Andy Wood
The 11-track collection of instrumental compositions is slated for release on August 9th . Andy Wood is backed by a collection of some of Music City’s finest musicians on drums, bass, organ, keys, strings and even traditional Asian instruments. Guitar legends Joe Bonamassa and Brent Mason also lend their talents to album. The album is available in numerous physical configurations as well as available via all digital service providers here.
Free Range Chicken feat. Brent Mason (Official Music Video) - Andy Wood
From the opening track “Shoot The Sun Down” to the outro of “Believe,” Andy Wood expresses his emotions through his fingers and playing. Andy Wood tackles the Alice In Chains classic “Rooster” in a solo guitar arrangement that demonstrates Wood’s versatility on the instrument. Joe Bonamassa lends his talents to the track “Moaning Lisa” and thefirst single “Free Range Chicken” features another Nashville legend, Brent Mason.
Andy Wood, Charisma.
The tracklist for Charisma is:
1) Shoot The Sun Down
2) Free Range Chicken feat. Brent Mason
3) Rooster
4) Storms and Sparrows
5) Charisma
6) Cherry Blossoms
7) Master Gracey’s Manor
8) Hylia
9) Moaning Lisa feat. Joe Bonamassa
10) Copperhead
11) Believe
Andy Wood will be touring throughout 2024 and beyond in support of Charisma with a handful of recently announced dates and more dates to be announced in the future. Andy also hosts a sleepaway guitar camp - The Woodshed Guitar Experience – that will be returning this September and registration is currently open at https://www.woodshedguitarexperience.com. Aside from that, he also spends time as the band leader for the famed band The Stowaways onannual sold-out cruise, Shiprocked The announced tour dates are below and tickets for all upcoming events can be found at https://www.andywoodmusic.com/events/.
Reader: Daniel Creeron
Hometown: Charlton, Massachusetts
Guitar: Big Mamie
I love it when guitars and history come together.
My newest guitar, “Big Mamie,” was built with original teak from the deck of the USS Massachusetts (BB-59). This wood saw action in World War II, during multiple campaigns in the 1940s.
I was checking Facebook one day and I saw a post from Battleship Cove (located in Fall River, Massachusetts) where they were auctioning off this Telecaster-style body crafted by Rhode Island luthier Vincent Goulart. The proceeds of the auction would go to helping restore the battleship.
I knew I had to have it. Not only was this a piece of United States and Massachusetts history, but it held a special place in my memories. When I was a kid, my grandparents would take us to Battleship Cove where we’d explore the ships, the submarine, and the historical displays. Later, when I had my own kids, we’d visit and do overnight sleepovers with Scouts. We slept on “Big Mamie” and walked the decks from where this wood was taken.
Daniel had Big Mamie’s neckplate custom laser-engraved with a silhouette of the USS Massachusetts (BB-59), and the dates that can be seen on the battleship’s plaque.
After winning the auction, I was connected to Vincent and he told me the story of how he came to build this body for the restoration fundraiser. He’s a talented luthier, but each of his guitars has to have a unique history/story. This was right up his alley!
We spoke a few times, discussing what I liked to play, and how I’d like the finished guitar to look and sound. In the end, I decided on some standard Fender chrome components for tuners, neck plate, ferrules, etc. For the pickups, I went with Lindy Fralin Blues Specials. The controls are also from Fralin; I decided on the flipped-control orientation with the push-pull mods for the volume engage/disengage and tone caps (.02 MFD and 0.047 MFD, film and oil, respectively).
The vintage/modern roasted-flame-maple neck, with an ebony fretboard, was custom ordered from Warmoth. The neck had an adventure all of its own after initially being lost in shipment. It finally showed up about a week or two after being written off as lost (and after a new order was placed).
“Now I have a piece of history here in my room that I can pass down to my family.”
For the neck plate, I had it custom laser-engraved with a silhouette of the battleship and dates from an onboard plaque. The strap, from Well-Hung Guitar Straps in Canada, fits the patriotic theme. I’m also using oversized strap buttons from Well-Hung.
Over a couple visits to Vincent’s place, he helped me put together all the components and bring “Big Mamie” to life. Now I have a piece of history here in my room that I can pass down to my family. It also gives me a reason to work on my admittedly novice guitar skills.