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the CD:
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Australia and many independent retail music stores throughout California.
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Press
Special thanks to all the writers
from all around the world for their support in print!
Massive thanks to Dan Jacobson, Editor, and Pat Kramer, Writer!!!
By Pat Kramer
March 2010
In these tough economic times when small blues clubs are closing and most musicians are scraping by, bluesman Brad Wilson is hanging tough. Playing 150 live shows a year and with his 16th album set to record in March, the songwriter/guitarist is optimistic about the future. Noting Derek Trucks' recent Grammy for Contemporary Blues Album and Bonnie Raitt's nomination into the Blues Hall of Fame, Brad says, "This opens up the blues to a lot of people who may not be familiar with it and allows a songwriter like myself to reach a much larger audience."
The prolific songwriter from Central CA is probably best known for his session guitar and scoring work on director John Carpenter's 1998 cult film "Vampires," which won a Saturn Award for its soundtrack. Brad also played on the 2001 sequel, "Ghosts of Mars," while his music was used on the popular NBC daytime TV show, "Soap Opera Passions." And while he was financially successful as a session guitarist, he wanted to take his music to a new level to reach audiences face to face.
So after recording his first solo album, produced by the famous Robb brothers of Cherokee Studios in Hollywood, Brad formed a band and took to the road playing the blues circuits around the country. In the south, he shared billing with local blues artists Walter Trout and Coco Montoya. His style then incorporated a combination of influences of West Coast Blues influences from the Oakland factory and shipyard workers with role models: B.B. King, Buddy Guy, James Cotton and John Lee Hooker, whom he heard as a young man attending shows at Bill Graham's Fillmore West.
In the course of playing the Southern circuit, a profound change took place in Brad's sound. He describes it in this way, "I could feel the pull of America's roots music and just playing in those clubs changed the way I performed and felt the blues. Instead of being a Hollywood session guitarist playing the blues, I began to develop a new sound that was more authentic."
Returning to Hollywood after some time on the road, Brad stopped in to Performance Guitars where he had the opportunity to meet with its owners. Master guitar builders Yasu and Kuni showed him a Fender Stratocaster that they had built from spare parts as a loaner guitar. When he began playing the guitar, he was astounded by the tone it emitted, quite unlike his Gibson Les Paul. "It reminded me of the blues tone and blues sounds that I had grown up listening to. That guitar changed everything by helping me recreate them. Now the tone was there and I knew I could [put on a better show] by giving that to the audience." And with that, he convinced them to sell him his guitar which is now his 'main guitar' and the one he uses for all his live shows.
Over the last seven years, Brad has worked consistently bringing the blues to audiences all over the western states. Joining Brad, who is the front man and guitarist, are band members Brian Beal on bass, drummer Adam Gust of "The Red Elvises," Kirk Nelson on keyboards, "Tumbleweed" on blues harp, and Scott Bolsta on sax. The band plays festivals, motorcycle rallies, clubs and casinos every week plus special events like Laughlin's "Blues and Brews" Festival, April 2 - 4, 2010 and Laughlin's "River Run" April 21 - 24, 2010.
Last year, Brad released his 15th album, Blues Alive, which has garnered positive reviews from critics and fans. His previous CD, Power Blues Guitar yielded the single, "I Can't Quit You Babe," which was voted by listeners of "The Electric Blues Radio Show" their #1 pick for September 2009.
Presently, DMX Music is featuring three of his songs on their 'Rock and Blues' channel, which reaches an estimated 80 million listeners worldwide. As any working musician will tell you, it's not just 'luck' that accounts for an artist's success: It's an ongoing combination of consistent performances, a good attitude, making the right connections, and staying close to your fan base. And yet, Brad Wilson attributes it to being 'lucky enough' to have gotten so many breaks in his career. Luck's got nothing to do with it.
Yes, he had help along the way: Being hired as lead guitarist for blues singer Kathi McDonald, known for her scintillating background vocals on the Rolling Stones' Exile on Main Street clearly didn't hurt. By touring with her, Brad got to learn how hard it can be to make a living as a blues artist but he also got to play at the best blues clubs and festivals throughout the Western U.S. when he was just out of high school.
Recalling the high points in his career, Brad views his TV and film work as financially rewarding. But the real high for him is in playing live shows where he can connect with his audiences in the cities and rural towns across California, and in staying in touch with those whom he meets. That's the most rewarding part for him. "The memories of my live shows stay with me all the time," says Brad. "I hope to be able to play music right up to the last day of my life. That would be a dream come true!"
Marketing the Blues:
To reach his fans, Brad Wilson uses a number of innovative communication tools accessible from his website, www.bradwilsonlive.com. This includes a blog (or "Journal") where he posts comments about each show thanking club owners, DJs, fans and band members.
He also uses "JoggleBug," which is like an audio version of his blog. By calling into a phone number, he can record live messages to his fans, which is then uploaded on his website. Says Brad, "I'm very excited about the Internet and the possibilities for communication. It's a great way to stay in touch with people."
For international blues fans, his website features translation software which changes the text on his website into their language of choice, including Greek, Icelandic and Hebrew, to name a few. This function is extremely effective in bridging the language gap since the blues scene is a worldwide phenomenon.
For those who can't make it to shows, they can watch video clips of live performances from Cozy's in Los Angeles to the band's TV performances. On March 2nd, the website will debut the band's September '09 performance at Eureka's "Blues by the Bay" festival, something Brad is particularly excited about sharing with his fans.
To hear the Brad Wilson Band's music, there is a "Live Streaming" function ('Jukebox') which plays a continuous rotation of over two dozen recordings. If you want to order a single, you can purchase it from ITunes, right from the website, then download it to your MP3 player or have a CD shipped directly to your door.
While some artists might be concerned about listeners stealing music, Brad is non plussed saying, "Friends and fans are welcome to it. "I think it's exciting that they want my music. Since I own the rights, I don't mind people listening to it. It's my way of making my music more widely accessible to the people who enjoy it."
Special thanks to one of California's Top Music Writers,
Jim Harrington
I give this CD, my highest rating, Five *****
Excellent CD... Thoroughly enjoyed it... Highly Recommended...
Brad Wilson has been in the business of the Blues, Country Blues, and Blues Rock for quite a while now and perhaps more than anyone else, he has shown nothing but an undying dedication, commitment, and love of those genres. This dedication, commitment, and love are what you will find first and foremost in Brad Wilson's album, "Blues Alive".
"Blues Alive" consists of 11 Tracks, all recorded live in Los Angeles at the world famous Blues Club Cozy's, of which 7 are covers. This of course can make or break an Artist, but it doesn't seem to faze Brad whom burns through them with an intensity and expertise that shows he has learned his craft well with 30+ years of musicianship under his belt.
From I'm Tore Down to Born Under A Bad Sign, and from Pride And Joy to Sweet Home Chicago, Brad doesn't miss a beat doing nothing less then paying homage to the greats that originally wrote the songs and doing so in a fashion that would make them proud.
4 of the tracks on "Blues Alive" are written by Brad and are titled Last Call, I'm Still Breathin', Somethin' Goin' On and All Kinds of a Fool. These four tracks comprise a good mix of Soulful Blues, (Last Call and I'm Still Breathin') and straight ahead Blues/Rock, (Somethin' Goin' On and All Kinds of a Fool), with my personal favorite being Somethin' Goin' On. All these four tracks show off another side of Brad and that is his ability to not only play a mean guitar, but to also write solid and very catchy songs.
Behind every great Artist there is of course the rest of the amazing musicians that bring it all together. This album is absolutely no different in that regard and include the following:
Keys - Kirk Nelson, Sax - Joe Robb, Bass - Oscar Huguet, and Drums - Thaxter Daggs
I have always loved live albums, ever since first hearing Frampton Come Alive!, and I especially love those that make you feel that you are sitting right there in the audience, with everyone else, Brad Wilson's "Blues Alive" gives you exactly that feeling.
Whether this is your first introduction to Brad Wilson or if you have been following him for years, "Blues Alive" is must have CD and a testament to what happens when you truly believe in and love what you doing.
Review by John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network)
By Rich Freedman
Vallejo Times-Herald staff writer
Most musicians with an eye on fame and fortune in California gravitate to the Bay Area or the heart of the industry in Los Angeles.
Brad Wilson ended up in Visalia. Intentionally. After doing the San Francisco and Hollywood thing.
“It’s in the center of the state. Three hours to Sacramento, three to Los Angeles,” Wilson explained.
And when you’re a hard-core blues player constantly on the road, the road less traveled is, well, the road less traveled.
“Coming back to a small town has its plusses,” Wilson said. “Traffic, for one.”
Wilson packs his equipment and his band and heads North for a Halloween night show at Crown Billiards in San Ramon and a debut performance at Gentleman Jim’s in Vallejo on Nov. 7.
He’ll be so close to his native San Francisco, he could almost smell the fog.
“The difference between the Bay Area and Los Angeles is that here, you feel connected and more involved,” Wilson said. “The Bay Area makes you feel like you’re at home. I’m not saying anything against Los Angeles, but you never totally get that feeling. People are moving there from all over the world to pursue their careers. It’s very transient. You can live there a long time and you may not feel like it’s your home. You come back to San Francisco and you immediately feel at home.”
Not that Wilson didn’t have his success in Hollywood. His music ended up in several soundtracks for film director John Carpenter plus a few TV shows. Then there were those “glam” years in the 1980s.
“That was pretty incredible,” Wilson said. “It was a lot of fun and over the top and excessive in image.”
Because millions of records were sold during that era, “it became the new Gold Rush in California,” Wilson said. “When I moved down there, I had a chance to work with Gene Simmons of ‘KISS.’ That was interesting. He wanted everyone to change their name. Then w worked with Alice Cooper’s producer and he wanted us to change our look.”
Ultimately, “we were jeans and T-shirts, what musicians want to wear,” Wilson said. “It’s not what Hollywood had in mind.”
All these years later, he’s still at it with his trusty Les Paul guitar, hitting the clubs, the theaters and even Yosemite National for an encore performance at Lodge at the Falls.
“I’m thrilled to get some work. It is tough out there,” Wilson said. “It’s tough for these rooms to keep hiring musicians. The first area cut back is entertainment. They have to have a bartender.”
The business is rebounding, if ever so slowly, Wilson said.
“It is a fun experience, coming out and seeing musicians play,” he said. “You do have to be a lot more focused. Clearly, people want to know what they’re getting when they go out.”
Because of travel costs, Wilson said his band plays California as much as possible.
“It is a huge state,” he said. “There’s a lot going on.”
The upcoming San Ramon gig should be interesting, Wilson said.
“The one thing about Halloween parties, if they’re good ones. They give away cash prizes for the best costume, so people take it seriously,” he said. “They show up in very elaborate costumes. You look at it from the stage and it’s like Mardi Gras.”
Unfortunately, Wilson said, “moving gear doesn’t allow us to get too out there with costumes. We just show up and play.”
Though a devoted student of the guitar, Wilson said he’s “gotten more into” entertaining and song writing.
“What I learned from Hollywood is that ‘the song rules,’” Wilson said.
Thank you to Laura Newell at the Folsom Telegraph!
Brad Wilson sings the blues at free concert
By Laura Newell, Telegraph Correspondent
Courtesy
Brad Wilson, a blues singer, will perform at the free concert series from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20 at the El Dorado Hills Town Center.
KNOW AND GO
What: Thursday evening concert
Where: El Dorado Hills Town Center at the Steven Young Amphitheater
When: 6-8 p.m., Aug. 20
Cost: Free
Info: eldoradohillstowncenter.com
---
A rockin’ summer for El Dorado Hills will end with the blues on Thursday, Aug. 20, at the Town Center.
Singer, songwriter and guitarist Brad Wilson, 49, will conclude the 10-week free Thursday evening concert series at El Dorado Hills Town Center next week with a variety of blues music with a rock and roll twist.
“We are doing a rockin’ blues sound,” Wilson said.
Wilson will perform with his four-piece band that includes him on guitar and vocals, a keyboard player and a rhythm and bass section.
“We like to get people dancing and involved,” Wilson said.
The musician was born and raised in California and currently lives in central California with his wife of 20 years and four cats.
“We met backstage at a Bonnie Raitt concert in Hollywood,” Wilson said about his wife who shares his passion of music. “She is very supportive and I am very lucky to have her.”
He first started practicing music during the summer between eighth and ninth grade after his parents signed him up for guitar lessons.
Throughout high school, he explained that he played in garage bands with friends and after graduating he moved to San Francisco to perform with larger bands.
After moving to Southern California, he explained that history was made and a professional performer was born.
“I began touring (after moving to Southern California) and then once I became a self-contained individual, I became a solo artist,” Wilson said.
Wilson’s lengthy resume includes touring the U.S. three times during the years of 2000 to 2003 alongside numerous bands, the release of 15 records, a “Best Songwriter” award from the “All Access Music Awards” in Los Angeles and three “Best Blues Band” awards from Los Angeles’ “Rock City News Awards.”
Wilson’s music has additionally been featured in numerous films, soundtracks and television shows.
Wilson’s music was featured in John Carpenter’s last two films and soundtracks, “Vampires” and “Ghosts of Mars,” on the ABC-TV’s morning show “Live with Regis and Kelly” and on the NBC soap opera “Passions.”
Wilson performs with his band in more than 150 shows each year and has appeared in music venues, clubs, city events, casinos, motorcycle rallies, fairs and festivals including the Gilroy Garlic Festival.
“We are excited about playing outside in the Town Center amphitheater,” Wilson said. “We just played the Gilroy Festival in a family atmosphere with the community setting, and are looking forward to doing the same thing in El Dorado Hills.”
Wilson explained that much of his music is inspired by his travels throughout the state.
“My dream is to move through California and tour through the most incredible areas around California,” Wilson said. “I’m really excited about life. I love meeting people and I am inspired to meet people.”
While this is the first time Wilson has visited El Dorado Hills, he explained that he is looking forward to performing in the foothills.
“We will be there early and are just looking to have some fun and play some music,” Wilson said. “We are bringing a huge show, the musicians are excellent players and we are really looking to have a lot of fun.”
For more information about Wilson and his band visit bradwilsonlive.com.
The free Thursday evening concert will be held in El Dorado Hills Town Center at the Steven Young Amphitheater from 6 to 8 p.m.
“We are excited that he is coming,” said Haley Young, marketing director for El Dorado Hills Town Center.
Young said the free concerts have been well received this summer with approximately 1,000 to 1,500 people attending each week.
“This is the third year of the concerts and it is continually growing,” Young said. “It’s a beautiful venue that overlooks the water, and it’s a fun evening out.”
A special thank you to Monica Durant
for my interview in the Times-Standard, a newspaper serving Eureka and the California Coast!
Brad Wilson
Monica Durant For the Times-Standard
Posted: 03/19/2009 01:16:06 AM PDT
Brad Wilson isn't a traditional country musician. His music is definitely 'western', but it's not Nashville. A listen to Brad Wilson's latest CD “Cowboy Songs and Western Guitars” has a country feel, but it's not traditional country. It's got some blues and some rock-and-roll thrown into it.
”We're not country, but we are western,” Wilson said.
The sound he is going for is more 'California'.
Wilson's travels across the United States have shown him many sides of America. He has seen many beautiful places. A California native, he feels his roots here and calls the Golden State his home.
”I love the state so much, and I like the feel of the music. It's a diverse state and I like diverse music.” Wilson said.
Born in Marysville, he has been playing music since he was in 8th grade.
”I love playing music, I love playing guitar,” Wilson said.
Choosing to live in Los Angeles for a while brought him the connections many musicians dream of, and he was able to make the transition to... (gasp!) full-time musician. His music has been a mainstay on the TV show 'Passions' since 2000, and he is a featured artist in two of John Carpenter's films.
These days he calls Visalia his home. He loves it for many reasons. At 120,000 people, it still has a small town feel and a great quality of life. Not far from Yosemite and Sequoia National Park, it is rich in western California history. It also keeps him centrally located so he can get home after the weekend gigs. He plays upwards of 150 shows a year, an astonishing 50 weeks out of the year.
At the show, ask Wilson to play your favorite rock song and you just might get what you ask for. While most of his set is made up of his own songs, interaction with the audience is important to him. He loves to play a tune the crowd will help him sing. Popular songs include Steve Miller Band's 'The Joker' and Van Morrison's “Brown Eyed Girl”.
His power trio for this show includes bass player Brian Beale, and drummer Larry Donawa. A twist on his California theme is that Wilson hasn't been to Humboldt before. So for all that he knows California, he doesn't know us. He and his band mates are very much looking forward to making it up this way.
In between sets, he hopes to get to know some of us Humboldt folk. Beale is interested in places to go fishing, he'll be bringing his gear and they'll have some spare time to check out the area.
”I am inspired by the people I meet.” Wilson said. Here is a chance for us to share our piece of California. Between the scenery and the people, I doubt he could leave Humboldt County un-inspired if he tried.
You can catch Brad Wilson and his band at the Blue Lake Casino's WAVE Lounge this Friday and Saturday. The show starts 9 p.m., it's 21 and up, and you gotta love the WAVE because there's no cover charge.
To check out his music before the show, log onto www.bradwilsonlive.com. He has photos, downloadable tunes, and tour dates. If you can call it a tour when you never stop.
Special thanks to Central Valley's largest Newspaper, Fresno Bee and the writer, Mike Osegueda
Artists You Should Know: Brad Wilson
By Mike Osegueda / The Fresno Bee
08/01/08 00:00:00
Blues singer/guitarist Brad Wilson has traveled the far and wide of California.
After living in San Francisco and West Hollywood, Wilson has settled on a new home: Visalia.
He moved there in June and is using the South Valley city as the hub for his weekly touring, which takes him to all points of California. Last weekend it was Gilroy's Garlic Festival. Next weekend, he'll be at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. The week after that, he'll be in Anaheim.
Tonight, though, he's staying somewhat close to home and playing at 9 p.m. at Crossroads, 3315 N. Cedar Ave. in Fresno. Tickets cost $8.
We talked to Wilson to get the scoop on his music and his move.
What's the story behind your recent move to Visalia? I've traveled the whole state of California and found it to be one of the best cities. It has all the amenities of a big city, but it has the charm of a small town. It's a great central hub for touring the whole state.
Before that, though, you often played around the Fresno area. What's attracted you to this area?
As an artist, first and foremost, there's a lot of work here for me. There's a healthy music scene. There are a lot of places for me to play -- the casinos, the bars, the festivals. There's just a lot of music in the Central Valley.
What's your career philosophy? You seem like quite the road warrior. I do over a 150 shows a year. We travel every single week. I try to connect with people at the shows. Usually at the shows, we have a great time.
Since you're on the road so much, I have to ask about gas prices ... It definitely cuts into the profits, but like everyone in the United States, you just move forward.
You probably see a lot of cool stuff around the state -- is there a hidden gem of California that you've fallen in love with? I hate to toot a horn too much about Visalia, but the quality of life is great here. There's a historical downtown that's vibrant. I love all the Valley oaks. It's green and beautiful here.
What's the best part of your live show? Rippin' guitar and strong blues.
You've opened for a lot of people from Coco Montoya to Cheap Trick -- who's your favorite and why? I enjoyed opening for Cheap Trick. The group was super nice and gave us a lot of time on stage. They're just a really great band.
What can people expect from you in the future? I'm in the studio recording an album for release in Germany. I'm going to get it released in early '09. I hope to get it out over here at least at the shows.
THANK YOU - Stefan Glas
Editor of the Underground Empire in Germany Link (in German)
BRAD WILSON
Brad Wilson
(13-Song-CD-R: Preis unbekannt)
Live - Power Blues Guitar
(11-Song-CD-R: Preis unbekannt)
Der Solokünstler Brad Wilson hat uns mit zwei seiner CDs bedacht. Eine davon wurde live mitgeschnitten, wobei allerdings die Publikumskulisse stark in den Hintergrund gemischt wurde, während die zweite CD im Studio entstanden ist. Der Untertitel, den Brad sich selbst verpaßt hat - "Power Blues Guitar" - kennzeichnet dabei hervorragend den Inhalt: Brad gibt sich bei seinen Stücken dem Blues hin, was er sowohl mittels seines Gitarrenspiels als auch seines Gesang ausdrückt.
Wer also auf Blues steht, sich aber nicht damit zufriedengibt, wenn eine Gitarre so still vor sich hinleidet, sondern das Ganze gerne auch mit etwas Schmackes versehen hört, sollte sich mal auf Brads Homepage umsehen.
Thank you to editor Nikki and writer Kate Stephenson for their support!
Here's a snippet:
Wilson rocks out! There’s no stopping the love fest that is sure to move you to the core. Brad Wilson is a gem of modern music. His influences shine through his artistry, paying homage to those who paved the way; but his musicality displays a spirit unique and gifted in its own right. A talented story teller and lyricist, Wilson weaves a spell through his songs, healing, entertaining, engaging, honest, and gritty. Head-bangers, toe-tappers, hand-clappers, and cerebral aficionados alike will find something to love, will find a home in the tracks of Brad Wilson. Click here for the full article
Thank you to the Laughlin, NV Entertainer magazine March 19 issue for their featured story and interview in support of the Blues & Brews Festival at the Colorado Belle Casino.
Brad's CD Rockin The Sunset Strip Vol. 1 was revewed by Skid for Sleaze Roxx, the biggest Rock webzine in the world.
Brad Wilson
to perform at
Iron Door
By Laurie Gorman
Brad Wilson, an award winning singer/
songwriter/guitarist, based in Los Angeles,
will be performing with his band at The
Iron Door in Groveland on Saturday,
February 23 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Brad’s music has been featured in John
Carpenter’s last two fi lms and soundtracks
(Vampires and Ghosts Of Mars) and the
NBC soap, “Passions,” has used his music
for years. ABC-TV’s morning show Live
with Regis and Kelly played one of Brad’s
songs, “House Of Love,” a fun, summertime
song, which has been described as
power rock, reminiscent of Springsteen.
Said the music programmer, “I always try
to fi nd new music to play during our show
and Brad’s music fi t the bill.”
Brad has opened for many top name
artists and has toured nationally more than
a dozen times. He and his band play up and
down the state every weekend, at music
venues, clubs, city events, casinos, motorcycle
rallies, fairs and festivals. They perform
over 150 shows a year. The crowds
love them. The band plays songs everyone
knows and can sing along and dance
to. Brad’s website has all his tour dates:
www.bradwilsonlive.com.
All Access Music Awards in Los Angeles
voted Brad “Best Songwriter,” and he’s also
won “Best Blues Band”at LA’s Rock City
News Awards…three times. He is a very
talented performer and a crowd pleaser!
______________________
I want to thank my friends in the press
Gary Linehan & Thomas Atkins for their support.
Brad was featured in Sonora's main newspaper,
"The Union Democrat", Brad's hometown newspaper!
Brad interviewed by Sierra Mountain Times
in Sonora / Twain Harte
Award Winning Blues/Rock Guitarist Returns to His Roots
by Thomas Atkins
November 29th, 2007
Brad Wilson, a former Summerville High student, will
be playing high quality blues/rock at Big Daddy’s Smokin’ BBQ this
weekend. Photo courtesy of Brad Wilson
Brad Wilson, an award winning singer/songwriter/guitarist based in
Los Angeles, has quite an extensive resume. He has released ten albums
and his music has been featured in John Carpenter’s last two films and
soundtracks, “Vampire’s” and “Ghosts of Mars,” as well as on the ABC
morning show “Live With Regis & Kelly,” the NBC soap opera,
“Passions,” and the digital music leader DMX Music added three of his
songs to their “Rock and Blues” channel which has a daily listening
audience of 80 million worldwide. All Access Music Awards in Los
Angeles voted Wilson “Best Songwriter,” and he’s also won “Best Blues
Band” at L.A.’s Rock City News Awards…three times. Wilson and his band
have toured nationally over a dozen times and have opened for many top
name artists such as Tonic, Paula Cole, Cheap Trick, and .38 Special.
However, out of all his travels and success, his fondest memories are
the years he spent in Tuolumne County, and he is looking forward to
returning to his roots this weekend to rock Big Daddy’s Smokin’ BBQ in
Twain Harte.
Vintage Guitar Magazine - May 2006
HIT LIST REVIEWS
Pg. 140
Review:
Brad Wilson's playing
is influenced by a lot of different music, starting with '70's
southern rock. He's got a big, fat tone on most
cuts. Check out the minor-key magic of "Sundown and the Cowboy," where
his soloing matches the soul of his vocal. "Last Call" features
the kind of sweet bends and tone associated with the Allman Brothers.
And he's not afraid to tackle a shuffle, as demonstrated by "All
Kinds of a Fool." "Slide on Over" mixes funk with
Hendrix-driven rock guitars. "House of love is a song you'd
expect to hear on rock radio-great hooks, great sound, and as well-written
as you'll hear. "Two Belong" draws a jazzy element, with
a biting solo testifying to Wilson's melodic taste. He's not afraid
to delve into arena rock, but unlike many who go there, his sound
stay interesting. "The Healer" and "Hands on the Wheel" are
riff-heavy and feature nasty guitar tone and quick, on-the-money
solos - and they're fun to listen to.
Wilson's vocals are soulful in a way that call to mind the likes
of Gregg Allman. While not possessing the same power, he brings grit
and soul. You may not be familiar with Wilson, but he has been doing
it for awhile and he knows how to do it. This disc bears that out.
-JH
Brad was featured in the Hanford Sentinel on December 29 to support the Tachi Palace Casino shows.
Brad was featured in Nevada City's main Newspaper,
"The Union"
"Voted Best Songwriter (by All Access Music Awards in Los Angeles) and a three-time winner of Best Blues Band at Los Angeles' Rock City News Awards, Brad Wilson is hot stuff. His music is on TV and in films, and he travels with his band to play 150 shows a year on the circuit. Saturday, Oct. 27, he'll be at Chief Crazy Horse Saloon, 230 Commercial St. in Nevada City, starting at 8:30 p.m. Cover is $5. Call (530) 470-8443 for more information."
Thanks to everyone at the
Desert Rose Casino in Alturas!
Brad Wilson to play at Casey's Iron Horse Saloon
Saturday, March 31, 2007
By Valarie Kemp-Tribune writer - The Madera Tribune
The deep, low tones of Brad Wilson's guitar will be filling Casey's in Madera on April 14 from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. The storytelling singer-songwriter from southern California is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Born in Marysville, where his father opened up a trucking business, Brad grew up with plenty of music in the home. He said that his mother, a Streisand-lover, always played the piano, and his father loved country music. Brad listened to the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Santana and other classic rock. His parents supported their son's musical aspirations by letting him take guitar lessons.
"Bill Graham was a primary reason he became a musician," said Wilson. Graham was a legend in his time for being a promoter from the 60s until his death in 1991.
Brad wet his feet with a band called Blind Date, which took him to Los Angeles. When the band signed with RCA Records, he joined Shame as part of the leather-wearing, big-haired, shredded-jeans scene known as glam metal. Leaving Shame, he thrived as the front man for a blues-rock band called Stone, in honor of Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard.
In 2003 Brad went solo, which he said "just made sense" for a singer-songwriter. He has toured every since and typically performs about 150 shows a year. He has opened up bands such as Tonic, Cheap Trick, and 38 Special. All Access Music Awards in Los Angeles voted him Best Songwriter twice and LA's Rock City News Awards voted him Best Blues Artist three times.
Wilson has also found musical success in show business. John Carpenter used Wilson's composition "Teaser" on the soundtrack of his 1998 film "Vampires" and Wilson's instrumental "Can't Let You Go" on his "Ghosts of Mars" movie soundtrack in 2001. Wilson's music can also be heard on the soap opera "Passions."
Now Wilson is shifting gears again by writing songs that he believes are more Californian in nature. His album "The Californian" stems from his California roots and the feelings he has for the golden state. "I love to visit little cities like Madera because they have history, and character in the architecture," Wilson said.
Despite the blues-country label, Wilson's intense music-style is due to his love of all genres of music. Wilson says he likes to change it up and get the audience involved with his unique rendition of a familiar song, such as "Brown-eyed girl".
His performance at Casey's will be the last stop on the Valley Center for the Blind's 4th Annual Poker Run. Although called a Motorcycle Run in the past, all vehicles are welcome and encouraged to participate. Rain or shine, the run starts at 9:30 a.m. in front of the Valley Center for the Blind building (the old Security Bank Building located at 1060 Fulton Mall) in downtown Fresno. Registration is $25 per person, and a t-Shirt will be given to the first 200 registered participants.
For more information, contact John Belafiore at (559) 246-1831 or by e-mail at johnb@valleycenterblind.org; or call the Valley Center for the Blind at (559) 222-4447. Registration includes food, drinks, a drawing ticket, and the opportunity to enjoy Brad Wilson's live band.
BRAD WILSON - LIVE - POWER BLUES GUITAR
Impressive the direct one who presents his Brad Wilson, on this disc shows
us his good talent as musician touching a powerful Blues-Rock. I him
congratulate for interesting original compositions that it has included they
are very guessed right. " Live - Power Blues Guitar " it is a very advisable
disc for the lovers of the good blues.
RADIO VILAFANT - RED HOT BLUES - SPAIN
BRAD WILSON – CITIES & SONGS
In Cites & Songs Brad Wilson offers us a disc in the one that combines a
fresh air and powerfully directly with a few interesting topics in study, in
this work his great quality demonstrates us once again as musician and
composer. Congratulations Brad for this interesting disc.
RADIO VILAFANT - RED HOT BLUES - SPAIN