Warren Hood
(Good Dinner)We’ve known Warren Hood forever. He’s graced Austin stages since his teens, gaining notoriety with the South Austin Jug Band and Toni Price. Still a member of San Francisco-based jam-grass quartet the Waybacks, the local fiddler’s first solo work is a beauty. His top-notch band, including the multifaceted guitar of Andrew Nafziger, as well as a wondrous array of guest shots from Marcia Ball, Cindy Cashdollar, Ephraim Owens, Casper Rawls, and too many more allow Hood to achieve an expert jazz/blues/bluegrass fusion. One obvious influence is Austin’s Uncle Walt’s Band, which featured his late father, Champ, and Walter Hyatt, both of whose tunes the younger Hood takes to sweetly. His own compositions match that level commendably; “When You Are Near” positively jumps, and “Black Cat” is a stellar slice of gypsy swing. It’s in his genes, of course, but an old Austin vibe lives on in and intoxicates Hood’s music.
This article appears in John McCain.