Victoria alt-rockers Michael Wood Band is feeling the warm embrace of fans across the country.
“It’s really great to see people responding so positively to our music,” said frontman Michael Wood. “People hear the songs and see our video for the single End Of The World and are really excited to have us out to play. It’s been really encouraging.”
The Michael Wood Band has an alt-rock sound described as the Killers meets Kings of Leon with an infectious groove said the frontman.
This past year has been a busy one for the band who have taken their enthusiastic live show on the road that includes smoking guitar leads and melodic rhythms in a four-piece band package.
Wood, lead vocal and guitarist, has been living and making music in Victoria for the past five years. He said the members of the band (Jon Burgandy plays bass and carries vocals, Josh Weed is on guitar and vocals and Alex Campbell plays the drums and also is on vocals) met through word-of-mouth connections in local music circles.
Their first album Occupy This was released in May and they laid out an extensive touring schedule playing everything from small charity shows and large festivals to a date at the Calgary Stampede. The album was written while the band members were still in high school and their songs reflect diverse topics from the Arab Spring (Should We Be Afraid) to commercialism (End Of The World) to finding your own path (I Think I’ll Just Go To Bed). Their End Of The World video went viral internationally with more than 38,000 hits in its first month on the internet.
The band is also receiving national radio play with their song I Think I’ll Just Go To Bed, which won them the new artist of the month on an Ontario radio station. Recently they were selected as semifinalists in the International Songwriting Competition from 20,000 entries, representing 119 countries, for their song Take Me Away.
“We’re having a lot of fun,” laughed Wood, who is looking forward to bringing his band and his music to Penticton. “I think it’s got to the point where I think I’m not bugging my family with my guitar.”
Michael Wood Band and guests Count Me In will be performing on Friday, 7 p.m. at Voodoos.
-With files from Barb Brouwer - Black Press