The forthcoming two-disc deluxe edition of Wooden Wand’s Briarwood will include eight demo versions of tracks from the album, recordings that James Jackson Toth describes as his grimoire. I didn’t know what the hell a grimoire was at first, but I imagined it might resemble an old trunk filled with sticky, silver, primordial clay. I’m not sure why, just something about the way the word sounds. Good thing I looked it up to check, because a grimoire is actually a book of magic spells.
Anyway, when he wasn’t summoning spirits or practicing invisibility, Toth recorded those eight tunes at home in Lexington, Kentucky on a Roland BR1600 digital eight-track, and he says that they don’t sound much like the album versions, save for the vocals. Toth recorded the album versions down at Ol Elegante Studios in Homewood, Alabama along with a new line-up of musicians (magicians?) assembled just for this album — including his best friend, Brian Lowery, as well as Duquette Johnston and his band The Gum Creek Killers, plus Jody Nelson of Through the Sparks. Briarwood – Deluxe Edition will see an April 17 release via Fire Records, and Wooden Wand will be touring the US in March. Who knows, maybe they’ll teach you a thing or two about magic spells.
You can listen to both demo and full studio versions of “Winter in Kentucky” here!
Briarwood – Deluxe Edition tracklist:
Disc 1:
01. Winter in Kentucky
02. Scorpion Glow
03. Wither Away
04. Be My Friend Mary Jo
05. Big Mouth USA
06. Good Time Man
07. Motel Stationary
08. Passin Thru
09. The DNR Waltz
Disc 2:
01. Winter in Kentucky (Demo)
02. Scorpion Glow (Demo)
03. Wither Away (Demo)
04. Be My Friend Mary Jo (Demo)
05. Good Time Man (Demo)
06. Motel Stationary (Demo)
07. The DNR Waltz (Demo)
08. Passin Thru (Demo)
Tourdates:
03.06.12 - Nashville, TN - Foobar
03.07.12 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl
03.08.12 - Huntsville, AL - Flying Monkey Theater
03.10.12 - Shreveport, LA - The Collective
03.11.12 - Denton, TX - 35 Denton
03.13.12 - Austin, TX - SXSW
03.15.12 - Austin, TX - SXSW
03.16.12 - Austin, TX - SXSW
03.17.12 - Austin, TX - SXSW
03.17.12 - Oklahoma City, OK - The Conservatory
03.18.12 - Little Rock, AR - Dedicated
03.19.12 - Hot Springs, AR - Valley Of The Vapors
03.21.12 - Chattanooga, TN - Sluggo’s North
03.22.12 - Cincinnati, OH - Mayday
03.23.12 - Louisville, KY - Zanzabar
03.24.12 - Pittsburgh, PA - Club Cafe
• Wooden Wand: http://www.myspace.com/woodenwand
• Fire: http://www.firerecords.com
