It’s a present these in attendance will always remember. Any present on the Mom Church of Nation Music tends to tackle that side. However for Southern rock stalwarts The Metal Woods and their most devoted followers, their bought out present on the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville Friday night time (11-22) took on particular significance. After almost 10 years of touring and 4 critically-acclaimed albums, it was time for them to take their ultimate bow.
In March of this yr, singer, songwriter, and guitarist Wes Bayliss let or not it’s recognized that he was retiring from the street, and so would The Metal Woods. It wasn’t as a result of lack of demand, or not discovering essential reward, or every other trigger out of their management. In accordance with Bayliss, it was as a result of him rising nearer of God, and eager to focus his life extra on his religion shifting ahead.
“The Bible talks concerning the ones which can be neither chilly or scorching being lukewarm and that’s been me for a extremely very long time,” Bayliss says in a press release. “I discover that issues develop into simpler once we cease making an attempt to justify what we do looking for private achieve and begin looking for God’s will for our lives and actually trusting in him to make a means and lead us by means of it.”
And so Bayliss introduced that after a ultimate run of reveals that led to Friday’s Ryman efficiency, The Metal Woods could be calling it quits.
Looming massive over this resolution was the dying of The Metal Woods co-founder and guitarist Jason “Rowdy” Cope. Proper earlier than the band launched their album All of Your Stones in 2021, Jason Cope died from issues from diabetes on the age of 42. Beforehand enjoying with Jamey Johnson and others, Rowdy’s passing hit the unbiased nation group arduous.
With the blessings of the household and after some soul looking out, The Metal Woods determined to proceed on with guitarist Tyler Powers sliding into the lead guitar spot. Together with bassist Johnny Stanton and drummer Isaac Senty in the latest lineup, The Metal Woods had risen close to the highest of the Southern rock style. The band additionally launched the well-regarded album On Your Time in October of 2023, with Bayliss stepping up into the first songwriting place.
However you might inform it was arduous on Bayliss to soldier on with out Rowdy. That’s why for the ultimate music, Jason “Rowdy” Cope’s telecaster, in addition to his hat was introduced out on stage. Jason “Rowdy” Cope and Wes Bayliss who’d based The Metal Woods had been reunited as soon as extra.
“Final night time on the Ryman was nothing wanting magical,” The Metal Woods posted Saturday night. “To the followers who bought out this iconic venue and stuffed it with love, thanks for making this ultimate present unforgettable. Collectively, we celebrated the music, the recollections, and the legacy of our brother Jason ‘Rowdy’ Cope, whose spirit will perpetually information this band.”
As we’ve seen time and time once more in music, by no means say by no means in relation to reunions or outright reunifications for albums or excursions. It’s confirmed silly to assume “perpetually” will stick in music. The Metal Woods depart the music enterprise of music on high, and on their phrases, with a robust legacy of songs, albums, and performances behind them.
However whether or not they come again or not, The Metal Woods had been right here, and so they left their mark. And with the braying Telecaster of Rowdy nonetheless ringing in our ears, the croons of Wes Bayliss nonetheless resonating off the partitions, and the immortal phrases of their songs nonetheless alive in our souls, The Metal Woods will reside on.
