The Wood Brothers gave a stellar show at Higher Ground in Burlington on Thursday, March 3rd. The three-person ensemble is held together by Chris and Oliver Wood, two brothers raised on American roots and bluegrass in Boulder, Colorado. The two split off to pursue their individual music careers for fifteen years, Chris studying jazz bass at the New England Conservatory of Music and Oliver playing with Tinsley Ellis in Atlanta, GA, and founding his group, “King Johnson,” before reuniting at a show in North Carolina. It is still obvious that the group’s style originally developed from American roots and bluegrass, but it also has clearly been influenced by the eclectic range of genres the two brothers encountered during their years apart. Their unique sound, as a result, draws all sorts of people. Looking around the audience at Higher Ground, one could see a healthy variety of the following concertgoer types:
1. The Bouncer/Side-Stepper
Probably the most common move. We all do this at least a little bit, and with good reason. Especially with a group with as much rhythm as the Wood Bothers, it's hard not to bop along.
2. The Swayer
These folks aren’t really about drawing attention to themselves. When you just want to feel the music, but don’t want to sweat too much, swaying is a great way to go. Oftentimes, closed eyes accompany the sway.
3. The Swing Dancers
I have mixed feelings about these types. Swing dancing is hella-fun when you have a good partner. But at an indoor concert when you are relatively close to the stage, taking up prime show-watching space, it could be considered a tad disrespectful to be focusing on the person next to you. But also, and more importantly, I believe, you should do you. Life is about what makes you happy, not about what makes the musicians happy. And also, the Wood Brothers probably would’ve been stoked to see people swingin’ to their jams.
4. The Ones Who Can Actually Dance
You’ll see an audience speckled with these people: the ones whose movements stand out from the crowd. They're in your face without being obnoxious. "Must be a dance major," us average-Joes think to ourselves.
5. The Stander/Starer
These people stand out in a different way. They’re either really into it, or really out of it. I suppose we’ll never know.
6. The Lyric-Screamers
We’d like to hear the band, thank you Just kidding--I'm guilty, and there is an obvious reason for the musicians' microphones. Often this attribute is accompanied by hands in the air and hips a shakin'. Best to stand behind them, not in front.
7. The Ones Who Move Their Shoulders a Little Too Much
Everything below the chest is stationary. Sometimes they’ll throw in some chicken-ish neck action to spice it up. If I'm being honest, though, I don't think there can ever be too many shoulder moves.
8. The Ones Without A Care In The World
What we all should aspire to be. These free spirits are also often seen with eyes closed, taking in the whole experience and letting the music move them, no matter who’s watching.
