SG Wood – Dude Waters
Part of a fine musical entity a few years ago SG Wood is in search of a new viable beginning, a solo endeavor that brought in handpicked musicians who fine-tuned the newly composed SG numbers. Originally from Detroit, the award-winning Mr. Wood is a Tampa, Florida resident who mixes classic country with folk & rock n’ roll to create quite a musical gloss. He even manages to cook up a jam reminiscent of Mike Bloomfield & Stephen Stills’s Super Session on “Passenger Seat.” A cool tenacious 8-minute listen.
Produced by Wood with Bob Osenton (guitars/Hammond/Wurlitzer/piano/pedal steel/dobro/harmony vocals) the 10 originals under the sign of a Florida street Dude Waters (Drops Aug 2/Nannie Bell Records/53:48) is according to Mr. Wood (acoustic guitar/vocals) a record that chronicles a place & time. Celebrates the human condition, heals wounds & helps to start over. Just what the doctor ordered.
The song titles are simple, the subjects are clever & the tales have the gutsy spices that bite when they have to. The songs are rooted in a singer-songwriter style popular in the 70s & early 80s (especially “Ctrl/Alt & Delete”) with artists like Russ Tolman (“Marla Jane”), the late Bobby Sutliff (“Same Way Tomorrow”) & while not as intense lyrically as Elvis Costello, Wood does have a Graham Parker touch.
Wood fortunately doesn’t just sing but applies a stylistic approach to his vocals. The tunes are generally pop-oriented but outside the main current. With “Blue Velvet Chair,” SG sings with Rebekha Pulley to great effect. She adds lucidity & is a good contrast.
“Have You Ever Had Trouble?” comes with an expressive Brinsley Schwartz/Rumor/Rockpile melodic swagger – lots of Nick Lowe pop coherency & Dave Edmunds rock fragments. This is arranged to be memorable with its jangly guitars ala the late 70s, not the 60s. This has an edginess.
The songs don’t come off as posing, or symbolic of another era, they just have connections that spark. The musicians take their cues from famous sounds because “Carny Town” has a beautiful George Harrison-type lead guitar that’s riveting & works — not out of The Beatles, but the Traveling Wilbury’s because the tune is steeped in a Tom Petty-type vibe. This is excellent.
The silly title “Giggly Wiggly” is surprisingly powerful. Dylanesque. The lyrics are good, the music follows superbly & the dramatic deep notes off the piano — a nice touch. While not a favorite “Down On You” sonically cruises along impressively in a 60s Hollies-type melodic guitar pattern. Nostalgic for me & good despite the sweetness.
Highlights – “Little White Car,” “Ctrl/Alt & Delete,” “Blue Velvet Chair,” “Have You Ever Had Trouble?” “Carny Town,” “Giggly Wiggly,” “Passenger Seat,” “The Needle Through the Veil” & “Down On You.”
Musicians – Rebekah Pulley (vocals), TJ Weger (lead guitar/mandolin/harmony), Tim McMaster (Bass/harmony) & Jake Winebrenner (drums).
B&W image courtesy of SG Wood’s website gallery. 2 bonus cuts included. CD @ https://sgwoodmusic.com/home