EPK
Electronic Presss Kit
Wood Butcher
Portland, Or
Bio
Wood Butcher is an indie rock band from Portland, Oregon. They released their first EP “Dirt Gravel and Stone” in 2020, recorded at Shady Pines Studio. Wood Butcher’s style leans towards rocky-folk/psych-rock with earthy lyrics that transport you to a deep forest campfire dancing with the creatures of the night. Influenced by bands like All Them Witches, Shakey Graves, and the Decemberists with a story telling, dark-folk, witchy vibe that inspires everyone to move.
Primary band members include frontman Michael DeMello on lead vocals and electric mandolin/guitar, Stephen Dodson on rhythm guitar and back up vocals and James Seminara on bass. Rotating cast of extras including Trent Price on keys/drums and Lucus Goughnour on drums. Wood Butcher is currently writing new music and recording a 3 song single to be released in 2023.
Press
"Wood Butcher is a breath of fresh air. And you’d better believe it’s whiskey breath. The ‘Dirt Gravel and Stone’ EP obliterates every gripe I have with folk acts. It’s inventive. It’s filthy. It’s even trippy. Wood butcher, the brainchild of Michael DeMello, sounds like an early 1970s supergroup with different instruments. There’s pieces of Gilmour, Helm, and even a little Young. The folk trappings are slathered in stank-faced blues riffs, distortion, slurping phasers and shivering delay. ‘Dirt Gravel and Stone’ kicks off with DeMello’s washy mandolin (or is it a mandola?) that accelerates into an uptempo rocker. The low end kicks like a mule. Then come the pumping drums and growling vocals. “Whiskey and Wine” is a powerhouse punctuated by sweet sections. Gospel rips into the fray in “Devil’s Soul”, where some of DeMello’s high hollers might get you speaking in tongues. DeMello’s lyrics show a love of the macabre. Among deals with the devil, he wrestles with fiendish animals and the descent into madness. And, of course, death. In the moody midsection of the EP, “War Song” takes us there:
When the crows, when the crows, when the crows, they take my eyes, will they know,
will they know, they know my sight?
This track has an apt and urgent march feel to match the lyrics. “Spiders and Dreams” has a sweet waltz feel that beguiles the sinister lyrics. It’s a schizophrenic’s trek through the woods, where the critters whisper secrets and spiders drop from the trees. He yearns to silence the whispers and crush the spiders to find solace. The EP is only 6 songs, but they’re all decidedly epic. I can’t overstate the re-listenability of the lyrics, many of which I’m still grappling with. The Dirt Gravel and Stone EP is filled to the brim with psych-folk-rock virtuosity.
Its a must-hear for those that take their whiskey straight."
Scrape Magazine Issue No. 1, Spring Fest Connects 2023 Line up, Tim Mechling
Since Covid was prevalent in 2020 and a lot of 2021 it was a soft start to playing shows, as things have opened up more in 2022 it really opened the door on opportunities to play live. Past shows include:
Georgies (in Vancouver, WA) - February 2022
Artichoke Music - February & May 2022
Atlantis Lounge - May 2022
Nalu Kava Bar - May 2022
13th Moon Gravity Well - June 2022
Bigfoot Growlers - June 2022
Starday Tavern - July & September 2022
Shady Pines Festival - July 2022
Mt. Tabor Mondays w/ Curbside Serenade - August 2022
Laurelthirst - September 2022
Glitterfest - October 2022
Kenton Club Birthday Bash - November 2022
Doylefest - January 2023
Shady Pines Radio Fundraiser Kickoff at Urbanite - February 2023
Brickhouse (in Vancouver, WA) - February 2023
Rainbow City - March 2023
McMenamins Al's Den - March 2023
Spring Fest Connects at Urbanite - May 2023
Starday Tavern - May 2023
Wood Butcher is a versatile band being able to play full band, scaled down and solo with just Michael DeMello depending on the vibe you need.
Photo credit: Shady Pines Media
Photo credit: Shady Pines Media
Photo credit: Shady Pines Media
Photo credit: Wild and Mello
Photo credit: Matt Lucia
Photo credit: Wild and Mello
Photo credit: John Rominger
Photo credit: Bonnie Emery
Photo credit: Shady Pines Media