Wovenhand is an alternative country band from Denver, Colorado led by former 16 Horsepower frontman David Eugene Edwards. Wovenhand’s Americana Goth music combines influences from Southern gothic, old-time music, folk music, gospel music, and rock and roll. Middle Eastern music is also a big part of the Wovenhand sound. Conceptually and lyrically, Wovenhand reflects Edwards’ strong Christian faith.
The band began in 2001 as a solo project for Edwards while 16 Horsepower was taking a temporary hiatus. Woven Hand’s first live shows were performed by Edwards and multi-instrumentalist Daniel McMahon; the self-titled debut album was released in 2002 on Glitterhouse Records. Performances following this record featured Edwards, McMahon, drummer Ordy Garrison and cellist Paul Fonfara. 2003 saw the release of Blush Music, the score to a dance performance mostly composed of reworked material from the first record. Touring behind this album featured Shane Trost replacing Fonfara.
Monica Kendrick of the Chicago Reader put it best: “Much of the country’s Americana, roots rock, and alt-country may exist in living homage to what Greil Marcus famously called the “old, weird America” (as if America had somehow ceased to be weird)—but I’ve always got my ear out for the present-day weird America. It’s been exported out and brought back to us for decades; consider that strange, shamanic strain of country-gothic swagger from the likes of Fields of the Nephilim (Brits) and early/mid-period Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds (mostly Aussies). If you put that sort of mysticism and grandeur into the hands of a crack band led by a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist of the caliber of 16 Horsepower veteran David Eugene Edwards—who knows American music from the bones up and whose visionary, mystical Christianity is absolutely sincere—you get Wovenhand, who I think are the greatest band this genre has produced to date.”
Edwards previous band, 16 Horsepower, has such a huge cult following that he is often confronted by fans who question the demise of the band. “When we play concerts, everyone wants to hear older songs, 16 Horsepower songs or whatever, which I completely understand; that’s not a problem. But most of the time, I can’t do it because I’m not in that place anymore. I don’t even think in the same terms spiritually so the lyrics… I have come to a better understanding what the Gospel is.”
