The Wood Brothers Unleash Puff of Smoke at The 9:30 Club in Washington, DC | 12.4.25
- Nate Payne
- Dec 10
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 14
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’ 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.
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
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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