More barn than bar, the unpretentious Back Room Club at The Hope Pole in Aylesbury was perhaps the perfect venue to host the first gig of Woody Pines' visit to the UK.
This happy-go-lucky four piece transported the audience to their native North Carolina with a collection of traditional American songs cataloguing murder, poverty, infidelity, excess and general depravity perpetrated or suffered by such characters as Cocaine Bill, Morphine Sue, Rich Gal and Poor Gal, and even - joy of joys - a Crazy-Eyed Woman.
Despite the obligatory presence of a 57 Chevy, this ramshackle crew naturally favours stolen cars and freight trains for their fugitive journeys. Ghosts of Dr John and Professor Longhair nod approvingly as the band take us on a musical tour of the south with their songs of tobacco, love, lucky escapes and terrible conclusions.
This is the musical landscape that inspired a young Robert Zimmerman half century ago.

"Earthy" and especially "rootsy" are adjectives that your reviewer finds himself reaching for repeatedly when describing the repertoire, ranging as it does from rootsy ragtime thru cajun two step, blues and old time. Even their newly penned tunes are apparently constructed from reclaimed materials.
This is no pastiche however, but raw wood 'n' wires music, - with no plastic parts - born of a deep affection for a musical tradition from a time before amplifiers.

Still jetlagged from their flight, the band did not stint on dispensing their musical moonshine; the eponymous Woody with his pork pie hat, plays clawhammer style on his national guitar, and while his vocals are at times redolent of the bard of Duluth, he frankly makes a better job than Dylan of soloing on neck-brace harmonica. Darin Gentry on fiddle (I'm really a banjo player) gently and politely swoops and chugs beautifully fluid and natural lines. While also contributing vocal harmonies, Nathan Taylor presides over a tiny kit of traps which could have been assembled in any farmyard. Zack Pozebanchuk presented an almost academic masterclass on standup bass in mid 20th century American music.

And the rootsy repertoire? "Chew Tobacco Rag" (how many songs manage to include a word as magnificent as "cuspidor"?) extols the virtues of the local product and expelling its juices. "Counting Alligators", which gives its title to the album available at gigs - celebrates an anticipated visit to New Orleans. "Satisfied" a simple and touching love song. The footstomping "99 years" defies the most recalcitrant audience not to join in - and so the evening goes.

Earthy, rootsy and fun fun fun - in dungarees!
Catch 'em while they're here - you'll come away with hay in your hair, a sun tan and the tang of moonshine in your brain.