VIDEOS

Devil in a Woodpile, "Shake It and Break It"

PHOTOS

NEWS

Devil in a Woodpile

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Check out Rick "Cookin'" Sherry's new band, the Sanctified Grumblers

Get their self-released CD HERE

Check out guitarist's Joel Paterson's current projects HERE

Most white folk these days be playing "the blues music" (you know, the hackneyed, soulless, tourist-blues with the wailing guitar solos and the watered-down Cream approach that appeals to all them rusting old hippies with their neatly trimmed pony tails and faded Canned Heat @ Monterey Pop T's.) Devil in a Woodpile, they play blues. They also play country. Ragtime. Hot Jazz. Hillbilly. It's all the same to them. It's all taken from the same well called American Music that existed long before wise guy marketing goons decided to categorize the whole mess.

Rick "Cookin'" Sherry is the living, breathing, vaudevillian who fronts the trio. Check out his uncanny ability to channel the blues roots of a 30's juke joint wailer through his 21st century foghorn pipes, creating an outright eerie persona; the ghost of Skip James or Robert Johnson come to life. He scrapes a washboard, pounds a marching drum with a foot pedal, and plays harmonica only like a top-notch bad ass would--all the while keepin' time with a crash symbol. But don't let his nickname lead you into thinking he's some kind of culinary expert; he's only ever cooked a few eggs.

Bassist Tom Ray learned how to play stand up from Willie Dixon. He's played with the Bottle Rockets, Waco Brothers, the Pine Valley Cosmonauts and currently is the bass player for Neko Case. He's also got a regular gig with the Blue Man Group. His hobbies are fishing (don't ask him about it, he'll tell you more than you ever wanted to know), motor sports, and maintaining his legendary utility belt--he's like some sort of bass-playin' super hero.

Guitarist Joel Paterson could quite possibly be the best guitar player in Chi-town. He's played with Kelly Hogan's jazz posse, The Wooden Leg, released his own pedal steel record (which we highly recommend) and can be found on stages all over town with anyone with the sense to let him play. We don't think Joel has any hobbies.

Devil held court at the Hideout every Tuesday night for over a decade. It was acoustic and unamplified--just like your grandaddies had to hear it--and it was a fine time. If you didn't find yourself whaling out heckles, daring them to play everything from Son House to The Zep and stomping your feet, well, quite frankly, there was probably something wrong with you.

They've also been known to set up as the backing force in the kiddie punk supergroup the Wee Hairy Beasties with Jon Langford, Sally Timms and Kelly Hogan.

"Every Tuesday night they set up shop right in the middle of the main room. No amps or mics, just balls and bravado. They play blues, ragtime, jazz, everything you could ever want. These are the kind of hangout buddies you can count on to bring the fucking hangout. There is no cover and the PBR is cheap, meaning you'll have plenty of cash to put in the band's tip jar." —Fran Magazine