Wand - Hard Knox

by Maarten Schiethart

published: 26 / 6 / 2009

Label: Ecstatic Peace
Format: CD

intro

Contemplative and somewhat dark home recordings recorded over a five year period from Wand, the side project of James Toth of Wooden Wand

James Toth of Wooden Wand appears on his own now as Wand with a collection of folky home recordings that cover five years of feeling the blues. 'Hard Knox' is what might be expected from a recognised songwriter, keeping some of his music to himself, hiding it in the cupboard and insecure about whether these songs would actually matter to anyone. It is low key, not so much in the post-production of these demos and outtakes, as the sound is rather crisp, but contemplative, brooding and slightly dark. Wand's just Toth with a microphone, his guitar and with a little help from friends, until the stylishly gripping 'Soldier Movies' closes off. Above all, this is an honest document of a new generation of American folk music, flawed one moment, inspired the next and not the best of introductions to (Wooden) Wand. Shelf material already and Toth's only 27 years of age.

Track Listing:-

1 Arriving
2 Chrome
3 Lady of Situations
4 Eyes
5 Saturday Delivery
6 Blamelessness
7 All These Generous Men
8 Trails
9 Urchins
10 Dead of Night
11 Dark Is Bending
12 The Drag Pit
13 Death Dealer Blues
14 Soldier Movies (For Larry Mcmurtry)

Band Links:-

http://wandband.info/

live reviews

Boston Music Room, London, 4/11/2016

Chris O' Toole watches Los Angeles-based psychedelic rockers Wand play an eclectic but ultimately unsatisfactory set at the Boston Music Rooms in London