After digging in to grow new material, the Deep Woods Band sprouts again just in time for St. Patrick’s Day

By Jake TenPas
The Entertainer

While the advantages of having three qualified ministers in your group might not be immediately apparent, The Deep Woods Band isn’t ruling anything out. After making music for more than seven years, something must be keeping the nucleus of Bobby Shade, the Rev. A.J. Studley and Isaac Jones going strong.

As of yet, they’ve never been propositioned to perform a wedding ceremony mid-set, and when asked if they’d be willing to do so, Shade says, “It’d depend on how much change they had in their pocket.”

Depending on how festive the crowd gets this Saturday night at The Fox & Firkin, Shade might get put to the test.

Formed in the winter of 1999 and 2000 through a strange set of circumstances revolving around a Christmas party at Videx, the original trio of guitarist and songwriter Shade, harp slinger Studley and bassist Jones has played with a revolving cast of musicians that has solidified to include drummer B.G. Shade and keyboard wizard The Pixelated Piano Player.

If you’re wondering why The Pixelated Piano Player’s — or 3P for short — face is always blurred out in photos, don’t ask. Some questions are better left alone. Suffice it to say that some outlaws, musical or otherwise, function better in anonymity.

“He’s on the run from consciousness,” Shade says. “Or to — to Consciousness.”

Whichever it is, the whole band seems to be following suit, playing a mind-bending mix of psychedelic rock, electric blues, folk, jazz and oldies that will definitely alter your consciousness. When you take into consideration that the band’s sets can last in excess of three hours, a tantric component becomes evident, taking both them and their listeners into the outer realms of experience.

Judging by those influences and The Deep Woods Band’s predilection for jamming, it’s not hard to see that its sound was anointed in the oiled-light shows and music of mid- to late-60s California rock. Growing up in Whittier and Laguna Beach, Bobby Shade soaked up the sounds of the era while playing surf music in one of his first bands. From the jugband music of The Holy Modal Rounders to the country blues of Son House to the blistering rave-ups of the Grateful Dead and The Yardbirds, all of it gets thrown into the orbit of Shade’s most recent enterprise.

“The music truly shaped a lot of what I think about,” he says, a statement that is backed up not just by what he plays, but what he says and does, as well. A quick trip to The Deep Woods Band’s Web site, www.deepwoodsband.com, reveals a rolling ticker, counting off the cost of the war in Iraq to date. Shade is outspoken not only in his distrust of the current political regime, but in organizing local music festivals bringing together like-minded musicians and fans.

Last summer, the group held its first concert at Shade and his partner, Jan Gallant’s, forested Nashville property. Once a big stop on the railroad between Corvallis and Toledo, the location seems the perfect symbol of the crossroads of ideas and influences The Deep Woods Band’s music represents.

In addition to the Web site, Shade has made free, downloadable music a top priority of his. “I do love giving music away,” he says. “I never expected to make any money off it.” His stance represents a fairly forward-looking perspective for a group that calls rural Oregon its home. Of course, his house is equipped with DSL service, a prerequisite to him moving there a couple of years ago.

For the past year and a half, The Deep Woods Band has been on a semi-hiatus, woodshedding if you will to write new songs, work on its vocal harmonies, tighten up its instrumental attack and record a new CD, “Relax Ur Mined.”

When they take the stage at The Fox, they’ll be unleashing many of those new songs on the audience, in addition to the strange assortment of covers they’ve become known for over the years. St. Patty’s Day will see both Yardbirds and Tom Waits songs fed through the warped lens of the band’s music.

When pressed as to how they can work so hard and play so long, Shade gets realistic. “We couldn’t do it every night, but I bet we could do it twice a month,” he says, laughing.

He’s not asking too many questions or second-guessing the band’s blessing to be better live than in its rehearsals. “We always sound better onstage,” he says, and that’s enough for him.

Check it Out

The Deep Woods Band plays The Fox & Firkin at 9 p.m. Saturday, March 17. The cover is $5. But they’re not the only band rocking on St. Patrick’s Day. In addition, the following bands will make your lucky day just a wee bit greener:

Stairway Denied and The Badfish Band — Heavenly Led Zeppelin mediums team up with skanin’ funk band to get the party started at 9:30 p.m. at Platinum. Cover: $7.

Camp 3 — While building a reputation for themselves on the local scene, the guys in Camp 3 have run the gamut from punk to Johnny Cash covers. They drop Bombs Away at 8 p.m.

Mad Dogs and No Englishmen — If you want your Joe Cocker covers served up without all those crazy facial contortions, this is the band for you. Sing out of tune along with the band at 9 p.m. at Murphy’s Restaurant. Cover: $3 per person or $5 per couple.

Myndissent and Army of Darkness — Myndissent has established itself as the most intimidating metal band in town. While that might seem a strange soundtrack for St. Patty’s Day, I think Celtic Frost would beg to differ. Feel the noise at 9 p.m. at Tom’s Peacock.

Alexis — Looking for something a little more country than rock and roll? Then check out Albany’s sweetheart of the rodeo at 8 p.m. at Boccherini’s.

Adam Scramstad — Finally, if tasty old-time guitar is your thing, Wildfire Restaurant, formerly Intaba’s, has got you covered at 8 p.m.