Inside Manhattan's Music Scene: Woodridge & their Unique Journey

Woodridge, a local band in Manhattan, Kansas poses for a photoshoot. Courtesy: Woodridge

Listen to the full interview with Woodridge on Wildcat 91.9

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In a lively interview on the Wildcat 91.9 Morning Mix-Up show, host Dawson Wagner sat down with the members of Woodridge, a local band from Manhattan, Kansas, to discuss their experiences with the local music scene and their efforts to invigorate it. The band members—Paul, Ben, Justin, and Joey—shared their journey from high school musicians to a band making waves in the Little Apple.

Woodridge has been actively performing at various venues, including a recent gig at the beginning of the semester on Bosco Plaza. Each band member shared their musical background. Paul, the lead guitarist, has been playing for over six years and has a history of playing with Justin and Joey since high school.

Paul described this band as "our first real go with original music and definitely our most successful band."

Ben, the drummer and newest member, joined last September and has been playing drums for about eight years. He noted that joining Woodridge was his first experience in a regular band setting. Justin, the frontman and rhythm guitarist, has been passionate about singing and songwriting for several years. Joey, Justin's twin brother and bassist, started writing music with Justin about a year ago.

The band's sound evolved from classic rock to alternative rock, largely influenced by Paul's music taste. Justin recounted how Paul introduced him to alternative rock: "He showed me his music...and that really got me into alternative rock," which shaped their current style.

Despite challenges in recording due to time constraints and perfectionism, Woodridge has managed to post live videos on YouTube to share their music with fans. They have only released one live album so far but have enough material for two albums. "There's been different reasons [for delays], like time not adding up," Justin admitted.

Woodridge poses for a photo after their Morning-Mix Up Interview on Wildcat 91.9

The band also discussed the local music scene in Manhattan. They noted the limited number of venues hosting live music and expressed a desire for more opportunities for younger bands. "There's not much," Paul observed about the local scene. "We wish that there was more." Despite these challenges, they remain hopeful about revitalizing the scene and are grateful for venues like Yard Bar, Annie Mae's and The Press that support local artists.

Woodridge shared anecdotes from their performances, including stories of broken guitar strings and snare drums during gigs. They highlighted their favorite covers to perform, such as "Yellow" by Coldplay and "Kilby Girl" by The Backseat Lovers.

Joey recalled learning "Yellow" quickly for their first performance "I had to learn it in like an hour...and it still sounded really good."

In terms of promotion, Woodridge primarily uses Instagram to connect with fans but acknowledges the challenges of gaining visibility without extensive social media presence. They aim to maintain a professional image while avoiding what they consider "cringe" content. Justin humorously noted that while other bands might post frequent reels, they prefer to keep things more polished: "We don't post those... but I love the other bands creativity."

Looking ahead, Woodridge is excited about upcoming performances and hopes to continue contributing to Manhattan's music scene. They encourage local support at events like their Auntie Mae's band competition performance on September 26, 2024. To find out more about Woodridge, visit their instagram to learn future performances.