Artist: Woes

The Woes -- Sunset Saw another unusual band at Barbes last night, called the Woes . The mix of banjo and French horn, backed by violin (no, it wouldn't be right to call it a fiddle) and sousaphone, just slayed me. Their CD has different instrumentation, but the core of singer/banjoist/guitarist Osei Essed and French-hornist/organist Cicero Jones is still at the heart of it. Osei (pronounced a lot like Jose) writes the songs and sings the lyrics with a gruff, sometimes Tom-Waitsy, sometimes almost howling voice. They're tough to pigeonhole. On their [...]

• Otis Taylor - Shakie's Gone
• Woes - Sunset

Led by singer, songwriter, and banjoman extraordinaire Osei Essed, the Woes have been a staple of the NYC music scene since they formed in 2002. Described by Essed as "post-apocalyptic traditional music", the Woes employ a number of unique instruments to lay down their brand of folk / blues: banjo, banjo-mandolin, french horn, accordion, melodica, and Fender Rhodes keyboard, among others. So the instrumentation alone is a reason to dig their tunes. But it's Osei's voice - low, guttural, heartfelt and pure - that really pulls me in. Listen to this song for a taste. It's available as [...]

• The Woes - The Best is Yet to Come

You know how something often starts with a great introduction, and you're all excited, and you get this feeling of, "Oh man, this is gonna be so good!" and then it's a huge letdown? But enough about Superman Returns (hey-o!)....

• The Woes - Quiet Faith