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Video Premiere: Where I Belong from Wood Belly

Things have been on the up for Colorado’s Wood Belly since they took first place in the band contest at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in 2018. That was just three years after the formation of the group through a chance meeting at the RockyGrass festival in 2015.

Their third album, Man on the Radio, was released earlier this year, along with a music video for one of the tracks, Can’t Get Behind.

A new video is now available, with quite a story to go along with it. Wood Belly was chosen to participate in an annual event called The 53:14 Video Experiment, where 10 artists are selected and paired with 10 filmmaking teams, and given 53 hours and 14 minutes to complete an original music video.

It’s a race against the clock, and a serious commitment from the artists and the filmmakers, to give their all for a little over two days to conceive and execute a short film project.

The 53:14 Video Experiment is the brainchild of Doug Usher with The VIA Company, a creative studio along Colorado’s Front Range. He tells us that he wanted to find a way to get creative juices flowing in both the local music and film worlds.

“I conceived the 53:14 Music Video Experiment with my partner, Tomas Herrera, three years ago as a sort of culmination to a series of music video making workshops that we had been running at The Music District in Fort Collins. We took inspiration from traditional film race concepts (like the 48 Hour Film Festival), but wanted to get rid of the competitive component and instead focus on encouraging collaboration and new creative partnerships between the local film and music scenes in Colorado.”

For folks less familiar with the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, the Experiment is named for the 53 peaks in the state of greater than 14,000 feet. Back east in the Appalachian region we have lovely mountain vistas of our own, but nothing to compare with the craggy rock bluffs of the Rockies soaring into the clouds. Locals describe them as the 53 fourteeners.

When Wood Belly was chosen, they knew they had a whole new challenge on their hands. Mandolinist Chris Weist, a founding member of the group, explains how thing progressed.

“The 53:14 video experiment has been a tradition in Fort Collins for years. Basically bands go on blind dates with video production teams and have 53 hours and 14 minutes to conceptualize, shoot, and edit a video. This was our first year participating, and were fortunate to be paired with a super pro crew. The team was a marriage of Jet Black Film Co, and Crescent Sun Productions with Hudson Bloom, Steve Roberts, and Eric Wood working overtime to make the magic happen… and fast.

We met the crew through a Zoom conference call and got to the drawing board immediately. After listening to a few studio tracks of ours, we landed on Where I Belong with Hudson Bloom as the main visionary/director. The production crew storyboarded, and aligned logistics, and the next day we hit the ground running.

It was really eye opening to remove ourselves from the visualization of one of our songs and see how others interpret the same music, words and melodies. It was even more impressive to see how dedicated the crew was to getting the shots, and how fluid everything felt given the frantic nature of the project.

One of the nights we basically shot until midnight and were up and at ’em before the sun came back up. The end result, I believe, is a one-of-a-kind artistic expression of music and film and was certainly a one-of-a-kind experience.”

And after a long weekend of little sleep and lots of fast food, the team of Wood Belly, Jet Black Film Co, and Crescent Sun Productions produced this music video for Where I Belong.

Usher said that given the additional challenges of the COVID restrictions in Colorado, they amended the rules a bit for this summer’s event.

“2020 being…2020, we realized we couldn’t proceed normally this year. But we weren’t going to let COVID stop the festival from happening in some form, so with the help of our incredible partners, we found a way to make it happen.

We gave all our teams an extra 20 hours and 20 minutes (on top of the traditional 53 hours and 14 minutes), and we increased their budgets to $1000 each. Because we couldn’t cater meals, we wanted to make sure everyone had budget available to cover meals during the marathon weekend.

And of course, the FoCoMX festival wasn’t able to go forward as planned this year, but instead has been running a series of weekly concerts at the Holiday Twin Drive In in Fort Collins (called the Drive & Jive). So we decided we’d premiere the videos during the Drive & Jive, releasing two each week for the entire month of August. We then culminated the festival with a special screening of all 10 videos at the Lyric movie theater in Fort Collins, on their outdoor screen. This allowed us to still showcase the videos in a safe, socially distanced environment while celebrating the amazing accomplishments of our participants.”

Hats off to all involved in the 53:14 Video Experiment, and a special tip of the cap to all the guys in Wood Belly – Chris Weist on mandolin, Craig Patterson on guitar, Chris Zink on reso-guitar, Aaron McCloskey on banjo, and Taylor Shuck on bass.

Well done all!

Man on the Radio – Wood Belly

While the majority of professional pickers are known for their astute instrumental acumen, it doesn’t mean that melody need be sacrificed for musicality. Indeed, that’s a belief shared by any number of young bands that identify themselves as either newgrass and grassicana, terms used to describe a determination to find common ground between the old and the new. While skill and dexterity remain exceptional attributes, the ability to stake them to a song has become just as important for sustaining a fervent fan following.

The Colorado-based band Wood Belly is well aware of the dynamic and dichotomy. Winners of the 2018 Telluride Bluegrass Band Competition, and finalists for the 2018 IBMA Momentum Awards, the band first formed in 2015 and quickly went on to become festival favorites throughout the US. Currently consisting of Chris Weist (mandolin), Craig Patterson (guitar), Chris Zink (reso-guitar), Aaron McCloskey (banjo), and Taylor Shuck (bass), the band recently released its third album, Man on the Radio, which finds Sally Van Meter firmly ensconced in the producer’s chair. Although Wood Belly has always been prone to prove its proficiency, Van Meter helps balance the band’s energy and drive with superior song craft, making each offering decidedly distinct. Some of the songs share a familiarity factor that recalls the works recorded by Dan Fogelberg and John Denver in their heydays throughout the ‘70s, ‘80s, and even beyond.

There are also some contemporary bands they can be compared to as well, Steep Canyon Rangers and Town Mountain being but two. Songs such as A Long Time Coming, Walking Up in Heaven, Man on the Radio, Old Fool, Can’t Get Behind, and Caroline bring certain similarities into focus. The blend of banjo, mandolin and occasional fiddle, courtesy of guest player Jeremy Garrett, affirms the band’s ability to mine past precepts and still find a current connection. That has a lot to do with the Wood Belly’s upbeat attitude, as well as for songs and stories that leave an emotional imprint. Gone Are the Days, Where I Belong, and Seagulls are two of the most obvious examples, but there’s not a single song that doesn’t resonate with energy and enthusiasm. Even the instrumentals Blue Merle and Professor Willie’s Tonic keep that constant intact.

It hardly takes a psychic to predict that Wood Belly will likely continue to command attention. Suffice it to say Man on the Radio offers all the necessary elements to ensure one perfect playlist.

Can’t Get Behind video from Wood Belly

Wood Belly has released a music video for the track Can’t Get Behind in conjunction with their new album dropping today. It moves at a frantic pace, just like the song.

“We’re so excited to release Man on the Radio,” says banjo player Aaron McCloskey. “In the past 2½ years we’ve released 29 original songs via Solid Ground, the 2019 November EP and now Man on the Radio. We’ve come so far musically and are very proud of this project.

Wood Belly is Chris Weist on mandolin, Craig Patterson on guitar, Chris Zink on reso-guitar, and Taylor Shuck on bass in addition to Aaron. Jeremy Garrett guests on fiddle for several cuts.

Track Premiere: Can’t Get Behind from Wood Belly

Colorado’s Wood Belly is hard at work on their second album, fresh off their big win at the 2018 Telluride Bluegrass Band Competition, and a 2018 Momentum Award nomination from the IBMA.

A debut single from the record is due this Friday (November 8), and the band has agreed to share it this morning with our readers at Bluegrass Today.

It’s a new song, Can’t Get Behind, which guitarist Craig Patterson says relates a feeling universal to the human condition.

“This is a tune about the basic need for acceptance. We’ve all had a moment questioning ourselves, ‘Is it me? Or is it you?’ I relate with these struggles which can be taxing on a person’s mind. It’s sometimes challenging to arrive at acceptance before we process with our own coping mechanism. No matter how we get there, we usually come to realize we always had the answer within — but not before a little self-torment.”

In addition to Craig, Wood Belly is Chris Weist on mandolin, Chris Zink on reso-guitar, Aaron McCloskey on banjo, and Taylor Shuck on bass. They have been recording at Swingfingers Studio in Fort Collins, CO with producer Sally Van Meter and engineer Aaron Youngberg.

McCloskey says they have been a huge benefit to the group in the studio.

“We are so fortunate to have worked with Sally Van Meter and Aaron Youngberg. Sally has an amazing ear for harmonies, arrangements, and groove, just what you’d expect from a Grammy winner. She’s spent decades in the bluegrass industry as both a player and producer, and it was easy for us to trust her experienced ears. In addition to being an excellent engineer, Aaron Youngberg is very talented bluegrass musician. He’s curated an amazing collection of vintage gear and knows just how to use it to get amazing tones.”

Can’t Get Behind will be available wherever you stream and download music on Friday.

The full album, Man On The Radio, is due to hit in January 2020.

20 Things you didn’t know about Wood Belly

Colorado’s Wood Belly is led by a pair of prolific songwriters, with tunes carefully crafted to ring out with honesty and passion. Wood Belly was a 2018 IBMA Momentum Nominee. The group blends traditional bluegrass with modern songwriting, and in 2018 released their debut album, Solid Ground, and also won the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass Festival band competition.

Wood Belly was born when Chris Weist (mandolin) met Craig Patterson (guitar) and Chris Zink (dobro) at the RockyGrass Festival in 2015. Within a year, they had teamed up with Aaron McCloskey (banjo) and Taylor Shuck (bass), and the music immediately fell into place. Since then the band has played at an ever-expanding list of great venues including the Mishawaka amphitheater, the Fox Theater (Boulder), and Cervantes (Denver). Their festival resume includes the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Rapidgrass, the Durango Bluegrass Meltdown, the Keystone Bluegrass and Beer Festival, The Wyoming State Bluegrass and BBQ festival, Snowygrass, Grapes and Grass, and more.

Chris Weist (mandolin) spent an entire summer through hiking the Appalachian Trail.
Chris Weist got charged by a mamma bear and lived to tell.
Chris Weist has a Bachelors degree in Finance…nothing says bluegrass music like finance!
None of the band members have tattoos.
The whole band played in different genres before they found bluegrass
The bands first gig was booked before they had an official name.
Chris Zink (dobro) moved to Colorado with $300 and whatever could fit in his Camry. He lived in a tent in the mountains for over a month while finding a job and saving enough money for an apartment.
Chris Zink graduated from Colorado State as the Geoscience Senior of the Year. Wait…does that say bluegrass even more than finance?
Chris Zink is the reigning band arm wrestling champion.
Every member of Wood Belly writes and writing/arranging is a very collaborative process.
All band members were born in different sates outside of Colorado. Massachusetts, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, and Virginia.
Taylor Shuck (bass) is related to Count Von Zeppelin, the inventor of the Zeppelin.
Taylor once was a child actor on Rescue 911 and played a boy who got a toothbrush stuck in his throat.
All five members LOVE pickin’ at bluegrass festivals and hanging in the festival campground.
The band loves John Hartford and dreams of doing a river boat tour someday.
They have an alter-ego band coach named Big Ern with a famous Instagram show.
Aaron McCloskey (banjo) builds and designs custom tube amplifiers, McClostone Amplifiers.
Aaron loves to travel and eat and is known to search out delicious food throughout Southeast Asia.
In high school, Aaron’s favorite genre of music was hip hop…he’s come a long way!
Craig Patterson (guitar) is a bee-keeper and moonshiner.

Solid Ground – Wood Belly

It’s rare when a new band nails their sound the first time out, so credit Wood Belly with doing exactly that and earning the kudos they deserve as a result. Recorded last October with Grammy-winning producer Sally Van Meter at the helm, Solid Ground is indeed a solid debut for this Colorado-based band. Winning top prize in the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass Band Competition this past June solidified their standing and helped ensure the fact that Wood Belly have a promising future burning bright before them.

As a band that can boast a newgrass sensibility, Wood Belly draws on several strengths. The group’s dynamic is well represented by Aaron McCloskey’s limber banjo, Chris Weist’s nimble mandolin, Craig Patterson’s able guitar work, the assertive stance Chris Zink takes with dobro, and Taylor Shuck’s solid support on bass. All five members contribute to the seamless vocal harmonies and also participate in the songwriting, which ranges from uptempo tunes such as Solid Ground, Wings, Georgia Wind and some decisive instrumentals, to occasional forlorn ballads like Jamestown and Keep On Lovin’ Me. They possess a remarkable range in their verve and versatility, factors that ought to provide them with contemporary credence and populist appeal.

Like the bands that have helped establish the grassicana template — Hot Rize, Steep Canyon Rangers, Town Mountain, Mountain Heart, and the Seldom Scene — Wood Belly taps tradition but isn’t confined to any particular parameters. Granted, their’s is a down-home sound, but one that’s well suited to Colorado’s higher altitudes and the vast expanse of its western realms. They share a sense of optimism and exhilaration that’s inherent in both their delivery and designs, making every note of Solid Ground as seamless as its title implies. And while they may bear a similarity in stance to others of their ilk — the aforementioned outfits included — the freshness and vitality they bring to bear elevates their standing and assures their status as instant contenders. Whether it’s a scrappy ramble like Skinny Dip or the tongue-in-cheek disclaimer, Colorado Hipster Beard, Wood Belly demonstrate that they’re clearly capable of purveying an extremely amiable approach.

Ultimately, Wood Belly are a welcome addition to today’s bluegrass brigade. Even now, it’s safe to determine that they’re ones to watch.

Where Ya Been video from Woodbelly

Wood Belly is a fast-rising contemporary bluegrass quintet from Colorado. They took first place in this year’s Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition, and have been recognized with a Momentum Award nomination from the IBMA.

The band consists of Craig Patterson on guitar, Chris Weist on mandolin, Chris Zink on reso-guitar, Aaron McCloskey on banjo, and Taylor Shuck on bass. Playing together for almost 3 years, things got started when Chris, Craig, and Chris first met during RockyGrass in 2015. And they wasted no time, releasing an album of original bluegrass in fairly short order.

To celebrate their trip to the World of Bluegrass convention next week, they have created a music video for a new song, Where Ya Been, written by Patterson. It’s a live take on the song, shot at the River Forks in Drake, CO.

The video was produced by Kettle Whistle Media in Ft Collins, CO.

You can get their debut CD, Solid Ground, from the Wood Belly web site.