Pit-Dweller Media | Blog | Washington, D.C., United States

The Wood Brothers Unleash Puff of Smoke at The 9:30 Club in Washington, DC | 12.4.25

Nate Payne
Dec 10, 2025

Photos & Words by: Nate Payne

Last Thursday, The Wood Brothers returned to Washington, DC and transformed the 9:30 Club into a warm listening room for the release of their latest album, Puff of Smoke. The historic venue felt like the ideal home to return to for a band that has spent nearly two decades blurring the lines between Americana, folk, soul, and roots rock.

The Wood Brothers | 9:30 Club | Washington, DC | Nate Payne Photography | 12.4.25

The Wood Brothers’ set leaned confidently into new material, with selections from Puff of Smoke woven among longtime favorites. Songs like “Witness,” “Is It Up To You,” and “Pray God Listens” hushed the crowd with thoughtful, searching lyrics, their grooves simple but deeply felt. Rather than separating new songs from old, The Wood Brothers bounced effortlessly between eras, letting familiar jams frame the fresh album and allowing the new songs to settle in naturally. It was a reminder that their catalog is less a collection of albums and more an evolving conversation.

Enslow | The Recher | Towson, MD | Nate Payne Photography | 10.24.25

Chris Wood’s elastic bass lines anchored the night with a familiar swagger, while Oliver Wood’s vocals carried a weathered sincerity that echoed through the close quarters of the 9:30 Club, much like in years past. Jano Rix, equal parts percussionist and sonic architect, colored the performance with textures that kept the sound adventurous without losing its signature rootsy core. Together, the trio moved with telepathic ease, stretching songs when the moment called for it and pulling back just as quickly, always in service of feel rather than flash.

Setlist: The Wood Brothers | 9:30 Club | 12.5.25

Blue & Green

Puff of Smoke

Witness

Alabaster

Shoofly Pie

Can't get enough

Money Song

Heartbreak Lullaby

When I Was Young

Is It Up to You

The Trick

Stumbled In

Pray God Listens

The Muse

You Choose Me

Postcards From Hell

Honey Jar

Encore:

Luckiest Man

Click to listen to Puff of Smoke on Spotify

Earlier in the evening, I had the opportunity to photograph the band and watch them rehearse a few songs before they went on stage. Even in that informal setting, it was clear how intentionally they approach their live shows. After just a few minutes, you could see how special they wanted to make the night for the audience. They tested new sounds and combinations, reshaping arrangements and experimenting with ideas they’d never tried before. The green room felt less like a backstage refuge and more like a laboratory, with three true musical mad scientists dialing in details that most fans would never realize were being invented in real time, minutes before their own concert experience. That sense of care translated directly to the stage. The performance never felt forced or rehearsed, but alive and changing, as if the band were discovering new facets of the songs alongside the audience.

As The Wood Brothers continue their Puff of Smoke tour through the spring of 2026, this Washington, DC stop stood as a compelling snapshot of a band still curious, still restless, and still deeply committed to the shared experience of live music. For more information about The Wood Brothers and their tour, please check out the links below.

The Wood Brothers Social Media

The Wood Brothers | 9:30 Club | Washington, DC | Nate Payne Photography | 12.4.25

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Enslow’s Album Release Party for 'Crush' Lights Up The Recher in Towson, MD | 10.24.25

Nate Payne
Nov 9, 2025

Photos & Words by: Nate Payne

Baltimore’s rising modern-pop force, Enslow, brought a jolt of electricity to Towson last month, celebrating the release of Crush with a commanding performance at The Recher. Enslow opened the evening for regional favorites Pressing Strings, but by the time she wrapped her set, it was clear she had already carved out a spotlight of her own.

Taking the stage with the confidence of a pop-star hitting her stride, Enslow wasted no time diving into selections from CRUSH. The shimmering, slow-burn intensity of “Feels Like I'm Falling In Love” set the tone, building from intimate vocals into a soaring finale that drew the audience in close. From there, the energy only climbed. “Dizzy,” with its pulsing rhythm and infectious pop dynamics, had the room moving almost instantly - heads bobbing, feet shifting, and the first cheers bubbling up between verses.

One of the night’s unmistakable peaks came with Enslow’s bold, high-gloss cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Little Lies.” What began as a respectful nod to the original quickly transformed into a modern, synth-charged explosion of harmonies and tight instrumentation. By the final chorus, The Recher crowd was roaring with hands lifted, voices raised, and a shared sense that they were witnessing a group of performers stepping confidently into a bigger future.

What set Enslow apart throughout the night wasn’t just her polished sound, but the precision and joy with which she delivered it. Each track added another layer to the room’s energy, culminating in an eruption of cheers as the band left the stage. Opening acts rarely walk away with a near-headliner reaction, but Enslow managed exactly that.

The momentum won’t slow anytime soon. Enslow continues her 2025 run through the end of December, including a Washington, D.C. show at DC( date alongside Astronaut Class and The Soularites—a lineup poised to showcase their versatility to an even broader crowd.

If the CRUSH release show proved anything, it’s that Enslow isn’t simply emerging from Baltimore’s vibrant music scene, they’re rapidly becoming one of its defining names. With performances this captivating, audiences will be seeing a whole lot more of Enslow very soon.

Enslow Social Media

Enslow | The Recher Theatre | Towson, MD | Nate Payne Photography | 10.24.25

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Blues, Rock, and Roots: Tedeschi Trucks Band and Whiskey Myers Co-Headline Wolf Trap | 8.29.25

Nate Payne
Sep 1, 2025

Photos & Words by: Nate Payne

This past Friday, the Filene Center at Wolf Trap National Park in Vienna, Virginia, was electrified by the soulful sounds of the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Hailing from Jacksonville, Florida, the powerhouse ensemble led by the husband-and-wife duo of guitarist Derek Trucks and vocalist Susan Tedeschi brought a night of fiery musicianship and communal energy that reminded audiences why they’ve become one of the most respected live acts in modern rock and blues.

**Tedeschi Trucks Band | Wolf Trap | Nate Payne Photography | 8.29.25**

The Wolf Trap shows, two evenings co-headlined with southern rock outfit Whiskey Myers marked a highlight of the band’s extensive North American tour, which stretches through October. On Friday night, Tedeschi Trucks Band opened the co-bill, handing the Saturday night opening slot to Whiskey Myers, a clever pairing that showcased two groups carrying the torch for roots-driven American music in different but complementary ways.

**Whiskey Myers | Wolf Trap | Nate Payne Photography | 8.29.25**

What makes Tedeschi Trucks Band such a rare force is the collective spirit they channel on stage. It’s almost as if there is a solitary music hive mind always working in unison. This is no ordinary blues-rock lineup, it’s a 12-piece ensemble where every player’s contribution is essential. Derek Trucks, long hailed as one of the greatest slide guitarists of his generation, delivered shimmering solos with both technical mastery and raw emotion. By his side, Susan Tedeschi’s voice, equal parts grit, grace, and gospel carried the band’s anthems with her signature vocal power that makes her one of the greats of soul, rhythm and blues.

The band’s deep bench of talent was on full display throughout the set. Gabe Dixon’s Hammond B-3 swells and vocal harmonies added depth to the arrangements, while the trio of Mike Mattison, Mark Rivers, and Alecia Chakour brought their vocal richness that turned choruses into full-throated celebrations. Rhythm section anchors Brandon Boone on bass and the dual drummers Tyler Greenwell and Isaac Eady kept the groove both tight and expansive, giving the music a heartbeat that drives the rhythmic engine of the band. Meanwhile, the horn section, Kebbi Williams on saxophone, Elizabeth Lea on trombone, and Emmanuel Echem on trumpet, each added their own one-of-a-kind flavor to each jam.

Crazy Cry’n opened the night with a surge, setting the tone for the evening. The band covered I Feel So Bad by Chuck Willis and eventually Derek and the Dominos’ Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?. Later, Until You Remember brought a soulful, introspective moment that highlighted Tedeschi’s ability to turn a ballad into a collective emotional journey.

Set List: Tedeschi Trucks Band | Wolf Trap | 8.29.25

Crazy Cryin'

The Letter - The Box Tops cover

Who Am I

I Feel So Bad - Chuck Willis cover

Devil Be Gone

Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad? - Derek and the Dominos cover

Until You Remember

Isaac/Kebbi Jam

Let Me Get By

Future Soul

Angel From Montgomery - John Prine cover

Sugaree - Jerry Garcia cover

I Want More

Soul Sacrifice - Santana cover

I Walk on Guilded Splinters - Dr. John cover

Source: Tedeschi Trucks Instagram Artwork by: @maarten.donders

What separates Tedeschi Trucks Band from many of their peers is their ability to bridge tradition with reinvention. Their concerts are less about performing a catalog and more about creating a living, breathing musical experience one that borrows from blues, rock, jazz, and soul, but refuses to be confined by any of them.

As their Wolf Trap run concludes alongside Whiskey Myers, it’s clear that Tedeschi Trucks Band remains at the peak of their creative and performative powers. For fans, the performances were not just concerts, but a reminder of the enduring power of live music to move, uplift, and unite. Each time I see this band they bring a renewed component of musical expertise that has kept their sound fresh and dynamic for nearly two decades. For more information about Tedeschi Trucks Band, visit the links below.

Tedeschi Trucks Band Social Media

Tedeschi Trucks Band | Wolf Trap | Nate Payne Photography | 8.29.25

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