Down With The Woo

"Down with the Woo is the second coming of Eric Friar and Mandy Branch, the duo who crafted the crystalline melodies and jarring angles of Athens' now-extinct Heros Severum. As DWTW, Friar (guitar, vocals) and Branch (guitar, keyboard, vocals), along with Winston Parker (bass, saxophone), shed the immediacy and terse punk leanings of their past for a spacey excursion into soul music, electro-pop and futuristic funk. Minimal rhythms and computer-generated beats come together in each song to form a web of sophisticated production and dance music that's both slick and technology-obsessed without forgetting the organic ways of a human body on the dance floor."- Chad Radford
- Flagpole

Hip-hop and punk fans will unite Friday to celebrate a local trio's first video shoot, making it easy to get "Down with the Woo."

Using three cameras, three projection screens, numerous auxiliary speakers and special guests, Down with the Woo will film a live video Friday night, turning the 40 Watt Club into its set and using fans as extras.

"We are filming the show to be released at a later date. We'll compile the footage into a music video for one of our singles, and the entire concert may be released later as a live concert DVD," said lead singer, guitarist and keyboardist Mandy Branch.

Growing up with bands from the Washington, D.C., area like Jawbox, Shudder to Think and Fugazi, Down with the Woo started as punk-inspired. However, artists such as Missy Elliott, James Brown and Kool and the Gang added soul to its list of influences.

"Down with the Woo is kind of like what you would get if you melded soul, hip-hop and D.C. punk all together," said Branch, who graduated from the University in 1999. "Throw in a few dance moves and some Prince and there you go."

Members Branch, Eric Friar and Winston Parker haven't been Down with the Woo for long - the band's first birthday is in October, but it is no stranger to the Athens music scene.

"Eric, Winston and I used to play in a band called Heros Severum, a rock band with two guitars, saxophone, keyboards and drums," said Branch. "After we disbanded, we decided to try something new."

This time around, the trio decided to experiment with technology.

For example, the new drummer isn't really a drummer at all. The band uses Pro Tools, a software program used for recording, to provide the pulse for its live shows.

"We record each of our shows and release songs from each performance either online or as singles that audience members can pick up at the next show," Branch said, adding that Down with the Woo plans to do the same with the new video.

Local tech company TSAV (Technical Services Audio Visual) will sponsor the show, giving the venue an ultra-surround sound experience.

"It should be a really great and diverse show - not to mention there will be free refreshments for everyone, so there's another incentive to come," she said.

Local groups Ice Cream Socialists and Pegasuses XL, along with New Orleans based One Man Machine will open the show. - Red and Black, Athens GA

Woo Light Up My Life: From the “well, finally!” department comes news that local rockers Down with the Woo have finished the new album. Recorded over at member Eric Friar’s Downtown Athens Recording Company, the new collection is titled Thylacines and the band is now on the hunt for a label to release it. Hopefully, this won’t take too long because this is a band that people should hear. In other news, Down with the Woo has been busily working on completing a video for its song “Muscle Minus Brain” via the nimble fingers of member Winston Parker. Drop them a line and tell them you need these things over at www.myspace.com/downwiththewoo. - Flagpole Magazine

The Athens pop band Down with the Woo is ready to take the spotlight again with a new album and music video. The group has been working on the album, tentatively named Thylacines, at DARC Studios. A music video for the song, "Muscle Minus Brain" is also being edited for release.

www.myspace.com/downwiththewoo - Southeastern Performer