“Ready or Not”
The sixth album from Twin Cities rockers Wookiefoot, “Ready or Not”, is a funky romp through what I consider to be truths we might not always open our eyes to. At the heart of the album rests the milk of human kindness. The dance and groove Wookiefoot can’t be found without, as well as a few bagpipe tracks, can be found on top of that.
If you’re going through hell, don’t stop! Don’t stop listening either. A complete package, like a beast of a roller-coaster, “Ready or Not” plays in clear cinematic form. In part, this is due to the fact that Wookiefoot’s music is greater than the music alone — not to mention the fact that it comes complete with a movie announcer. Wookiefoot’s network of charities Be The Change sponsors organizations all over the world, tackling an extensive spread of problems affecting communities and individuals worldwide. This commitment to service is never missing from the Wookiefoot message — actually it is the Wookiefoot message.
I first heard of Wookiefoot from Jeff and Pat Phelps at Saint’s Rest Coffee House in Grinnell. They had gotten to know the band at music festivals and concerts around the Midwest. The Phelps’ notoriety with the band, though, comes primarily from their generous spirits and the fact that they always come to concerts with gallons of cold brew espresso in hand. When I saw them live in Ames, IA, everything the Phelps’ had been saying about Wookiefoot made perfect sense. For them it’s not just the music, it’s the entire experience. It’s not just the music, it’s the way you live your life.
The full album can be heard here. It can also be purchased from their website.
Listen to my interview from last year with Mark Murphy, one of Wookiefoot’s front men, as well.
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