Woods

Woods is an American folk rock band from Brooklyn, New York, active since 2005. The group’s recorded line-up includes Jeremy Earl on vocals and guitar, Jarvis Taveniere on various instruments and production, Aaron Neveu on drums, Chuck Van Dyck on bass, and Kyle Forester on keyboards and saxophone. Kevin Morby is a former bassist and leaves the band in 2013. The band’s current listed members are Jeremy Earl, Kevin Morby, and Jarvis Taveniere.

Sound and style

The group is associated with folk, folk rock, freak folk, indie folk, jam band, and neo-psychedelia. Their sound is described as combining campfire folk, lo-fi rock, homemade tape collages, noisy interludes, and strong melodies. Their tags also point to lo-fi and psychedelic elements.

Albums and label work

Woods have released 12 albums, including Perennial. One earlier album, Songs of Shame, receives a Best New Music designation from Pitchfork Media. Jeremy Earl, who is a singer-guitarist and the band’s founder, also runs the Brooklyn label Woodsist, and Woods releases work through that label.

Earlier history

Before recording as Woods, Earl and Taveniere perform with Christian DeRoeck in Meneguar. In that band, Taveniere sings and plays guitar while Earl plays drums. Meneguar releases three albums: I Was Born At Night, first on cassette in 2004 and later on LP and in a reissue; Strangers in Our House; and The In Hour. After that run, the musicians shift their focus to Woods.