Rather than repeating the formal studio experiences for past albums, The Wooks—CJ Cain on guitar and vocals, Harry Clark on mandolin and vocals, George Guthrie on banjo and vocals, and Allen Cooke on Dobro—recorded Flyin’ High, their forthcoming album releasing on February 25th, over two sessions in Nashville in the home studio of bluegrass guitarist Jake Stargel. One of tracks that came out of the buttoned up yet still creatively loose studio experience was “Little While,” the album’s second single that is available everywhere today. Earlier this week, Folk Alley debuted the track alongside an alternate-take video that showcases the band’s roots: circled around one mic, perfect harmonies, and tasty picking. Folk Alley noted that “the animated music and vocals evoke the human tendency to look back and linger on the past that’s a part of us while celebrating those moments in the past that make us smile.” Folk Alley continued with, “There’s a melancholy undertone to the song, but the band’s high-spirited vocals remind us to “enjoy the things that make you smile” for they’re gone in a little while. The energetic music spirals joyously upward as the final notes of the song fade, leaving us smiling.” Listen to the track and see its accompanying video here. Stream Flyin’ High’s first two singles now via this link and watch the title track’s video by clicking here.
Digging deeper into the studio experience of this album, fans will be interested to know that the Lexington, KY based band was chasing a sound “like Bela Fleck’s Drive album or Tony Rice’s work at Arch Studios with Bill Wolf. That live feeling. So much of bluegrass these days is almost autotuned and fixed to the point of perfection. We were trying to run away from that quickly as possible,” says Cain. A full circle moment a few months later: Cain cold-called Bill Wolf to see if he would master the album. Wolf wrote back, asking to hear it—and then elevated Flyin’ High to the next level. “For a guy who’s done iconic albums all his life, he put a ton of work into this,” Cain says. “Bill told me to listen to it to see if I was satisfied with it, and I was like, ‘Man, what am I supposed to listen for?’ And he said, ‘Is it fun to listen to?’ I think he accomplished that.”
About The Wooks: Inspired by the traditional as well as the unconventional, The Wooks have established a distinctive sound through original songwriting, exceptional musicianship, and outside influences ranging from jam bands to Southern rock. While their origin stories are diverse, all four members of The Wooks have forged a common bond that honors individuality and innovation. But with minimal shows to road-test the material on Flyin’ High, Cooke speaks for the band when he says he’s eager for fans to discover these new songs—on the album as well as the stage. “This band is definitely not a band that is set on keeping things to the way they sounded on the record,” he says. “We’re all about keeping these songs fresh and new-sounding as shows go on.
The Wooks are ambassadors for Can’d Aid, a nationally recognized nonprofit that rallies volunteers from all walks of life to build thriving communities; through their work with Can’d Aid, they’ve performed and donated instruments to schools and underserved youth.
Catch The Wooks On Tour:
2/24 - Louisville, KY - Zanzabar
2/25 - Huntington, WV - The Loud
2/26 - Lexington, KY - The Burl
3/1 - Atlanta, GA - Eddie's Attic
3/2 - Birmingham, AL - The Nick
3/4 - Asheville, NC - Isis Music Hall
3/5 - Nashville, TN - Station Inn
3/9 - Awendaw, SC - Awendaw Green
3/10 - Raleigh, NC - Pour House
3/12 - Roanoke, VA - Martin's St Patty's Street Fair
3/13 - Richmond, VA - The Camel
3/16 - Charlottesville, VA - The Southern
3/17 - Washington DC - Pearl Street Warehouse
3/18 - Farmville, VA - North Street Press Club
3/19 - Round Hill, VA - B Chord Brewing
3/30 - Ferndale, MI - Otus Supply
4/1 - Newport, KY - Southgate Revival House
4/2 - Morgantown, WV - 123 Pleasant
4/5 - Syracuse, NY - Funk n Waffles
4/7 - New Haven, CT - Cafe Nine
4/8 - Boston, MA - The Burren
4/9 - New York, NY - Jalopy Theater
4/10 - Asbury Park, NJ - The Saint
4/13 - Philadelphia, PA - City Winery
4/14 - Lancaster, PA - Zoetropolis
4/15 - Grove City, PA - Big Rail Brewing
4/16 - Thomas, WV - The Purple Fiddle
