>>PREVIEW
WOOLLY LEAVES
Friday, November 3
Palomino
His vocals drip and quiver through the speakers, conjuring a taste of lightly spiked honey – sweet and soothing, with a slight burning on the way down. Strumming gently and occasionally caressing the ivories, the songs on Woolly Leaves’ latest offering, Quiet Waters, ebb and flow with such subtle intensity they border on haunting.
It’s the man behind the moniker, Will Kidman, who grounds his tracks with a resonating and matter-of-fact voice that prevents any foray into melodramatic or overly gussied-up territory. Known primarily for his position of keyboardist with the Constantines, Kidman’s first effort as a solo artist was a collection of demos entitled Dew Dab that surfaced in 2003.
"I’m just deflecting attention away from it cause I don’t really like it," he states giggling. "It did happen, but it was only CDR’s, maybe I sold 40 of them. This is the first one that’s kind of fully realized," he says of Quiet Waters.
The two releases showcase a definite change in pace and mood over the last three years, one that is partially due to Kidman getting his rock ’n’ roll fix on a regular basis with the Constantines.
"I intended on making a really quiet record from the get-go ’cause I get to play loud music with the Cons and that’s way better than loud music that I make on my own. I kind of realized at a certain point that I’m not very good at singing, or at least I felt like I wasn’t really good at singing against a rock song, so I felt like I could use my voice better in a more intimate setting.
"Plus, I was listening to this Sam Cooke record called Night Beat. I was just listening to that really intimate type of quiet recording, laid-back, very late night. I just tried my best to go for that."
The return to guitar, his original instrument, was an easy transition, much easier than his baptism by fire of learning keyboards while on the road with the Constantines.
"I never played keyboards before I jammed with those guys. You actually have to figure it out pretty quick when you’re onstage," he says, laughing. "I think that’s a really good way to learn."
His latest homework assignment has been figuring out the most painless way to translate the warm, inviting atmosphere of his recorded tracks into the smoky, bustling and loud environment of a bar. Not one to shy away from a challenge, Kidman hit the road to get his sea legs as a solo artist.
"I’m quickly learning what songs you can play in a noisy rock club, on your own with an acoustic guitar and half of a singing voice. That’s kind of the whole point of this tour for me, to figure out how to play solo at a rock club. I’m working on it, I don’t know if I’m doing any good."
His attitude of humility adds to the feeling of sincerity rampant on Quiet Waters. Kidman evokes the charming aura of a student, willing to soak up as much from those around him as he is to share with audiences. Free of pretension and presumptions, Woolly Leaves seems well on the way to finding a formula for captivating listeners in any venue. |
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