Grist for the Mill: WoodMill Band Blends the Best of the Valley

By Mary Andersen and Julie Horner

There’s something about the Santa Cruz Mountains that brings musicians together. When local songwriter Dave Miller joins longtime friends and fellow mountain players, something magic happens. That spirit has taken shape in WoodMill, a new band blending country, rock, and Americana into a sound as natural as the redwoods surrounding them.

“I’ve been performing solo shows in the Bay Area as Nomad,” Miller says. “My full band Drifting Compass has been on an indefinite hiatus. Along with solo shows and WoodMill, I’ve also been backing my friends Pattie Gilbert and Peter Stroet in a trio called Pattie Gilbert & The Wanderlust.”

For Miller, collaboration has always been at the heart of his music. His roots in the SLV scene go back to the mid-2000s when he founded Drifting Compass, a band devoted to original songs. “Around 2006, I met Erik Rozite, and we both wanted to start full bands to perform our own material,” he recalls. “He started Acoustic Shadows and I started Drifting Compass. When one of us booked a show, it was natural to invite the other to share the stage.”

The two bands became so intertwined that audiences sometimes mixed them up. “We played so many shows together that folks would get the two bands confused,” Miller laughs. Regular gigs at Henfling’s, Joe’s Bar, The Trout Farm, and Don Quixote’s defined a lively era for Valley music.

“For the first five years, we played 100% original songs and no covers,” he says proudly. “It amazes me that we pulled that off and still got steady bookings with great audience response.”

The Birth of WoodMill

Rooted in friendship and shaped by years of shared music, WoodMill carries forward a beloved Valley tradition — friends coming together to make music for the joy of it. L to r: Peter Stroet, Dave Miller, Paul Stevens, Sean Woodward

The idea for WoodMill grew from a long-standing musical friendship. “Early on, Drifting Compass shared a show at Don Quixote’s with The Rayburn Brothers and GRAIN,” Miller recalls. “Sean Woodward was a guitarist in GRAIN, and that’s how we met.”

Their paths crossed often in the close-knit mountain music world. “I’d always thought about starting a band with a country-rock flavor, like the Rolling Stones when they leaned country,” Miller says. “Ever since meeting him, Sean was at the top of my list for that kind of project.”

In early 2024, Miller began inviting Woodward to sit in on solo gigs. “I could toss any song at him live, and he’d roll with it, adding great textures and solos,” he says. “Those shows were billed as Nomad, but I told him it’d be nice to start an official project that reflected his contribution.”

When it came time to pick a name, it fell into place. “We were in a pinch,” Miller says, “and with his last name being Woodward and mine Miller, WoodMill just stuck.”

To round out the sound, they called drummer Paul Stevens, another Valley veteran. “Sean and I wanted percussion, and Paul was the first and only person we called,” Miller explains. “I’ve known him since the early Drifting Compass days, when we shared shows with Acoustic Shadows, Paul’s old band. Fortunately, he agreed right away.”

The lineup was completed with Peter Stroet, a member of local Beatles tribute band The Paperback Ryders. “I’ve known Peter for about 20 years, from open mics at The Poet & The Patriot in Santa Cruz,” Miller says. “He blew my mind right away. My nickname for him was ‘The Secret Weapon,’ while others called him ‘The Flying Dutchman,’ since he’s from Holland.”

When Stroet came to rehearsals with his upright bass, harmonica, and harmonies, the sound clicked. “I was thrilled when he kept coming back and adding to the vibe,” Miller says.

Each member brings a distinct touch. “Sean is very talented with both guitar and mandolin,” Miller says. “Whether it’s his Telecaster or the mandolin, he adds great licks and textures, including beautiful slide work.” Stroet’s harmonies and multi-instrumental skills add depth, while Stevens provides rhythmic range, shifting from a stripped-down kit to a full setup depending on the venue.

“When you’ve admired and been friends with someone for years and then get to be in a band with three of them at once, it’s an exhilarating feeling,” Miller reflects. “When everyone focuses on serving the song instead of the ego, it elevates everything — and it shows in the performances.”

WoodMill’s set list blends Miller’s originals with hand-picked covers that fit their country-rock style. “We focus on songs with a country-rock, Americana vibe — from artists like Turnpike Troubadours, Fred Eaglesmith, and Neil Young,” Miller says. “But we also throw in surprise versions of Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, and even Michael Jackson. Crowds have been loving it.”

Though still new, WoodMill’s chemistry and shared history give their performances an instant spark. “I look forward to the song list evolving into one with a full and solid WoodMill stamp on it,” Miller said. 

Catch WoodMill live at The River Run at Brookdale Lodge on Saturday, December 13 from 7:00 to 10:00 pm.

Follow on Facebook: @woodmillband | Email: woodmillband@gmail.com