FOUR CHORDS OF WOOD

Four Chords of Wood is a group of some of the nicest men you will ever meet who pour their hearts, souls, and dedication into their music.
Wonderful on a CD, even better live. This is a group who understands what bluegrass is all about!

~ Kathy Boyd, Uptown Bluegrass - Uptown Bluegrass

"Four Chords of Wood ...truly a fun band, well organized, good song writing,
arrangements and stage presence. This is a band to watch as they continue to build their reputation and music."

George McKnight Uptown Bluegrass
www.uptownbluegrass.com - Uptown Bluegrass

Four Chords of Wood,

The Sooke River Bluegrass Society on behalf of the Community Association, extend our heartfelt appreciation for your participation in the 3rd Annual Sooke River Bluegrass Festival.

The success of the event was due in large part to your stalwart performances, your stage savvy and spontaneity, your excellent
cooperation and above all, your adherence to the family values that typify the heart of Bluegrass Music. Your friendliness to fans and to other band members was especially appreciated.

We look forward to working with you again in the near future and hope that you will keep in touch.

Regards,

Jack Townsend
Administrative Officer
Sooke River Bluegrass Festival Society - TJack Townsend

Four Chords of Wood is a group of some of the nicest men you will ever meet who pour their hearts, souls, and dedication into their music.
Wonderful on a CD, even better live. This is a group who understands what bluegrass is all about!

~ Kathy Boyd, Uptown Bluegrass - Uptown Bluegrass

CD Review

Four Chords of Wood
~ Stokin' the Fire
Label: Independent



With this, their second release, the Four Chords of Wood hit their stride. On Stokin’ the Fire they deliver 15 original songs that confirm they are a top drawer bluegrass act.
This Victoria-based band has already developed their sound, hard-driving traditional bluegrass with tight harmonies and strong instrumentals. Staying completely within the bluegrass mode of writing from & about life experience, the Four Chords maintain the traditional bluegrass sound they are known for, updated with modern lyrics. It’s bluegrass for this century.
As Phil Shaver says, “Traditionally, the songs written back in the day were based on "real" life events. Sometimes those events were very tragic. Those songs spoke to people because they could relate to them somehow.” The Four Chords are carrying on the tradition by writing tunes that will be the jam standards of tomorrow.
There isn’t a weak song on the CD. The songwriting team of Aaron Murray and Phil Shaver present songs about falling in and out of love, death, domestic violence, and life on the road. Two of the outstanding ones are ‘That Old Easy Chair’, a heartfelt number about the death of a father, and ‘Storm Front’, an eerily chilling tune about a father who is a powderkeg about to blow.
Storm Front was so disturbingly realistic that I checked with Phil to see if it came from personal experience. Here’s what he had to say: “Storm Front is thoughts about most any dysfunctional family. Unfortunately, domestic violence is something that still exists today and most everyone can relate in some way. Writing and playing a song like Storm Front acknowledges that people are affected by domestic violence and that it's not OK.”
Aaron gave me the back story on ‘That Old Easy Chair’. “FCOW was playing the bluegrass festival in Darrington Washington. We arrived on the Friday night and were getting set up. Phil's cellular went off and he headed down to the fishing pond which was surrounded by willow trees. He sat there for a while then made his way back to where we were still unpacking and told us that his father had died. We knew his father wasn't well, but no one expected his death this soon.
Phil was adamant that we carry on that weekend. He said that Old Shaver would have wanted him to play. It was a strange weekend, but we pulled it off. Phil flew home the following day. Having heard many a story about Mr. Shaver, I just sat down and wrote the song in about an hour one day. I wasn't sure how Phil was going to feel about it, but I played it for him. As you now know, he took to it nicely.”
Other songs that stand out are ‘Border Bound’, about love gone sour, ‘My Baby’s Eyes’, about a lover who lives far away, and ‘Adeline’, straight out of bluegrass tradition ~ a simple but crazy fun tune about a girl called Adeline. As Aaron tells me: “She was my grandmother (back in New Brunswick). She loved music. The song is from my grandfather's perspective, who didn't own a car, and who would ride his bicycle 30 miles each way to court her. They eventually married and had 11 kids. We lost Adeline this last year... another sad day. She heard the song though and loved it.”
Phil handles most of the lead singing with a strong, warm tenor, and has great flatpicking chops. Aaron Murray on mandolin and harmony vocals rounds out the rhythm. Tim Cook lends solid banjo and harmony to the band, as well as contributing to the songwriting. Dave Klassen on bass lays down some of the best walking lines I’ve heard in a long time. Paul Elliott on fiddle adds his fiery licks to the mix.
Fiddler Paul Elliott contributes two fiddle tunes, ‘The Road to Dawson’ and ‘Sooke River’ that show why he’s considered one of the top fiddlers in the Northwest. Banjoist Tim Cook offers ‘Flat Rock’, where every band member takes a blistering break. The CD closer, Flatpickin’ Man, is as close to bluegrass ‘pop’ as I’ve heard. I can easily picture it being covered by hundreds of other acts in the future.
Highly recommended ~ both for those of you who have been following this band and those who have not yet discovered it.

- Kate Bailey

Two plus years have passed and now we have the 2nd CD from the highly creative Four Chords of Wood Bluegrass band. Stokin' The Fire is a power packed CD of 15 Original songs all written by the band members. The band is holding forth the same line up as before, Tim Cook - Banjo, Paul Elliott - Fiddle, Dave Klassen - Bass, Aaron Murray - Mandolin and Phil Shaver - guitar and most of the lead vocal singing, with the rest of the boys on harmony vocals. The song writing team of Aaron and Phil contribute most of the songs with instrumental tunes from Paul and Tim. The songs are based on their real life experiences featuring songs of love, heartbreak, travelin' and the loss of a loved ones. Hard hitting and fun this CD showcases the talents of this exceptional group in fine style. The recording values are excellent and the music is value-added to the bluegrass culture, dynamic and driving. Stokin' The Fire is a keeper and so is Four Chords of Wood! Get your copy at www.fourchordsofwood.com

- Uptown Bluegrass

FOUR CHORDS OF WOOD—STOKIN' THE FIRE
[November 2008]
No Label, No Number



"Stokin' The Fire" is the second release for Canada's Four Chords Of Wood and contains original numbers from various bandmembers. The group is Phil Shaver (guitar and vocals), Aaron Murray (mandolin and vocals), Dave Klassen (bass and vocals), Tim Cook (banjo and vocals), and Paul Elliott (fiddle). What really stands out about this meticulous collection is how the five members have blended their individual talents to create a truly remarkable body of music. It is difficult to single out a particular tune above the others, however, the highlights include "My Baby's Eyes," "Adeline," "That Old Easy Chair," the instrumental "The Road To Dawson," and the haunting tale of Shorty Dunn. Four Chords Of Wood is clearly one of Canada's top bluegrass bands, and "Stokin' The Fire" is ample evidence - BLUEGRASS UNLIMITED

All 15 cuts are originals on the second recording from Four Chords of Wood. In liner notes the bluegrass band says since their debut album they have “fallen in and out of love, met wonderful people, developed strong friendships and also lost loved ones to that higher calling. Fortunately, all of these life experiences have provided us with the inspiration to put pen to paper.”
- IBMA SEPTEMBER 2008

CD Review

Four Chords of Wood
~ Stokin' the Fire
Label: Independent



With this, their second release, the Four Chords of Wood hit their stride. On Stokin’ the Fire they deliver 15 original songs that confirm they are a top drawer bluegrass act.
This Victoria-based band has already developed their sound, hard-driving traditional bluegrass with tight harmonies and strong instrumentals. Staying completely within the bluegrass mode of writing from & about life experience, the Four Chords maintain the traditional bluegrass sound they are known for, updated with modern lyrics. It’s bluegrass for this century.
As Phil Shaver says, “Traditionally, the songs written back in the day were based on "real" life events. Sometimes those events were very tragic. Those songs spoke to people because they could relate to them somehow.” The Four Chords are carrying on the tradition by writing tunes that will be the jam standards of tomorrow.
There isn’t a weak song on the CD. The songwriting team of Aaron Murray and Phil Shaver present songs about falling in and out of love, death, domestic violence, and life on the road. Two of the outstanding ones are ‘That Old Easy Chair’, a heartfelt number about the death of a father, and ‘Storm Front’, an eerily chilling tune about a father who is a powderkeg about to blow.
Storm Front was so disturbingly realistic that I checked with Phil to see if it came from personal experience. Here’s what he had to say: “Storm Front is thoughts about most any dysfunctional family. Unfortunately, domestic violence is something that still exists today and most everyone can relate in some way. Writing and playing a song like Storm Front acknowledges that people are affected by domestic violence and that it's not OK.”
Aaron gave me the back story on ‘That Old Easy Chair’. “FCOW was playing the bluegrass festival in Darrington Washington. We arrived on the Friday night and were getting set up. Phil's cellular went off and he headed down to the fishing pond which was surrounded by willow trees. He sat there for a while then made his way back to where we were still unpacking and told us that his father had died. We knew his father wasn't well, but no one expected his death this soon.
Phil was adamant that we carry on that weekend. He said that Old Shaver would have wanted him to play. It was a strange weekend, but we pulled it off. Phil flew home the following day. Having heard many a story about Mr. Shaver, I just sat down and wrote the song in about an hour one day. I wasn't sure how Phil was going to feel about it, but I played it for him. As you now know, he took to it nicely.”
Other songs that stand out are ‘Border Bound’, about love gone sour, ‘My Baby’s Eyes’, about a lover who lives far away, and ‘Adeline’, straight out of bluegrass tradition ~ a simple but crazy fun tune about a girl called Adeline. As Aaron tells me: “She was my grandmother (back in New Brunswick). She loved music. The song is from my grandfather's perspective, who didn't own a car, and who would ride his bicycle 30 miles each way to court her. They eventually married and had 11 kids. We lost Adeline this last year... another sad day. She heard the song though and loved it.”
Phil handles most of the lead singing with a strong, warm tenor, and has great flatpicking chops. Aaron Murray on mandolin and harmony vocals rounds out the rhythm. Tim Cook lends solid banjo and harmony to the band, as well as contributing to the songwriting. Dave Klassen on bass lays down some of the best walking lines I’ve heard in a long time. Paul Elliott on fiddle adds his fiery licks to the mix.
Fiddler Paul Elliott contributes two fiddle tunes, ‘The Road to Dawson’ and ‘Sooke River’ that show why he’s considered one of the top fiddlers in the Northwest. Banjoist Tim Cook offers ‘Flat Rock’, where every band member takes a blistering break. The CD closer, Flatpickin’ Man, is as close to bluegrass ‘pop’ as I’ve heard. I can easily picture it being covered by hundreds of other acts in the future.
Highly recommended ~ both for those of you who have been following this band and those who have not yet discovered it.

- Kate Bailey