Wood & Wires: Songs, Freshly Sliced
By Mattea Overstreet
Summertime has already shot me out of the toaster as I write to you with spring skin peeling off my forearms, bug bites tingling at my ankles, and that gooey green gel slathered atop my crispy shoulders. I may have removed half of my summer activities checklist in only a few weeks. Camping at New Hogan Lake, frolicking through Tuolumne Meadows at YNP, and an epic solo beach day with me and my doggo Arthur. Lucky for us Modestans, our favorite places are never too far away.
This month, I was excited to have the night off for the monthly installment of Wood and Wires, a music showcase highlighting new original songs from a growing collective of local songwriters. The group collaborates weekly, in person and online, and each member emerges with a new song inspired by an assigned theme. Some themes have included “prosecution”, “buried treasure”, and “faded” in recent months. On the last Thursday of each month, the members share their new tunes with the happy people at Contentment Brewing Co.
The acoustic, unplugged, singer-songwriter community has always been a steadfast fixture of the Modesto music scene. Seeing a new platform for collective creativity, performance, and feedback revived in a new era is refreshing. Some may be familiar with the 52 Week Club, a local songwriting community that has been active for 20 years and has pumped out some of the region’s most refined and profound songwriters like Chris Doud and Willy Tea Taylor. The creative in all of us can agree that honing a skill or a passion is far more rewarding with the encouragement, accountability, and comradery of our peers and community.
I had the pleasure of catching a few blurbs from two active members of Wood and Wires who were gracious enough to share their experience in the collective.
How has W&W impacted you creatively, personally, or professionally?
“Creatively, it’s a great challenge to experiment with and hone in on songwriting processes. It’s interesting how being given a prompt, technically a creative limitation, can feel freeing as it gives you an immediate sense of direction.”
-Eric Fry
“Accountability for sure! As I see it, the only way to grow in your craft is to be around others with the same passion. Spending time with these musicians has been an inspiring treat and experience. We each have our own story in life, our style, and our talents in songwriting and overall musicianship.”
-Christina Bates
What’s your songwriting secret weapon?
“Trust your gut! Don’t be afraid to keep it simple, make it silly, turn it weird, whatever. Just go with the flow, and make sure it FEELS good.”
-Eric Fry
“Go somewhere inspiring to write. Somewhere that makes you happy, or sad, or mad. All of the emotions. Feelings that you can see with your eyes will help inspire you. Do it with someone you care about, but also do it alone. You need both for the best version of your creativity.”
-Christina Bates
Do yourselves a favor and save the date for the last Thursday of the month to hear fresh sounds from Wood & Wires 209. To stay updated or to get involved, follow @woodandwires209 on Instagram and Facebook.
Peace, love, and SPF
