In between Bonnaroo and Austin City Limits gigs, the Deep Dark Woods swung their summer festival tour through the capital, helping close out week one of the Ottawa Bluesfest. Looking stoic, tepid and parched upon the festival's Black Sheep Stage, the Saskatoon quartet faced the relatively large but spread-out crowd, mostly seated upon the grounds' torched and straw-like lawn.
Anchored by Chris Mason and Lucas Goetz's rubbery rhythm section, Geoff Hilhorst's gorgeous organ tone allowed Ryan Boldt and Burke Barlow to stretch out on dual guitar, giving their material a languid and wandering feel.
By the time the group launched into "All the Money I Had Is Gone" mid-set, the audience looked completely enamoured with the Deep Dark Woods' woolly persona, as giddy teenagers and lawn-chaired baby boomers took to their feet. As their wildly received hour-long set crept into extra minutes with the traditional gospel hymn, "And We Bid You Goodnight," vocalist Boldt could no longer hide behind his compulsory languor, letting a smile crack from beneath his sun-drenched beard.
Anchored by Chris Mason and Lucas Goetz's rubbery rhythm section, Geoff Hilhorst's gorgeous organ tone allowed Ryan Boldt and Burke Barlow to stretch out on dual guitar, giving their material a languid and wandering feel.
By the time the group launched into "All the Money I Had Is Gone" mid-set, the audience looked completely enamoured with the Deep Dark Woods' woolly persona, as giddy teenagers and lawn-chaired baby boomers took to their feet. As their wildly received hour-long set crept into extra minutes with the traditional gospel hymn, "And We Bid You Goodnight," vocalist Boldt could no longer hide behind his compulsory languor, letting a smile crack from beneath his sun-drenched beard.