On his first world tour OO-LI and, singer-songwriter WOODZ made the second stop of his U.S. leg at the Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco. Singing song after song in a tight two-hour show, the artist showcased rockstar vocals and energy to match. WOODZ, along with his band, treated attendees to a captivating concert that put him on our list of must-see live performers.
WOODZ first made his appearance on stage in a striking outfit, a lacy black long sleeve top underneath a black vest with long, trailing fringes in the back and ripped jeans. Opening the show, he went straight into hard-hitting songs like “Busted” and “Hijack.” As he bounded back and forth across the stage, he wildly swung his head to the music and his long bangs followed suit, emphasizing the buzzing energy he was expelling into the crowd. These songs have bite to them, one about realizing a relationship wasn’t true love and the other about “hijacking hearts” of listeners with his fresh music. His opening oozed charisma, which set the tone for the night.
In one of the greatest parts of the show, WOODZ exuded rockstar power when he performed “Who Knows” and “Dirt on My Leather,” two explosive tracks that are best experienced live. This began with the band playing a rollicking instrumental that led straight into the singer’s intense delivery of the anthemic “Who Knows.” It’s a song that’s all attitude, and WOODZ served it while leisurely grooving around the stage like he owned it. Whenever the singer hit the crowd with the chorus, “Be what I wanna / Do what I wanna / So I just keep on doin’ my own thing,” the audience fiercely chanted along.
Giving the crowd only a moment to breathe, the drummer counted the next song in with a few strikes of his cymbals before WOODZ unleashed a belt, signifying the start of the 80s rock-inspired “Dirt on My Leather.” If you’re ever in need of a pump-up song, this is it. The singer kicked up the electrifying energy another notch with his robust vocals each time he repeatedly belted, “Let’s ride and roll, all rock and roll.” As the song approached its peak, he sprinkled roaring adlibs that filled the audience with an adrenaline rush. In a way, reaching the end of these two songs felt like getting off a thrilling rollercoaster.
While WOODZ couldn’t perform every single song in his discography to the dismay of listeners, he was gracious enough to take requests from the audience and perform snippets. Some included “Pool” and “Accident,” which earned excited cheers throughout the venue. The artist fully flexed his ability to perform any song on the spot, which was made all the better with a band that knew all his music and could easily accompany him. Preparing his own surprise for the crowd, WOODZ sang a snippet of Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely” to swooning attendees. Picking up a guitar, he also performed the emotionally charged “Amnesia,” an unreleased song that is set to officially drop on December 18th. This is particularly meaningful for listeners as the singer recently announced that he is scheduled to begin his mandatory military enlistment in January 2024, likely making this upcoming release his last before service.
Arguably one of the most anticipated performances was reserved for near the end of the show: “Drowning.” Before diving into his rendition, WOODZ played an acoustic version of the song, inviting the crowd to sing the lyrics in his stead. Upon his request, the audience did not disappoint. Grasping the mic stand, the singer poured his soul into performing the raw, sorrowful song about “drowning” in one’s tears after a lover leaves. In between lyrics, the singer still managed to find time to head bang to the band, fully feeling the instrumental harmony. At the bridge, he went down on one knee to passionately plead for the return of said lover. As WOODZ cried out the last line “You’re taking my life from me,” the spotlight above the singer turned off to bathe the stage in darkness.
From start to finish, WOODZ proved his phenomenal skill as a live performer and vocal powerhouse. His entire setlist was made up of passionate and vocally impressive performances that had him belting in nearly every song, leaving listeners breathless in part due to their own fervent singing along. It’s a wonder how he made it through the night, keeping up that level of energy and vocal stability, but he delivered on all fronts with a natural charm and love for the stage and his fans. A standout performer, WOODZ put on a show to remember.
Click on the photo below to view our photos from the concert:
