Gentlemen of the Woods
Gentlemen of the Woods share their new single "Worst Kind of Weather," a road worn anthem of perseverance and open highway that captures the band at the height of their storytelling powers. Drawn from their third album 'November Embers,' the track distils everything that has made the Ottawa group a standout draw across the Capital region into one warm, rolling, deeply human performance.
Written by lead vocalist Doug Taylor with the band, "Worst Kind of Weather" follows a long-haul driver through the wide Canadian night, finding companionship in the static of the radio and the rhythm of the road. The song's central refrain carries its quiet resolve, as Taylor sings, "I've been rollin' at night in the worst kind of weather, with the airwaves and the same oldies songs, and if this ride don't bring us together, keep movin' on, yeah, keep movin' on." It is a sentiment that lands as both a traveller's mantra and a meditation on staying the course, anchored by the kind of melodic craftsmanship the band has built its reputation on.
The single's sense of place is unmistakably Canadian, threading real geography through its verses with mentions of Thunder Bay, Kenora's lakes, and the stretch of highway this side of Winnipeg. That specificity gives the track its grounding, turning a familiar trucker's tale into something vivid and lived in, and offering listeners a portrait of the country observed from behind the wheel.
"Worst Kind of Weather" arrives as part of a bold new chapter for Gentlemen of the Woods. Recorded with collaborator and longtime friend Jeff Watkins at Breezehill North Studio in Ottawa over the winter of 2025 and 2026, 'November Embers' marks the band's move toward a more expansive, electrified sound. Recording in layers and chasing the warm, rich texture of their ideal live performances, the band reached beyond the banjo and upright bass of their earlier work toward richer instrumentation and bolder production, with newly added lead guitarist Mike Zikovitz lending fresh fire to the arrangements.
The band describes 'November Embers' as equal parts revelry and elegy, a soundtrack to a well lived life. Its ten songs, some old and some new, reflect on the past, cherish loved ones and friends, and dream of a promising future, gathered like points of light watched into the winter sky. "Worst Kind of Weather" sits comfortably within that emotional landscape, its forward motion mirroring the album's spirit of moving onward with heart and conviction.
Listen on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/album/1NtTRhEATI1lj7AjzpkAer?si=gsvKV6cKSKOhCwzp2efbTw&utm_source=mistmail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=gootw&nd=1&dlsi=e2e8cc7b6a14461d
Gentlemen of the Woods began nearly a decade ago as a long simmering idea among friends, and quickly earned a coveted place in the Ottawa scene with an outpouring of catchy, old time inspired songs. Their sound has grown steadily ever since, blending the classic folk-rock influences of The Byrds and The Band with the modern sensibilities of Wilco, Dawes, and the Avett Brothers. Their first two releases, produced by Ottawa's Dave Draves at Little Bullhorn Studio, gathered close to 100,000 streams across platforms and set the stage for the expanded ambition on display today.
Built on tight musicianship, deep connection, and song first arrangements, Gentlemen of the Woods have made a name for emotionally resonant storytelling and a powerful live show that consistently fills venues of all sizes. With Doug Taylor on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Geoff Cass on backing vocals and rhythm guitar, Mike Zikovitz on lead guitar, Ryan Davies on backing vocals and bass, and Mario Carlucci on drums and percussion, the band carries that chemistry into every note of "Worst Kind of Weather."
https://gentlemenofthewoods.bandcamp.com/album/november-embers
