Donovan Woods-Without People (November 6, 2020) • Page 5

All of them, Steve. Fucking all of them.

 

Did Without People not land as much for you?

 

That actually might be my favorite, but he’s already heard that one!

 

I’m dumb. I thought “this album” meant the current one. Don’t mind me, I’m on first week of school brain fry.

It is kind of miraculous that someone who made an album I loved so much in 2010 has arguably only continued to improve. Like I still don’t feel like we’re on the far side of his peak

 

There's a legitimate argument that he's gotten better every time out. I don't think I'd quite make that argument personally, but he's been so consistent and has repeatedly introduced little new tricks into his approach, in terms of songwriting and production, that have kept things fresh while still keeping his sound identifiably him. It's pretty impressive, honestly. He deserves a bigger following.

 

Especially since he’s such a captivating live performer. He’s fucking hilarious in his sage banter. Like, moreso than any other artist I can think of.

 

I listened to Both Ways last night. I must have checked it out before, because I recognized a lot of the songs. "Good Lover" is a stunner. Also really cool to hear him do more upbeat stuff like "Truck Full of Money" and "Easy Street" that isn't present on his last few releases.

 

It's him and Matt Nathanson and then everyone else in that department, IMO. Fittingly, they now write songs together.

 

Ahhhhhhhhhhh so much!!! I'll go reverse chronological since I started here

 

I'll be honest I haven't developed a deep connection to the debut The Hold Up yet, but I've loved The Widowmaker since I reviewed it for Nothing Sounds Better a lifetime ago.

 

The Hold Up feels very rough draft-y to me. He immediately did everything about it so much better on subsequent albums that I never felt much need to go back to it.

 

My guy killed it Massey Hall tonight, insanely talented band backing him up tonight. Quiet enough to hear a pin drop during the songs, then had the whole crowd cracking up between songs. Great show.

William Prince made a surprise appearance to do his feature on the new album. Killer Manitoba songwriter you might enjoy if you don't already know him, Reliever is the album rec.

 

He was incredible last night on the rescheduled last date of the tour.

Donovan Woods Setlist at Brighton Music Hall, Boston

 

I need to actual see him do a headliner. Only seen him as an opening act so far.

 

Super bummed to have missed last night. I had a ticket, but had some unexpected expenses hit the last two weeks. Getting there would have been impossible

 

He said (what seemed like incredibly sincerely) that it's the biggest crowd he's ever had in America.

 

He has a phenomenal band now. Capable of terrific subtlety but also stretching out a pocket/vibe.

 

I saw him on Tuesday at a small venue in DC. Amazing show. The humor didn't disappoint either!

 

He did this whole running bit about having a dream in the green room that his nickname was Donny Singsong and how disappointed he was that we didn’t all woo when we heard it for the first time and you can’t invent your own nickname…so between the main set and the encore the roof rattled with everyone chanting “DON-NY SING-SONG” and he came out like fully giggling. Cracked me up.

 

That's hilarious. He was telling us how he wanted to take his career in a different direction by writing a book. Then the next time he came to DC he could be on stage being interviewed about the book, "but for now we've got to do the folk songs."