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Sometime in 2002, Eric and Rolf began playing music together, noodling on guitar and bass, cobbling together some songs, and dreaming about the day they would be able to con other people into playing music with them. That summer, Eric had a song idea that involved a background vocal part containing the word “woo” sung over and over. This became “the woo song,” and the duo began calling itself the Woo-Woos. Sadly, though, this name was taken, along with just about every variation on “woo.” They were stymied.
Sometime in 2004, Jennifer joined the group, adding accordion, conga drum, and her voice to the mix. Meanwhile, a legend had grown up around the group’s two reclusive songwriters, Earnest and Bozo, who have never been seen at the same time. It was decided to name the group after them, E. B. Woo.
Although resistant to the idea of playing in front of people, Eric began to come around after witnessing a performance by Brown-o (later to be dubbed The Big Secret), featuring Ivy. Eric played a few songs for Ivy, and she graciously agreed to join the group. The band reached its initial completion with the addition of Merrill on fiddle and vocals after Eric got down on his knees and begged her to join. Her sister Ruth also joined us for a few early recordings.
The group debuted at the Twilight Tea Lounge in Brattleboro, Vermont, in January 20, 2005, and has played on average once a month since then at the Rhythm and Bean in Wilmington, In the Moment (Brattleboro), Bullseye Music (Bellows Falls), The Loft (Brattleboro), and most recently at the New Year’s By the Bay celebration in Belfast, Maine. In spring of 2005, Ivy and Merrill moved away from Brattleboro and the band and were replaced with Monica on fiddle and Kirk (sometimes) on banjo.
Folk Hideaway and Venus (both words/music by Eric) were recorded in April with our friend Tyler (Red Heart the Ticker), and Lost in the South (music by Rolf and Ruth) was recorded earlier in the year.
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