The Wood Brothers

Chris and Oliver Wood join forces with multi-instrumentalist Jano Rix for this folksy-bluesy project. (Listeners will surely recognize Chris from Medeski Martin & Wood, and Oliver from King Johnson.) The group released The Muse in 2013, and it’s a great album filled with piano-laden roots music. This is laid-back American rock; tunes like “Neon Tombstone” and “Honey Jar” slide into uptempo grooves and wide-open rock ‘n’ roll terrain, all while maintaining the trio’s patently tight feel. “Sweet Maria” has the band showing off a more balladesque side. The Kent Stage is great for exposing the intimate side of rock, and the Wood Brothers will do well in taking advantage of that. (Sandy)