So much can happen in a year. And nothing could be any truer for Rosewood Ghosts.

When Patch last spoke with the Hoboken rock band, they were promoting their debut record with a couple of music videos. But over the past year, lap steel player Eric Walden and keyboardist Adam Weissman have left, leaving the band to go on to record their sophomore album with only five members.

"It's been a year of transition but we plan to put the good foot forward," guitarist Jamie DiTringo told Patch before Rosewood Ghosts' performance at Maxwell's on Thursday evening.

While they were known for the complex yet harmonious arrangement and layering of sounds, guitarist Saul Slotnick isn't worried about the fact that slimming down the band size will keep them away from making great rock and roll. "There's more breathing room in the songs," Slotnick said. "Not every silence is filled with something. We let silences speak for themselves, and it's more clearer sounding."

Even though it's great to have some breathing room in a song, there's on key component that's needed in every band -- the drummer. And Rosewood Ghosts sole rhythm Matt Teitelman was playing his last show with the band that night and will be pursuing new projects. And because it was Teitelman's last show, the band really made sure to make that night's show special. With 12-song set list (one of the newer songs was cut due to time), Rosewood Ghost fans had a good amount of time to hear Teitelman play in the band.

Kicking their set off with "Wait for You," it was as if I was propelled back to that music video shoot back in August, especially since it was the song that introduced me to the band. Even though the sound on that song was a bit nuanced due to the lack of particular instruments, there was no denying the improvement in sound quality. You would have thought they were playing for a theater with thousands opposed to the more modest sized Maxwell's stage. But either way, it made for one great show.

Pumped with the crowd's enthusiasm and their love for performing, Rosewood Ghosts played a mix of old and debuted two new songs, "Dance Pants" and "The Leprechaun's Bounty," which showed their willingness to experiment with the idea of what rock and roll is. For instance, Steve Brown's bass playing on "Dance Pants" gave a nice funk groove that made you feel like you made you think of the old days of Motown.

They also made sure to throw in a few covers into the mix with "No Matter What" by Badfinger and "Higher and Higher" by Jackie Wilson, which singer Joe Montague blew out of the water with his flawlessly strong vocals. Each cover was so on point that you couldn't help but either sing or dance along.

With yet another great performance under their belts, DiTringo believes that the band still has room to progress, especially with their new record hopefully releasing in a month. "The best song is not written yet," he said. "That's why this new release is a conscious effort to go into the realm of consolidated, concise type of rock."

"We were never a three-minute song band," Slotnick added. "We're trying to be less selfish and let the songs speak for themselves."

And as for a new drummer, they will be looking for a new one soon. But if you think you have the chops to join Rosewood Ghosts, the band said their open to checking out new talent.