The Alchemist, June 30, 2009, Vol. 2, No. 78
Vol. 2, No. 78
ALCHEMIST AWARD WINNER:
BEST ELECTRIC PERFORMER
LINDEN WOOD
“How Much Wood Would a Linden Wood Chuck
If a Linden Wood Could Chuck Wood”
A constant reader of the Alchemist already knows who Linden Wood is, both because he received the 2008 Alchy Award for the Best Electric Performer, and because of multiple articles about one of the local bands he plays in, Lost Tortoise. Jam bands not your thing? Maybe you lean more towards metal, and in that case Even in Death is probably more to your taste. That’s Linden too.
At age twelve Linden began to really focus on music, especially the guitar. All told Linden Wood has played in fourteen bands in Corvallis starting with the Deep Wood Band. At age 26 he’s so far averaging more than a band a year.
It was playing in Psychward Junkies, a band that jumped genres a lot, that prepared him for today’s stretch between metal and jam music.
“I get bored if I play one style of music for too long,” Linden said.
The sounds of both bands are reaching bigger and bigger audiences lately, and for good reason. Not only are the musicians skilled, but well practiced at playing with each other. Lost Tortoise is the latest refinement of a band that started out several years ago as Shity Punk, and Even in Death is a year-old change up of the band Azrael.
Between the two bands and some solo gigs Linden plays about three shows a month, and practices about 10 hours a week. Lost Tortoise is looking to up their practice time this summer, though, and that’s still not counting the practice time he puts in on his own.
“I’ve always been motivated to get myself out into the music world,” Linden told this reporter, “Hopefully someday I’ll get to make a living off music.”
He’s certainly on the right track. Even in Death’s song “Frantic Nobody,” was recently featured on Oregon Underground on KFLY, along with an interview of the bands other guitarist, all before the band played at Wow Hall in Eugene as part of the Schools Out For Metal show. Lost Tortoise has played in Eugene and all over Corvallis, including many memorable shows at the now-closed Fox & Firkin, and recently a great free show at Cloud 9.
While Linden has been playing a number of shows recently, there’s not a lot of gigs on his summer schedule. Even in Death has a show in Waldport this July, and Linden is playing at the Downtown Beanery with the Neon Gypsies for the Fourth of July. Outside of that Lost Tortoise is working on recording new music, Even in Death is finishing up a new demo, and Linden is trying to put together his own acoustic demo.
It’s a safe bet that this Alchy Award Winner has more good things in store, so keep listening for good tunes. And if you like what you hear, keep voting.
“I was pretty excited,” Linden said of finding out he’d been nominated, adding, “I was honored to receive the award and recognition for all the hard work I put in.”
~Robin Canfield
