www.myspace.com/jeffrozeaxe .

You know, I said I wanted to say more about Rick Lober and here it is. Rick, who has been itching to go on stage and play and put out records is a keyboardist you should take notice. I saw him play at the Detroit Music Awards with the original Amboy Dukes and when he played his solo, man, he outplayed old Teddy Nugent. Rick's playing has more vitality and finesse than even his British counterpart, Rick Wakeman of Yes.

Well the Woodsman is in the woodshed, I mean the studio, recording their new album. when it's out I will blog about it, and from what I've heard so far, it's dang good. Thanks Mr. Woodsman for your great guitar chops, and keep sharpening that axe - it sounds great.

Here's that "Good Natured Emma" vidoe by the Woodsman.



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