On
the road, where they feel most at home, the up and
coming indie group Sherwood pass the time just as any
upstart road-warrior band must do on the long haul from
show to show – inexpensive amusement is always at the
forefront. “Freeze-Out”, a game played with the windows
down while driving in cold weather - in only your
skivvies - is the game of the hour as the band moves
across the Oregon state line. Freeze Out’s objective is
simple; to see who can last the longest, in the least
amount of cloths and in the cold as the tour bus tears
through the open highway to the bands next performance.
Bitterly cold air rips through the gaping windows as the
band rests sparsely across the bus for their first
standoff-like round, arguably avoiding each other in
less than appealing garment. Unannounced, the man
responsible for keys and percussion for the group, Mike,
ups the ante by removing all clothing; a la nude. Then
as if a man possessed, he hurls himself from the back
seat of the fifteen passenger van to the front - in turn
flying over three seats and landing right in front of
lead singer and now emotionally scarred Dan Koch. This
is not a random occurrence I’m told. This is Sherwood.
Artist:
Sherwood
Founded:
2002
Location:
California
Sound:
311 vs. Beach Boys
All college friends from San
Luis Obispo in California, Sherwood has a tight inner
circle feeling not common in most bands aided by their
long history together. That same kinship is the
difference between a band that gives up, and one that
continues to travel an uphill road that includes self
released EP’s and the constant turmoil of label woes.
But their desire to play and their love of the art since
they were kids often times seems to keep them moving
forward, possibly out of fear of what will happen when
they stop. Lead singer and guitarist Dan Koch is a
Beach Boys junkie without a hint of regret. “I was 7
years old,” Koch admits when he fell for the other
California based group’s melody and vocal harmony. It
would only seem fair that the same group turned Koch
onto music. Sherwood’s sound is not unlike Dan’s idol
in the sense that it is often times accessible and
bright while still containing an underlying sense of
sophistication and challenge. The lyrics, almost
entirely composed by Koch, are never introverted or
profound in meaning on world events or culture. It’s as
if he and the group leave all other problems at the door
when they pick up their instruments, refusing to deliver
any intended message. ‘This Airplane is a Ribbon’ from
their recently released Summer EP teeters on the fence
of both Beach Boys style harmonies with the rhythm and
speed of the Foo Fighters.
And I’ve seen a
drunken poet spilling verses on the bar;
I wish I remembered them, so beautiful and so dark.
But I watched their moment flicker
as they vanished in the air, right in front of me,
and he didn’t seem to care.
The true
essence of Sherwood is their live performance –
filled with energy and emotion that bond to the
crowd.
But the band reaches diverse
heights with ‘Middle of the Night’ which helps stretch
their sound beyond the sugary upbeat tones and into
Franz Ferdinand like riffs. It’s as if the band has
matured a decade’s worth in only a year between
recordings.
Not unlike the Beach Boys,
Dan and Sherwood have been very hands on from the groups
conception; refusing to fall prey to studios and
contract woes. The band toured vigorously initially to
help put their sound out and create an audience. “We
definitely enjoy time off, but it never seems to come
around for a very long time. I think a month is the
most we have ever had. After three weeks I am usually
starting to feel pretty restless and ready to work
again.”
After playing singles and
only recording EPs for a few years, the band hooked up
with Michael Rosas, a freshman producer, who helped the
band lay down their first full length LP, Sing, but
Keep Going. “It was a fun and tough experience
making that first full-length [album].” Koch continues,
“There are all these little production details that I
would personally change … more layering of vocals and
guitars would have helped some of those songs come
through a little stronger, but the album is definitely
something I am proud of.” But it’s evidence like this
that pushes the group forward to continuously improve
upon each project and show they perform.
Despite the heavy tour
schedule and promising reviews, the album never hit a
mainstream audience but none-the-less garnered a diehard
following from town to town. While most bands have
broken up over less, Sherwood fought through adversity
and continued with their tour schedule wining over new
listeners every stop they made. Watching them connect
with the audience, you would think they were children of
politicians. They are able to move within a crowd and
converse with fans admitting openly that they are the
reason that Sherwood continues to grow. But it still
wasn’t enough. The band needed to take it up another
level to get more label attention while fishing for new
support.
Watching
them connect with the audience, You would think
they were children of politicians.
Then the band did something
rather rare and gutsy in today’s industry. They decided
to forgo the studio and contract route for another EP.
They recorded five songs on a shoe-string budget all the
while intended for free release on the web – and now
available on the band’s website. “The reasons were
various, but it really didn’t cost much – it is a pretty
low budget recording. We wanted to give our fans some
free music and hopefully make some new fans by offering
the music in such a fashion. We figure that the
internet is changing the way people listen to and buy
music, and we want to be at the forefront of that rather
than trying to stick it out the old way.” Koch admits
to being rather fortunate to have kind and honest
promoters on his side throughout the years that never
made false promises nor tried to swindle money from the
band. “We have to learn to spend out money pretty
frugally, which will probably help us out in the long
run, but money has never been a huge issue.”
The true essence of Sherwood
is their live performance – filled with energy and
emotion that bond to the crowd. A sparse room only
fuels their desire to win over new fans with unusual
success. To witness them hop around stage cutting
through their tracks is a treat. To see them interact
with their fans is a charm. Groups today lack any
connection with their audience by often times keeping
them at bay. Not these guys. Their community seems to
help direct the group through troubled times and keep
them going from city to city. One would almost have to
be a dedicated fan to swallow some of the more sugar
laced songs like ‘The Simple Life’ in order to see what
lies beneath these guys. Their community is a driving
force and a dedicated one at that.
Always looking to move
forward and improve their sound, Sherwood continues to
work on new material while on their second stint of the
Warped Tour - where Koch admits they are slightly out of
place. “But no more than Hellogoodbye or the Plain
White T’s,” explains Koch, “so it’s not too bad. There
are plenty of kids every day that like our style of
music, even if they aren’t the majority.” Those same
kids have followed the group on several shows and often
offer a steady diet of support for the guys via mail and
their message boards. Sustenance will be in great need
as the band wraps up their summer tour and heads into
the studio in the fall to work on new material for their
next album. “The new record will still definitely sound
like Sherwood – no giant changes in direction,” Koch
admits. “But we want to make a really fun record, more
danceable and sing-able, less melancholy.” As if it was
possible for Sherwood to be melancholy.
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