It may have been cold and rainy outside the Rubicon Theater, but Foothill band North Woods warmed up their first live audience at the Give Thanks Fest Saturday.
Upon entrance, concert goers donated canned goods in exchange for discounted ticket prices. The cans are being donated to families in need.
North Woods is made up of four seniors from Foothill. Melissa Carroll played keyboard and sang, Wyatt Machan drummed, sang, and played occasional bass, Trent Ruiz played bass, drums, and harmonica, and Skylar Leaf is the lead singer, played guitarist, the harmonica, and bass.
The band was formed last summer; and has been finding time to practice and write their original work in between AP classes and volunteer work. When asked how they thought their first show went they were very critical of themselves, but everyone they talked to gave them words of praise on their performance.
It wasn’t just their first show as a band; each member tried something new that night. It was Leaf’s first performance in front of an audience, “The other bands made it comfortable, there wasn’t any stress,” Leaf said.
Machan sang for the first time in front of a live audience, “It was new for me, I enjoyed it.”
Ruiz also played bass for the first time, “I was meant to be on stage.”
When writing their music they are most influenced by Bright Eyes. “Melissa and I are pretty much obsessed with them,” Leaf said. They also gain inspiration from Bob Dylan, The Decemberists, Grizzly Bear, and Neil Young.
When it comes to the North Woods’ genre, Carroll states firmly that they are indie folk, “You can be indie and be folk but you can’t be folk and be indie.”
When asked what they were thankful for they all agreed that they were lucky to have each other as band-mates. They were also very thankful of the other bands, especially Tall Tales, “I’m glad we got to know them, they’re wonderful people,” Machan said.
North Woods was lucky enough to land this show without auditioning. “I am extremely thankful for Tall Tales and the other bands because they put all their trust in us by letting us play without really hearing us first. They are all really great people who have an honest love for music and are fantastic musicians,” Leaf said.
“I’m extremely thankful for Wyatt’s parents. They have pretty much let us take over a room in their house to practice. I’m thankful for all the support we have” Carroll said.
North Woods will be playing a Foothill for Africa benefit with fellow Foothill band The Rhine on December 4 at Epic. Come support the Schools for Salone fundraiser to help build a school in Lungi Sierra Leone.
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