People ask Warren Hood a lot of questions at the end of his shows. “What was the name of that song you played – it sounded like Stephane Grappelli maybe, right after the Doug Sahm cover?” “How did you learn to play fiddle like that?” “Are you playing anywhere else this week?” “How old are you?”
The answers are usually something like, “Black Cat”, “hard work” and “listening to the right records,” “yes, definitely,” and “older than you think.”
Hood always takes the time to answer each question because that’s a part of his character. He cares about the people who purchase his records and attend his shows and works at making his performance memorable.
A multi-instrumentalist who plays violin, guitar and mandolin, and an accomplished singer- songwriter, the press describes Hood as a “virtuoso,” a “seven-time Austin Music Award winner - Best Strings,” a “Texas fiddler,” a “Chet Baker crooner” or a “bluegrass picker.”
Warren began playing classical violin at age 11. He performed in the school orchestra and later studied privately with Bill Dick. He won classical music competitions, including the Pearl Amster Youth Concerto Competition and the Austin Youth Award, which gave him the opportunity to perform as a soloist on “Lalo Symphonie Espagnole” with the Austin Symphony, conducted by Peter Bay. In high school he toured with Charlie Robison and the South Austin Jug Band.
After high school, Warren earned a rare scholarship to the Berklee College of Music where he majored in Violin Performance, played with Steven Tyler, and formed an acoustic string band called the Blue Light Special. At Berklee, Warren earned the coveted String Achievement Award, an award chosen by the faculty to honor an individual’s talent as well as a vote of confidence on their future success.
Following his time at Berklee, Warren returned to Austin and was in demand as a sideman, playing with Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis, Alejandro Escovedo and Joe Ely. He also joined The Waybacks, a band he would perform with for a decade. While performing as a sideman, Warren continued to play with the South Austin Jug Band, as a part of their Sunday night residency at Momo’s on West 6th Street in Austin. When their residency at Momo’s ended, Warren gathered a group of friends and took over Sunday nights under his own name, “The Warren Hood Band.” He released his first studio record, “Warren Hood,” an eclectic mix of songs and performances by legendary Austin players that included Marcia Ball, Cindy Cashdollar, and Ephraim Owens.
The current Warren Hood Band includes Marshall Hood and Willie Pipkin on guitar, Nate Rowe on bass and Jordan Cook on drums. The band plays every week at Austin Beer Garden Brewing, drawing a mix of “old Austin” and newcomers, musicians and music lovers, and dancers who stay on the floor from the first to last song.
In addition to performing with his band, Warren continues to perform with artists David Ball, The Bodeans, Hayes Carll, Joe Ely, Alejandro Escovedo, Robert Earl Keen, Ben Kweller, Little Feat, Lyle Lovett, Joan Osborne, Toni Price, Bob Schneider, the South Austin Jug Band, Redd Volkaert, Jerry Jeff Walker, The Waybacks, Bob Weir, and Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis.
Warren’s greatest influence is his father, Champ Hood. Champ was a member of Uncle Walt’s Band, an acoustic folk trio from Spartanburg, South Carolina that included Walter Hyatt and David Ball. They moved to Austin in 1975, which was a prime time for the zeitgeist of the Austin heyday and played at Waterloo and the Armadillo and built a cadre of lifelong fans. Their intricate harmonies and creative songwriting inspired their contemporaries, many of whom are today’s best loved and most respected songwriters and artists.
Warren Hood’s performance is part of Susanna’s Kitchen Coffeehouse Concert Series at the Wimberley United Methodist Church located at the corner of RR12 and CR1492. Tickets are $25 for adults and $5 for children. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the performance begins at 7:30. Tamales, pizza, pie, coffee and soft drinks are available for purchase. Proceeds benefit the Barnabas Connection, Bright Beginnings Preschool scholarships and other nonprofits. For information go to www.wimberleyumc. org or call Sharon at 831-6012395
