The Wooden Birds

Following his 2008 return to Texas, his home state, Andrew Kenny—previously the driving force behind American Analog Set—launched the Wooden Birds as a side project. The group produced a rustic sound that infused Kenny’s earlier style with Neil Young influences while echoing likeminded artists such as Bon Iver and Iron & Wine. Their debut album, Magnolia, appeared in May 2009 on Barsuk Records and featured contributions from Ola Podrida, David Wingo, Leslie Sisson of American Analog Set, and Michael Bell, the drummer from Lymbyc Systym. By the June 2011 release of the follow-up Two Matchsticks, the lineup had coalesced around the core of Kenny and Sisson plus new members Matt Pond and Sean Haskins, with an additional appearance by Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard.