[Article by Karen Shaver.]

Last Wednesday Radio Radio in Fountain Square was bustling with activity while My Old Kentucky Blog presented the evening as one of the greatest dance parties of 2009.

Being a native Los Angeles transplant, the familiarity of the venue reminded me of walking into an east side club off Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood.   The first band, Hey Champ from Chicago, provided great entertainment as the head count began to rise well over 100.  The audience mingled and greeted each other, creating a not-so subtle atmosphere of anticipation for the night’s headliner.

Andy D. from Bloomington, a one-man show entertainer, did just that while accompanied by local band Beta Male, who were dressed in silver metallic cat suits and performed as Andy’s backup dancers.  Andy D.’s performance was basically the night’s fluffer for the main act, who embraced the stage.

Perhaps Andy D. was inspired by, singer-songwriter, pianist, and immaculate composer Dan Werb, creator of Woodhands. Dan performed as a one-man show in Montreal creating a buzz with his electrifying music.  He always knew that the band would one day have a percussion section, and after moving to Toronto and touring the local scene, he eventually bumped into Paul Banwatt .  The two knew of each other’s talents on the local circuit and were mutually impressed with one another. Dan’s feverish, intelligent keyboard composures blend majestically with Paul’s outstanding timing and original rhythmic percussions.

With no formal training in composition other than conservatory music, Dan started playing piano when he was five and wrote his first song at 13. His talent for combing rhythms with sporadic piano chords gives him the appearance of being a seasoned composer reminiscent of Eno and Elfman.

Their live performance was electrifying, full of glee, and had an energy that was apparent on the faces of the reoccurring fans who fell for them last May during the band’s first appearance in Indianapolis at the Vollrath.

Songs like “Breaking Up” and “Dancer” include soulful lyrics and vocals that create an ethereal calmness. Just when you think the song is going to saunter into a glam rock ballad, the beat picks up, channeling groovy, perfectly produced, raw electronic vibes. The constant motion of the bodies on the dance floor is proof that Woodhands can successfully motivate the crowd into a sweating frenzy.  Sitting still is impossible as Dan wales into a microphone, “Trying not to use you,” above Paul’s unique tribal drum beats.  The tune “Under Attack” has a contagious and commercially marketable effect and could easily be used to advertise the next VW or Iphone.

This is not your average electronica band. Woodhands’ music provokes happiness and sets a groovy tone behind the electronica.  Given the amount of soulful rhythmic riffs, it is astonishing that there is not one guitar chord utilized.

Dan claims to have never listened to eletronica before performing it, which makes sense as this is unlike any electronica sound out there. The live percussions mixed with the intellect behind Dan’s creative composure blend masterfully live.

They are currently on tour of the Northeast with their first recording Heart Attack (Paper Bag Records) that was initially embraced by the Chinese this past year when they performed China. “They ate us up.” Dan says of their Chinese fans. They were recently invited back to China to perform in a festival. The first of many invitations the Woodhands will receive, as their sound is contagious and enlightening as well as sexy and hard driven.  Both Dan and Paul enjoyed recording the album and fed off of each other.

Collaborating usually begins by Dan writing a tune on the piano and layering it with pieces  created by he and Paul during an improvisational jam session routinely played before each rehearsal. Watching them live is like viewing a painting with many layers.  Each song that is differently composed and performed could easily be utilized as a soundtrack to a great independent or blockbuster movie.

Dan describes the name and sound of Woodhands as ‘To highlight the liveliness of music, to give people the sense of something organic and raw. Nothing cold and clinical.”   A sound that could not be compared with another.

It should be interesting to see how this already evolved team can progress any further. All hail Woodhands, the duo that fulfilled the promise by MOKB of creating the greatest dance party  of 2009.

Radio Radio: http://www.futureshock.net/radioframeset.html
Fountain Square: http://www.zaptownmag.com/2009/04/fountain-square-neighborhood
My Old Kentucky Blog: http://myoldkyhome.blogspot.com/
Woodhands: http://www.paperbagrecords.com/bands/woodhands
Hey Champ: http://hey-champ.blogspot.com/
Andy D: http://www.myspace.com/rockslow
Beta Male: http://www.myspace.com/betamale