The Woes
Encyclopedia
The Woes band based out of New York City
, formed in 2002 by frontman Osei Essed and his long-time collaborator Cicero Jones. Their sound is a mix of blues
, country
, and folk
, topped off with Essed's gruff voice, often compared to that of Tom Waits
. Other than Jones, are or have been students at SUNY Purchase
's Conservatory of Music.
First appearing on a sampler from Essed's own label, Blacksand, they since have released an EP, Coalmine, recorded in 2004 with Dan Romer
of the Fire Flies. They are currently finishing up their first full-length album, That Coke Oven March, again working with Romer, with artwork by Karin Bumiller. They are also working on film music for Spirit of '79, a documentary about the American agricultural movement, made by Keith Maitland for Illegalfilms. The documentary also features interviews and songs by Willie Nelson
and Arlo Guthrie
.
joined not infrequently by:
They are often joined by Dan Romer playing various instruments; the line-up is somewhat flexible, and musicians such as Fred Thomas
(James Brown
's bass player) have been known to fill in.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, formed in 2002 by frontman Osei Essed and his long-time collaborator Cicero Jones. Their sound is a mix of blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, and folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, topped off with Essed's gruff voice, often compared to that of Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
. Other than Jones, are or have been students at SUNY Purchase
State University of New York at Purchase
Purchase College, State University of New York, is a public four-year college located in Purchase, New York, United States. It is one of 13 comprehensive colleges in the State University of New York system...
's Conservatory of Music.
First appearing on a sampler from Essed's own label, Blacksand, they since have released an EP, Coalmine, recorded in 2004 with Dan Romer
Dan Romer
Dan Romer is an accomplished producer, recording engineer, mixer and composer. Out of his recording studio in Brooklyn, NY, Dan Romer has worked closely with singer-songwriter Jenny Owen Youngs, April Smith and the Great Picture Show, Ingrid Michaelson, Lelia Broussard, Chris Ayer, Ian Axel, The...
of the Fire Flies. They are currently finishing up their first full-length album, That Coke Oven March, again working with Romer, with artwork by Karin Bumiller. They are also working on film music for Spirit of '79, a documentary about the American agricultural movement, made by Keith Maitland for Illegalfilms. The documentary also features interviews and songs by Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
and Arlo Guthrie
Arlo Guthrie
Arlo Davy Guthrie is an American folk singer. Like his father, Woody Guthrie, Arlo often sings songs of protest against social injustice...
.
Current
- Osei Essed- vocals, guitar, banjoBanjoIn the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
, banjolinBanjolinThe three instruments described below are named "banjolin". It should not be mistaken for the mandolin-banjo, nor is it to be confused with the Banjoline.The Banjolin is a name applied to several different types of stringed instruments:... - Cicero Jones- organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, french horn, piano
joined not infrequently by:
- Joe Keady-Tuba
- Charlie Burnham- Violin
- Andrew Platt - Upright Bass, Electric Bass
- Michael Irwin- Trumpet
- David Ludman- Alto, Soprano Saxophone
- Maria Eisen- Baritone Saxophone
- Craig Flannigan - Drums
- Dan RomerDan RomerDan Romer is an accomplished producer, recording engineer, mixer and composer. Out of his recording studio in Brooklyn, NY, Dan Romer has worked closely with singer-songwriter Jenny Owen Youngs, April Smith and the Great Picture Show, Ingrid Michaelson, Lelia Broussard, Chris Ayer, Ian Axel, The...
- Accordion - Tim Ruggeri - Drums
- Philip Sterk - Pedal Steel Guitar, Dobro
Former
- Jesse Newman- bass
- Oscar Chebebe- drums, percussion, melodicaMelodicaThe melodica, also known as the "blow-organ" or "key-flute", is a free-reed instrument similar to the melodeon and harmonica. It has a musical keyboard on top, and is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole in the side of the instrument. Pressing a key opens a hole,...
- Ronen Ben Codor-Accordion, Harmonica
- Dave Corman-Drums
They are often joined by Dan Romer playing various instruments; the line-up is somewhat flexible, and musicians such as Fred Thomas
Fred Thomas
Frederick Thomas or Fred Thomas may refer to:*Frederick Hall Thomas, birth name of boxer Freddie Welsh*Frederick William Thomas , American writer*Frederick William Thomas , Lord Mayor of Melbourne...
(James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
's bass player) have been known to fill in.
Partial discography
- Blacksand 001: Saints Under the Atlantic (compilation) Blacksand records
- All Assurances
- Maureen (Osei Essed w/ Langhorne SlimLanghorne SlimLanghorne Slim is an American singer-songwriter, . Scolnick attended high school at Solebury School in New Hope, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College, part of the SUNY system.He began to gain public notice through several years of touring with the...
) - Four Headed Gecko
- Interlude
- On This Sun
- Pity (Osei Essed)
- Coalmine
- Pity
- That's All, Goodnight
- Song for Children's Nightmares
- Blackbird
- Tacoma
- Maureen
- Most of All
- Timmerman
- That Coke Oven March
- Alleluh
- Sunset
- Quiet Faith
- Stay the Night
- Oh Theodore
- About You
- Tomcat
- Arlene
- The Visitor
- When the Bed
- The Best is Yet to Come
External links
- The Woes' official website
- The Woes on myspace
- Osei Essed -The Woes - Photo of Osei Essed performing (posted on zooomr.com).