{"id":172,"date":"2019-03-22T12:00:42","date_gmt":"2019-03-22T12:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.nysmusic.com\/2019\/2019\/03\/22\/hearing-aide-driftwoods-tree-of-shade\/"},"modified":"2019-03-22T12:00:42","modified_gmt":"2019-03-22T12:00:42","slug":"hearing-aide-driftwoods-tree-of-shade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.nysmusic.com\/2019\/2019\/03\/22\/hearing-aide-driftwoods-tree-of-shade\/","title":{"rendered":"Hearing Aide: Driftwood \u2018Tree of Shade\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Driftwood is set to release their fifth studio album Tree of Shade<\/em> this coming spring. This folk-rock and Americana-influenced band has grown over the years from a duo to a five-piece group. Band members include Dan Forsyth (guitar\/vocals), Joe Kollar (banjo\/guitar\/vocals), Claire Byrne (violin\/vocals), Joey Acuri (bass), and Will Sigel (drums). Each additional instrument and added vocalist serve to create the rounded and wholesome feel of Driftwood\u2019s music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reminiscent of the sentiment of their band name, Driftwood continues to evolve with the passage of time. Tree of Shade\u00a0<\/em>consists of eleven tracks and represents the group\u2019s sonic evolution as they experiment with slower paced music. Personally, listening to this album puts me back around a campfire on a chilly summer night. The opening track \u201cCalifornia\u201d (which also happens to be violin\/vocalist Claire Byrne<\/a>\u2019s favorite track) helps set the tone for the rest of the album as it embodies the previously described ambiance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps one of my favorite aspects of this album is the quality and quantity of the vocals. Songs like \u201cConquering Man\u201d and \u201cSanta Fe\u201d beautifully portray the strength and conviction in Byrne\u2019s voice while \u201cStick With Me\u201d demonstrates the bright harmonies the group is capable of delivering. \u201cStick With Me\u201d is another standout track for guitar\/vocalist Dan Forsyth as he loves \u201chow simple and timeless it is.\u201d Other noteworthy elements in their music consist of the raw sounds from the guitar and banjo as well as the ever-present violin as heard in the closing few bars of \u201cTree of Shade,\u201d the title track of the album.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group created this album in the Catskill Mountains<\/a> and undoubtedly captured the energy of their surrounding environment. They said it was their first time working with a major producer like Simone Felice and he really encouraged them to keep it simple and stick to whatever captures the song.\"\"When I first heard songs like \u201cLay Like You Do\u201d and \u201cWhat You Do to Me,\u201d I couldn\u2019t help but think of other beloved bands who create similar sentiments in their music. Driftwood, like The Zac Brown Band and Mumford and Sons, succeeds in inciting feelings of togetherness through the power of music. Some groups the band cite as their biggest musical influences span across generations including Paul Simon, Dr. Dog, Brandi Carlile, and Bob Dylan. It is evident by this list that they value \u201cgreat songwriting and music that comes from the heart\u201d as they told me.<\/span><\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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