A well-received first album, a radio debut on KCRW's Brave New World,
and a growing fan base in and around Los Angeles, has The Woods
excited to get back into the studio. With a wealth of new material
developed on the road, The Woods have found their voice. Next to the
saturation of Yeah, Yeah, Yeah/White Stripe rock, The Woods have
their own good thing going, with a unique brand of nu-age rock
stylings.Brad Cohen, 28, is the lead singer and song-writer of The Woods. He grew up "on the fringe of cool", in the Valley of Los Angeles legend, and many of his songs are about a desire and longing for something that's just out of reach. "I was heavily influenced by the late 70's, early 80's crooners that filled the air with Love Songs from the KOST [an LA radio station]. Sheriff and Chicago spoke to my inner dork and shaped my youth, and I think that's where I get my optimism from. No matter how bad things might suck there's always a bit of hope in those tunes that it will work out in the end."
At the same time, growing up in Los Angeles bred a bit of defensive bitterness. "It's such an industry town. There's no room to be a average garage band. There's so much expectation right out the gate, mostly from myself. I definitely threw up walls to deal with it all. I think my music has become an attempt to tear down those walls." Cohen started playing guitar "late", when he was 18. "It kills me that I didn't find music sooner. I was so lost and the guitar literally gave me something to hold onto." He began picking up on the usual suspects of rock legend, as well as contemporaries like Jeff Buckley and Elliott Smith.
After several years of practice and writing, Cohen got the opportunity to record an album for Piller Records. The band, assembled about half way through the recording process changed hands from producer Blues Saraceno to producer and Woods bass player Dan Rothchild.
Drummer Dan Potruch and keyboard player Dan West complete the ensemble. "The band has come a long way in a short time. The sound has become really organic and definitely moody.
It's a little Elliot Smith, a little Unplugged Nirvana and a little fresh ginger." "I can see so clearly where I want to go and I'm going slower than I thought I'd be, but I never stop believing in myself and in my music. I don't like to over think it, I just need to keep writing and playing and writing. I'm not technical, I just pick it up and play."
For further information regarding The Woods, or to book a show, please call: Piller Records, Attn: Shawn Piller, phone 323.864.0819 - fax: 323.375.0356