It’s been an interesting journey for the crew that makes up Amber Wind Society. The band has had many transformations over the years. Four guitarists have come and gone. A handful of percussionists have moved through and, for a short time, a keyboardist was a part of the mix. Within this ever shifting flux and flow are Rod Pike, Bill Thompson and Amanda Joy Hogue standing solid at the core.
The band was born a couple of years after Rod and Amanda Joy met at a local coffee house. After a few jam sessions, he started inviting others to play until one stuck – guitarist Kevin Kelley. They asked him to put his feelers out for a bassist, which is how Bill Thompson came into the mix… and Amber Wind Society was born in the winter of 2000.
Each musician that’s come through has left a bit of their flavor that has added to the richness of Amber Wind Society’s sound. Their style is diverse - mixing elements of jazz, blues, folk and funk - but an inclusive spiritual undertone is the common theme that ties all of their original music together. Some of their previous band mates include Dorian Small, Michael Stone, Ryan Siler, John Shaw and Michael Solomon – all of which have moved on to enrich the music scene with other bands.
After a two year sabbatical, Amber Wind Society is back in the musical fold. Each band mate's style has evolved over AWS's down time, and with three new musicians - Bryan Briscoe, Zoe Pike and Derrick Aldridge - in the mix, the difference is sure to be noticeable... but, then again, their sound has always been changing.
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