tucker woods - sunshine blues

Tucker Woods is a tried-and-true rock ‘n’ roll band with a dynamic, youthful spirit reminiscent of Oasis & The Who, drawing inspiration from the likes of the Kinks, Tom Petty and the Foo Fighters. Their music is tied together with Beatles-esque melodies and hooks infused with a message of hope and endurance. Based in New York, the band is led by songwriter, guitarist and vocalist, Chris Hurd, and Brian Motel on bass and keys.

The two met on a whim nearly a decade ago and instantly found that, not only did their capabilities gel perfectly, but also an ever-important part of the equation fit seamlessly: their music is held together by an unspoken mantra to serve the song.

“I’d been writing songs for a long time, and eventually, I recorded a demo that Brian stumbled upon,” Hurd says. ”He actually walked in to audition with a few fresh stitches on his face and I thought he had gotten into a fight or something; turns out he’s a glazier and had gotten hurt at work. It’s turned into a funny story.”

“Our band is an ever-evolving experience,” Motel says. “But our goal is to always put the song first, whether that’s how we play to a live audience or the decisions we make during the recording process.”

Released in March 2024, Sunshine Blues is the second chapter in the band’s burgeoning story, including the addition of drummer Chris Prestamo for the album, & the return of producer/engineer Warren Trunz. It’s a follow-up to their debut, What A Drag!, which they released at the end of 2020—an apt title to describe that particular year for most everyone. The band also released Inside-Out, a compilation of unplugged and alternate versions of the What A Drag! album, in August of 2023, along with a few B-sides and a fresh perspective.

Originally recorded at Tone House Studio, as its predecessor was, Sunshine Blues opens with a cinematic tale: “The Ballad of Captain Pat & The Spooky Rock Lagoon” is a mood-setting introduction to the band’s organic indie-rock blend.

New single “Somersault” asks the question, “Step inside my mind, what you see?” With an arrangement not dissimilar to what it feels to be in the middle of a spiral, it’s a relatable look at what it can feel like to lose your footing occasionally, something the band isn’t unfamiliar with. After they were unable to finish recording Sunshine Blues in the original location started, everyone involved had to get creative which added a spirit of originality and unmatched energy to the album.

“I was absolutely gutted we couldn’t finish there,” Hurd says—until engineer and co-producer Warren Trunz devised an alternate plan: “We recorded at his [Warren] grandma’s old house.”

“It ended up being one of my favorite recording experiences to date. It was pretty cool to set up in such an unrestrictive environment. Relaxed is an understatement,” Hurd mentions. “For an album recorded in two different locations, one being a high-end studio and one being a make- shift home setup, it still sounds consistent, inspired, and exciting. I’m proud of this album for a lot of different reasons, but my team trouble- shooting, coming together and not letting the problems knock us down really stands out.”

The new setting allowed the band to evolve sonically and in their songwriting, like never before; it’s growth that’s well-evidenced on the album’s title track, “Sunshine Blues”, inspired by a phrase Hurd’s grandfather used to sing. “For me, the song is about finding hope in loss. Missing those who are no longer with you but also living your life to the fullest knowing they’re still there on your journey. It’s not a sad song; it’s just not necessarily a territory or personal level I’ve dove into before.”

“I hope it shows a different side to the band and me as a songwriter,” Hurd continues. “I think it’s one of the highlights in regards to the production on the album. I’ve been in love with that guitar lick in the intro since the day I wrote it.”

“¡Pura Vida!” was naturally inspired by the Costa Rican saying imbued with a positive spirit. “The chorus on this song is huge and vibrant; it has the vibe of brighter days on the horizon,” Hurd mentions, “I think it kind

of became a love song to passion-driven lives and those who inspire and give off positive energy to people around them—even strangers. It’s about people who stand up for what they believe in and are true to themselves.”

“Are You Glass?” encapsulates a ‘60s, cinematic vibe, which Motel jokingly, but none the less rightly mentions, “sounds like it could be on a Tarantino soundtrack.”

“(Detective Fitz & The Case of) Chicken Coop Smoot” is a who-done-it mystery, with characters longtime listeners may recognize, while “Right on Time” offers a nod to the past in its own right: “It has a bit of a ‘Two Of Us’ vibe from the [The Beatles’] Let It Be album going on,” Hurd mentions. “I think it’s kind of about taking a breath and realizing you’re right where you should be, when you should be,” he continues, “and it’s hard not to see the similarities with the album’s release overall. Getting there in your own time, right on time.”

“All the tunes on a record reflect the time and place they were written in one way or another. If anything, when I listen back on recorded music, it makes me aware of my surroundings and experiences from that time in the past, and also what’s changed since. It’s about the journey.”