Bill Wood and The Woodies - Same Old Hurt

​Bill Wood and The Woodies

Same Old Hurt
self-released; 2026

​By Dino Dimuro

William Adam Wood is a Canadian music industry veteran and former lead vocalist for the band EyeEye. After checking out of the business to raise a family in the 90's (been there!), he currently heads Bill Wood and the Woodies, a roots rock / alternative country band that's been going strong for two decades. They've got a brand new album titled Same Old Hurt.

Bill Wood is the band's songwriter, vocalist, guitarist and (naturally) front man, and The Woodies consists of Chris Bennett, Mark Shannon and Dino Naccarato. Wood notes that it's been six years since the group's last album: “I made this record out of love and appreciation for my band. Will I still be making records in six years’ time? I don’t know." Wood also works with other combos including a duo with Chris Bennett in a Hank Williams-themed project called "Hankin’ Out with Johnny G Mazzei."

"Dance All Night With Me" is a left-field opener: a rollicking salsa number with mariachi horns, similar to the R.E.M. novelty track "Underneath The Bunker." Wood has one of those classic rock voices where it sounds like he gargles with broken glass, a style I can't get enough of. The track is filled out with moody Hammond organ, fulsome percussion and a Latin-style guitar solo. "Same Old Hurt" settles into what I assume is Wood's usual style, a kind of folky rock which leans toward country thanks to the jangly guitars and fiddles. This is your classic "heart broken right through" love song and Wood's vocals give it power and soul. 

"Lightning In A Jar" cranks up the country quotient with slide or lap steel licks and a two-step beat. You can't help but root for Wood as he boasts to that special woman: "I sure got lucky last night... I caught lightning in a jar / It's no secret I've been loving you from afar / But trying to catch you is like trying to catch a shooting star." Track four titled "Burn Inside" provides a slow, minor-key backdrop for a surprisingly dramatic vocal by Wood with less grit; you can almost see the single spotlight as he sings. I also hear a nice (female?) harmony vocalist. The guitars and strings almost seem to weep!

"Liquor Store" starts as a tight rock tune framed as a prayer ("Oh Lord, if you can, keep me out of that liquor store") then quickly turns into a roots-rocker with sliding strings and a rollicking beat.  "Wasting Time" is danceable Chuck Berry-style rock and roll. "I Remember Everything" is a great idea for a song about how easy it is to forget everyday details (and using diaries or tapes to remember them) yet you can recall every single thing about your lover (with an amusing ending where Wood forgets her name!). "It's My Show" ends the show with folk-country shimmering guitars and mournful lap steel, with Wood ruminating about his life on the road (leaving us suspecting he's also talking about his life).

There's a great country sound to this record while still being essentially good, solid rock. Excellent songs!

billwoodandthewoodies.com

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