The Atkinsons

Dickie Wood has a lot of words floating around in his head. That’s the thought that comes to mind listening to the new release from this ubiquitous Richmond group. Serving the role as lead singer and guitarist, Wood is accompanied by multi-instrumentalist Jeff Williams, bassist Ricky Breland, fiddler Mike Ferry, drummer Kris Krull and percussionist/vocalist Jamie Wood. Throughout 10 tracks (and a bonus track), they weave stories of loneliness, desertion, romance, boozing, traveling . . . very much a cross-section of the American experience.

Songs are written more in the form of rhyming prose than as couplets, which helps bolster the storytelling. Sonically, the group resembles alt-rock pioneers Uncle Tupelo or early Ryan Adams. The idea behind the music is well-communicated, and the songs are executed with precision. The Atkinsons have been performing on Richmond stages for more than four years, and the time and experience are reflected in the maturity of this recording.

4 of 5 stars - Style Weekly by Josh Bearman (June 2007)

The Atkinsons. The name caught my attention immediately. Was it the name of one of the musicians? No. That would have been too easy. The origin of the name was much more interesting than that. About six years ago two friends, Dickie Wood and Jeff Williams, decided to put together a band. They had met at an open-mic that they both frequented, so they wanted a name that had something to do with that. In their search for the right name, they came across Gary Atkinson, another musician who frequented the open-mic. When they heard his surname they knew it was the one they wanted. And thus the Atkinsons were born. ...more, see www.magazine33.com - Magazine 33 (Nov 2009)

The Atkinsons. The name caught my attention immediately. Was it the name of one of the musicians? No. That would have been too easy. The origin of the name was much more interesting than that. About six years ago two friends, Dickie Wood and Jeff Williams, decided to put together a band. They had met at an open-mic that they both frequented, so they wanted a name that had something to do with that. In their search for the right name, they came across Gary Atkinson, another musician who frequented the open-mic. When they heard his surname they knew it was the one they wanted. And thus the Atkinsons were born. ...more, see www.magazine33.com - Magazine 33 (Nov 2009)

When I pop in a disc from a band based in Virginia (West, or just the plain one) or North Carolina, I get excited and my mind fills with preconceived notions of good ol’ smokey mountain boogie, complete with Dueling Banjos and Foggy Mountain Breakdowns. Unfair? Sure. True? Not really, I don’t think that all the time, but I’d be lying if I said it was totally untrue. Having said all of that, I do find satisfaction when I listen to the album and gain a sense of the band’s rootsy region tucked nicely inside their music.

The Atkinson’s (Official / Myspace) are, in fact, from Virginia and therefore fell victim to my preconceived silliness, but only for a moment (or the length of time for the first track to play). American Gothic slipped from the clutches of my sickness by the time the album’s second track, “Caroline” rolled around. This cut showcases an excellent fiddle feverishly fiddling, as well as lead singer Dickie Woods animated vocals (think a less hillbilly BR549). Woods vocal augments the urgency of the fiddle and when the chorus of, “Caroline, don’t know how you do it” hits, I can’t help but feel that I am listening to a Roots-Rock band that is putting their roots slightly ahead of the rock. The up-tempo fiddle and wonderfully manic vocals are the two traits that give this album its own distinctive identity. The signature fiddle sound also keeps revving on full-speed into the third track, “Watertown”. The fiddle does eventually slow down, but not as to create a gaping whole in the album’s sound. In “Part of Me”, the harmonies build up steam as the fiddle cries softly in the background.

Cuts like the album’s closer, “Best Thing” exemplify why it can dangerous for bands to float in the treacherous waters of comparison. Whether it be critics and bloggers that throw them in the water or even the band’s own press materials, there can often times be a lazy and reckless tendency to use Alt-Country Icons such as Drive by Truckers, Old 97’s or Son Volt to help convey the sound of the band to the desired listener. While this name-game can help a person understand what sonic the band is reaching for, or assist a friend in telling his buddy who a certain band “is like”, the comparison name-game can also often times miss the key elements of what makes the band unique and prevent someone from fully “getting” a certain band. In “Best Thing”, along with many of the tracks I have mentioned, it is Mike Ferry’s fiddle and Dickie Woods’ vocal that sets this disc and band apart from trail blazers such as the 97’s or Uncle Tupelo who rarely feature either fiddle or terribly “countrified” vocals.

American Gothic from The Atkinsons succeeds tremendously in providing us an introduction to a Roots-Rock band that will hopefully continue to expose their roots as the keep on rockin’.

- Twangville.com by Kelly Dearmore (2007)

Many a musician was born and many a band was formed at the now defunct Matt's Village Pub. In the early oughts, mandolin player Jeff Williams played host to a popular open-mic night that launched numerous musical careers, including the Gaskets, the Ex-Patriots, Jared Jones of Lust Not Love, Jim O'Brien of Schnitzel and the Atkinsons.

see link for full article.... - Style Weekly by Mike Rutz (April 2011)

Many a musician was born and many a band was formed at the now defunct Matt's Village Pub. In the early oughts, mandolin player Jeff Williams played host to a popular open-mic night that launched numerous musical careers, including the Gaskets, the Ex-Patriots, Jared Jones of Lust Not Love, Jim O'Brien of Schnitzel and the Atkinsons.

see link for full article.... - Style Weekly by Mike Rutz (April 2011)

Richmond - If you pay any attention to the rock or country flavored bands playing around Richmond, you have probably heard of the Atkinsons. They've been around for a couple years now, if you consider seven to be a couple. Most of that time has been spent playing at venues and festivals all over Richmond and the surrounding area. For all those years playing they had until recently only released one album, a self-proclaimed alt-country opera called American Gothic. They really are a performance band. It's obvious from seeing them play that they just enjoy being up on stage playing music. Recording is more of an afterthought for them.

see link for full article....
Pics by Scott Baker - Magazine 33 by Robin Marschak (May 2011)

Richmond’s The Atkinsons have just released their second album, Mile Marker. The Atkinsons have been together for seven years, though, so they have had time to hone their sound and get any kinks out of their system. You might even say that along the way, the band has gone down certain roads, marking them as they go along. “[Mile Marker] follows its own path from the back roads to the highways that inevitably lead you back home.”

The album tends to grow on you as you listen to each track. The Atkinsons meld a bit of alt-country (in the vein of Drive-By Truckers or Son Volt) with rock and roll, swing music, Texas Cajun and many more for a driving sound that is fast enough for dance halls and chill enough to do some laundry to. (BTW, the song from the video is also on this disc).

One of the highlight tracks is “No Ordinary Home.” Singer/guitarist Dickie Wood sings an anthemic “I’m going hooooome” that sticks in the ear. Multi-part harmonies really sell the phrase. Violinist Mike Ferry spins a web around the track, almost outlining the sounds so they don’t roam too far. His fiddle is almost like a cow herder’s dog, weaving in and out of the composition but still making sure everyone knows he’s there.

“Scar” has the heart of zydeco and the restraint of vivacious bluegrass. Buzzing guitars and layers of stringed instruments make the track particularly boisterous. “She thinks I need to grow / But I think she needs to know/ She’s just an other scar to liquor down.”

“Upstate” has the laziness of “Tuesday’s Gone” by Skynyrd, evening out the album’s momentum. “Fisherman’s Blues” perks things up a bit for the last track on the album. Even non-fishermen and women can understand wanting to get away from it all and just focus on the simple, awesome things in life.

Mile Marker has a bonus track, “Left Hand.” The song really spotlights Jeff Williams on mandolin, whose instrument may have gotten lost in the whole orchestration. The intricate picking is echoed by guitar, an octave lower. The whole thing has a gypsy feeling to it. Dickie’s vocals have an extra Elvis Costello goodness in this track. I am uncertain how I feel about bonus tracks, and I think this would have fit in pretty nicely with the rest of the selections. Soon “bonus tracks” will have no meaning.

Interested in hearing more? Check out:
http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/TheAtkinsons

edit: The bonus track, “Left Hand” was covered after the death of Ross Harman of the Gaskets a few months ago. It will appear on a tribute album being released soon. - Sounds of RVA by Sarah Moore (May 2011)

"It's not as easy these days to find a sprawling country road that's not bisected by a major interstate. But if you can find that road, The Atkinsons' debut Americana album American Gothic may be a good traveling companion. The six-piece Richmond group blends country and rock, laced with mandolin and fiddle accents - as well as a bit of sawdust and whiskey thrown in for good measure. For details, visit www.theatkinsons.us."

- Richmond Magazine - April 2007

"The band delivers country music in the vein of early '70s Stones – rough, honest and devoid of the cheeseball element. Lead singer Dickie Wood has the nicotine- and whiskey-stained vocals of Robert Earl Keen, and is the perfect compliment to the band's raucous fiddle throwdowns."

- Richmond.com

Formed by Dickie Wood and Jeff Williams in 2003, The Atkinsons now have six members who bring a country-rock mix of guitars, mandolin, violin, percussion and vocals to local venues.

They're missing one thing, though.

Someone named Atkinson.

The band's name comes from one of Wood's pals, Gary Atkinson, who just happened to be in the right place when Wood and Williams were in need of a name for their new group.

"When Jeff and I were first starting out, we didn't have any idea of what we wanted to do," Wood said by phone. "A show came up and we needed a name. Gary was standing there, and I asked him what his last name was. I thought it sounded great. It was original, and it seemed to fit what we were doing with this kind of rootsy feel."

The first shows consisted of Wood and Williams showing up at local mikes. They've since added Kris Krull on drums, bass guitarist Ricky Breland, Mike Ferry on fiddle and Wood's wife, Jamie, on percussion and backing vocals.

File The Atkinsons' Whiskeytown- and Uncle Tupelo-influenced blend of rock and twang under A for Americana. That sound is a product of the range of experiences that each member brings to the musical table.

"I come from more of an alternative rock, punk background," Wood explained. "Coming up, that's what I always listened to and what I always tried to play in my other bands. Our violin player, Mike, is classically trained. He's from a whole different side of music. . . . Kris is a straight-ahead rock drummer, and Ricky is a funk, R&B bass player."

The debut Atkinsons CD, "American Gothic," became available in local record stores and at the group's shows in March. Listeners are advised to listen to the 10 tracks in numerical order.

"It's not just a collection of songs. It's really a storybook put to music," Wood said. "From track one to track 10, it tells the story of a boy, how he grows to a man and then where he dies, when he dies and how he dies."

Until now, The Atkinsons have been strictly a Richmond act, working local venues and festivals from two to four times a month.

In an effort to get the band outside the 804, Jamie Wood, who handles booking and publicity, is exploring the potential for Atkinsons gigs in Charlottesville, Fredericksburg and Virginia Beach, as well as North Carolina.

"I think we're ready to move forward," Dickie Wood said. "But we all have families, and we don't do this as a full-time trying-to-get-signed band. We're lucky enough to be able to get together for a common type of music and play out whenever we can."

The Atkinsons
When: 1:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Shands Park, Dinwiddie
For: Gathering Soul Music Festival (starts Friday night and continues all day Saturday)
Cost: $25 donation per vehicle
Details: www.gatheringsoul.com
Also: The band will play a Richmond Roots Revival show at 10 p.m. Friday at Cary Street Café, 2631 W. Cary St., with Farm Vegas and Garland Carr. Call 353-7445 for details.

May 17, 2007
Richmond Times-Dispatch - Richmond Times-Dispatch Weekender by Bill Craig

Formed by Dickie Wood and Jeff Williams in 2003, The Atkinsons now have six members who bring a country-rock mix of guitars, mandolin, violin, percussion and vocals to local venues.

They're missing one thing, though.

Someone named Atkinson.

The band's name comes from one of Wood's pals, Gary Atkinson, who just happened to be in the right place when Wood and Williams were in need of a name for their new group.

"When Jeff and I were first starting out, we didn't have any idea of what we wanted to do," Wood said by phone. "A show came up and we needed a name. Gary was standing there, and I asked him what his last name was. I thought it sounded great. It was original, and it seemed to fit what we were doing with this kind of rootsy feel."

The first shows consisted of Wood and Williams showing up at local mikes. They've since added Kris Krull on drums, bass guitarist Ricky Breland, Mike Ferry on fiddle and Wood's wife, Jamie, on percussion and backing vocals.

File The Atkinsons' Whiskeytown- and Uncle Tupelo-influenced blend of rock and twang under A for Americana. That sound is a product of the range of experiences that each member brings to the musical table.

"I come from more of an alternative rock, punk background," Wood explained. "Coming up, that's what I always listened to and what I always tried to play in my other bands. Our violin player, Mike, is classically trained. He's from a whole different side of music. . . . Kris is a straight-ahead rock drummer, and Ricky is a funk, R&B bass player."

The debut Atkinsons CD, "American Gothic," became available in local record stores and at the group's shows in March. Listeners are advised to listen to the 10 tracks in numerical order.

"It's not just a collection of songs. It's really a storybook put to music," Wood said. "From track one to track 10, it tells the story of a boy, how he grows to a man and then where he dies, when he dies and how he dies."

Until now, The Atkinsons have been strictly a Richmond act, working local venues and festivals from two to four times a month.

In an effort to get the band outside the 804, Jamie Wood, who handles booking and publicity, is exploring the potential for Atkinsons gigs in Charlottesville, Fredericksburg and Virginia Beach, as well as North Carolina.

"I think we're ready to move forward," Dickie Wood said. "But we all have families, and we don't do this as a full-time trying-to-get-signed band. We're lucky enough to be able to get together for a common type of music and play out whenever we can."

The Atkinsons
When: 1:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Shands Park, Dinwiddie
For: Gathering Soul Music Festival (starts Friday night and continues all day Saturday)
Cost: $25 donation per vehicle
Details: www.gatheringsoul.com
Also: The band will play a Richmond Roots Revival show at 10 p.m. Friday at Cary Street Café, 2631 W. Cary St., with Farm Vegas and Garland Carr. Call 353-7445 for details.

May 17, 2007
Richmond Times-Dispatch - Richmond Times-Dispatch Weekender by Bill Craig