Andy Wood (guitarist)
Andy Wood | |
|---|---|
| Born | Tennessee, United States |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, Guitarist, Songwriter |
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Associated acts |
|
| Website | www.andywoodmusic.com |
Andy Wood is an American guitarist, mandolinist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.[1] He has played as a touring musician with artists such as the Rascal Flatts, Sebastian Bach, Gary Allan, LoCash, and Scott Stapp, and released three solo albums. He is known for his proficiency in genres such as rock, metal, fusion, country, and acoustic bluegrass.[2]
Career[edit]
Early life[edit]
Born into a musically inclined family in east Tennessee, Wood began playing mandolin at the age of five under the tutelage of his grandfather, Paul Birchfield, alongside his cousin. He briefly studied the violin at age six.[3] When he was 15 Wood moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, and at age 16 he came in first place in the National Mandolin Championship in Winfield, Kansas.[4] He attended East Junior High School and McDowell High School, and graduated from Gatlinburg-Pittman High School.[3] Wood cites his influences at this time as being primarily bluegrass, including acts such as New Grass Survival, Tony Rice, Jerry Douglas, and Bela Fleck.[1] After hearing Brent Mason's solo in the Mark O’Connor song “Pick It Apart” Wood decided he wanted to being learning the electric guitar. Throughout years of playing, Wood became exposed to a wide array of influences, from styles such as rock and fusion and artists such as Eric Johnson, Brent Mason, Eddie Van Halen, and the Dixie Dregs. He studied jazz at the University of Tennessee.[5] In 2003, Wood was entered in the Guitar Center Guitarmageddeon contest by his friends as a joke, which he would then go on to take first place in. [4]
Down From Up[edit]
Following this, Andy Wood became a founding member of the Knoxville, TN based hard rock band Down From Up. The band released several albums, and got to go on tour opening for the group 10 Years, before disbanding in 2010.[6]
Touring career[edit]
Wood's career as a touring musician began in 2012, when he was hired as the lead guitarist for former Skid Row singer, Sebastian Bach, replacing his guitarist Nick Sterling for a brief tour.[7] Following this role, Wood was exposed to more opportunities as a touring guitarist, playing for artists such as country artist Billy Dean and Christian metal band Disciple, as well as more notable acts such as Scott Stapp of Creed.[4] In 2012, Wood met Travis Toy, a steel guitar player for the Rascal Flatts, at the Guitar Summit in Durham, North Carolina. Later, when the Rascal Flatts had an opening for a guitarist in their backing band, Toy was able to secure Wood an audition for the position. Wood auditioned and was confirmed as the touring guitarist for the Rascal Flatts in January 2015.[3]
Solo career[edit]
In 2009, at age 26, Andy Wood released his first solo album A Disconcerting Amalgam.[4] Following this release, he put out his second solo release, Caught Between a Truth and a Lie in 2014. His sophomore attempt was a double album which featured 12 tracks of acoustic, bluegrass, country influence and another 12 of metal, rock, fusion influence.[5] In 2017 Wood released his first solo live album Live at the Bijou, which was recorded at the Bijou Theater in Knoxville, Tennessee. In 2019 Wood put out his third solo album Junktown. In 2012 Wood also got the opportunity to perform in Neyland Stadium in a halftime show for the University of Tennessee Volunteers.[5]
Discography[edit]
Down From Up[edit]
Studio[edit]
- A Terrible Beauty (2007)
- From Ashes to Empire (2009)
Live[edit]
- Live: Far From the Bottom (2006)
Solo[edit]
Studio[edit]
- A Disconcerting Amalgam (2009)
- Caught Between a Truth and a Lie (2014)
- Junktown (2019)
Live[edit]
- Live at the Bijou (2019)
Gear[edit]
Andy Wood is an endorsee of Suhr Guitars. He was known for playing their Modern models at the outset of his career, although since then he has become known for using the Modern T guitar, which is modeled after a Fender telecaster.[8] As of 2017, Suhr now makes several Andy Wood signature models. Certain specifications vary from model to model, but all of them are Telecaster-shaped, made out of swamp ash with roasted maple necks, and feature jumbo stainless steel frets.[9] For amps Wood has stated using Marshall, Fender, Diezel, Rhodes, and Fractal's Axe FX II. For effects Wood primarily uses T.C. Electronics and Wampler pedals.[2]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Silverman, Renee. "Andy Wood : 'Caught Between the Truth and a Lie'". AXS. AXS. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Perlmutter, Adam. "Andy Wood: Un-Chicken Pickin'". Premier Guitar. Premier Guitar. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Conley, Mike. "McDowell native backing country stars Rascal Flatts". The McDowell News. BH Media Group. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Bledsoe, Wayne. "No lie, Andy Wood is an instrumental hero". Knox News. Knox News. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Wildsmith, Steve. "Guitarist Andy Wood steps out of the shadows for Bijou show". The Daily Times. The Daily Times. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ↑ "Andy Wood". D'Addario. D'Addario & Co. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ↑ Lafrentz, Jeremy. "SEBASTIAN BACH Introduces New Guitarist". Blabbermouth. Blabbermouth. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ↑ Moore, Bruce. "Gear Review: Guitarist Extraordinaire Andy Wood Discusses His Custom Prototype 24 Fret Suhr T Guitar". Pure Grain Audio. Pure Grain Audio. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ↑ Green, Sam. "Andy Wood, Signature Suhr Guitar Interview". Guitar Ramble. Guitar Ramble. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
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