Spotlight: Woodhands

One of the country's top electro bands, Woodhands, a duo made up of Dan Werb (vocals, synths) and Paul Banwatt (drums, live vocals), released a new album this past Tuesday. Remorsecapade is a follow-up to 2008's explosive Heart Attack, which led to tours in Asia, the US, and here in Canada. This new release keeps the band rocking the keytar, pounding out the dance hits, and exploring its emotional baggage.

To celebrate the release and help get the word out, the band hosted a secret, invite-only show Thursday night at Toronto's not-spacious Smiling Buddha bar. Slightly north and west of the usual hotspots, and often playing host to bands even I've never heard of, I admit to not having ventured there before. I got there early, and spent a quick hour and a quarter talking with an assortment of local press-types and friends of the band. At around 10:30pm, a smoke machine and two green lasers having created somewhat of a proper vibe, and with photographers assembled at the front, the band started to play. And then quickly stopped. Aw, Woodhands. The technical issues were almost instantly sorted out, and the show really got started. The band performed a few of the songs off Remorsecapade, brought Maylee Todd on to contribute her part to "Dissembler" and "Dancer" from Heart Attack, then seamlessly transitioned into "Coolchanize," the standout track from the new album. The performance wasn't quite the display of musical wizardry I've seen from this band, but that's hardly the point. Experiencing these songs---also "CP24," "Talk," and "I Should Have Gone With My Friends,"---performed live makes me excited for everyone who'll get a chance to see this band on their upcoming tour. And, as a friend of mine told Paul after the set, it was just fun to see them play in a small venue just like the old days. (Read more about that here.)

Remorsecapade is the band's second full-length album. Like the first, it offers up eminently danceable tracks and much artistic interest. Electro isn't usually this smart and fully danceable. The best track, "Coolchazine," grabbed my attention right away. Some of the others took a few listens, but by now I'm quite taken with the record.

The first track, "Pockets," sets the tone, and assures the listener that all the ingredients that made Heart Attack great are still present. Slow builds and quiet moments compete with pounding beats and aborted symbol crashes. The song's both groovy and meaningful. It's a love song, after all. "Talk," next up, is about a girl, too. It has dance hit written all over it, but the angst-ridden, yearning kind, not the bubble-gum version. "CP24" you've all heard (and seen). Here the angst gets aggressive and embittered. "Sluts"---which I just noticed begins with a technical glitch and Dan swearing "fuck this machine"---has a more dance club vibe. The girl problems continue, but there's a resolution. What begins aggressively ends with a much more healthy attitude. Awesome. And then comes "Coolchanize." As Dan himself might say, "Oh shit!" Screams! Grunts! This song takes me through the ringer. Dan---or the man he's singing about---has been done wrong. "Why are you fucking with my focus? Why do you have to be the closest thing to me?" and etc. The man can't get a break, though, deciding next that "I Should Have Gone With My Friends" instead of following his date around. This is another great dance track. After all this "Dissembler" comes as a welcome reprieve. Maylee Todd, whose smooth vocal performance on "Dancer" added so much to the first record, is back, performing a duet on this one with Dan. Much airier, this pop love song is really lovely. Everyone now feeling better about things, it's time to dance (and scream) again. "When the Party is Over," featuring fat synth beats, under-emphasized drumming, and great singing, is another solid Woodhands song. The final track ("I Want To Be Together," followed by the outro "How To Survive A Remorsecapade"), is radically different in sound. It's slower, contemplative, sad---"I want to be together" is the repeated refrain---but also a smart way to end a record that's full of anger and heartbreak and other emotional struggles. A "remorsecapade" indeed.

Download: "Pockets" (Remorsecapade, 2010).
Download: "I Kissed A Girl (Katy Perry cover)" (unreleased, 2009).
Download: "Dancer" (Heart Attack, 2008).
Download: "I Wasn't Made For Fighting" (Heart Attack, 2008).





And the live version:



Pick up a copy of Remorsecapade at your local record store, or order it through Paper Bag Records (or whatever other online retailer you like). You can also get both full-length records on vinyl from Paper Bag, as well as some digital-only releases, including last year's Dancer EP, a must-have for DJs or dance-party hosts.

The band is playing shows throughout Canada, February through April. Go see them if you're able!

2 Feb 2010, MTV LIVE, Toronto
6 Feb 2010, Hillside Inside at Sleeman Center, Guelph, Ontario
20 Feb 2010, Biltmore, Vancouver, British Columbia
24 Feb 2010, Pawn Shop, Edmonton, Alberta
25 Feb 2010, Broken City, Calgary, Alberta
26 Feb 2010, Amigo’s, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
27 Feb 2010, Lo Pub, Winnipeg, Manitoba
2 Mar 2010, Phog Lounge, Windsor, Ontario
4 Mar 2010, Level 3, St Catharines, Ontario
5 Mar 2010, Moon Over Marin, London, Ontario
6 Mar 2010, This Ain’t Hollywood, Hamilton, Ontario
11 Mar 2010, Opera House w/ k-os (Canadian Music Week), Toronto, Ontario
6 Apr 2010, Red Dog, Peterborough, Ontario
8 Apr 2010, Mavericks, Ottawa, Ontario
9 Apr 2010, Le Cercle, Quebec City, Quebec
10 Apr 2010, Club Lambi, Montreal, Quebec