After withstanding a stressful two-day separation from their lost guitars late last week, Woods played a wonderful show in Dublin, Ireland Tuesday night minus bass player Chuck van Dyck.

It was during a frazzled period of uncertainty over the whereabouts of their instruments that van Dyck learned of the passing of a grandparent, forcing his abrupt return to the states.

Van Dyck’s absence left a hole in the Woods sound, no doubt, but this is a band that has faced both planned and unexpected touring challenges with aplomb. Van Dyck joined the band early this year on short notice just before the first stretch of US dates in support of With Light and With Love. He fit in nicely immediately which allowed Jarvis Taveniere to concentrate on the lush backing guitar sounds heard on Light/Love. Many of the songs from that record don’t work without the full band. .

But these types of bumps in the road sometimes happen when a band goes on tour. Vans break down, etc.

In this case, Woods got the double whammy of losing their bass player and not knowing where their gear was with nine dates remaining on a 25-city European tour.

While the smallish Dublin audience was denied the chance to see and hear many of the gems off Light/Love, I really enjoyed the sight of Taveniere strapping on the bass for several numbers. It brought back memories of an earlier Woods period when versatility was used to great advantage by the rotation of Taveniere and Kevin Morby between bass and drums.

Woods drummer Aaron Neveu played harmonica on Cali in a Cup although it took the sound man half the song the turn up Neveu’s mike. It was still great, though, given the sight of something new.

The lost instrument fiasco occurred when the band flew to Bergen, Norway from Paris with a stop in Barcelona. It’s customary for Jeremy Earl, Taveniere and van Dyck to carry on their instruments when they fly. Stowage is sometimes tricky but frontman Earl said never had an airline required all pieces to go in the hold below as checked luggage until a representative of Vueling Airlines made that demand shortly before the band departed Paris. The band was charged a 450 euros “musical instrument fee” said Earl.

Perhaps it was the short 30-minute connect time in Barcelona between planes but when Woods got to Bergen, their checked items wasn’t there. Earl says the airline was difficult to communicate with in the early stages of the search process. The band played the Bergen show with borrowed instruments and Earl says the gig didn’t go well. Earl says there was thought given to scrapping the tour if the instruments weren’t located but on the band’s return to Paris, they were located. One of Earl’s guitars had been badly damaged.

The 550-capacity venue Button Factory in Temple Bar was just ok. It didn’t have the character I’d have expected from an Irish establishment. The inside was spacious and comfortable but if you looked around, it could have been anywhere. It looked more like a dance club. A David Bowie cover band named Rebel Rebel plays there Thursday. The venue’s online promotional blurb touting the show said this was the first ever appearance by Woods in Ireland. That’s actually not the case as both the band and show attendee Fergus say Woods played in Dublin five years ago. Pint beers at the Button Factory were 6 euros give or take half a euro which is the going rate in Temple Bar.

I flew to Toulouse on Wednesday out of Dublin on Aer Lingus. It was a nice ride. Under two hours. My friend Jacques greeted me at the airport. Lots of cold bieres were enjoyed as we started to explore this vibrant city in the southwest of France. The night ended with a great bash at Chez Jacques attended by a warm and welcoming crew of his pals.