Brad “Guitar” Wilson — “The Californian” — Cali Bee Music
Guitar-slinger Brad “Guitar” Wilson just might be the toughest musician to come out of Carmel, Calif., since two-fisted blues piano fan Clint Eastwood was elected mayor of that seaside city in 1986. Wilson has been earning that “Guitar” nickname by punching out a fistful of tough, hard-rocking blues for years.
Singer/songwriter Wilson has toured frequently with Chicago, and has opened for the likes of Buddy Guy, Cheap Trick, .38 Special, Marshall Tucker Band and Tommy Castro. Not content with the concert stage, Wilson has taken his songwriting talents to the big screen, scoring the song “Teaser” for John Carpernter’s film, “Vampires.” He’s also worked that magic for the music to the movie “Ghosts of Mars,” and TV shows “The Young & the Restless” and “Passions.”
His latest album, “The Californian,” is not only geographically appropriate, but keeps the music flowing with a vibrant session of rocking Wilson originals, embellished by a handful of smartly executed covers.
Joining Wilson and Grammy-winning producer Francis Buckley in keeping the vibes fresh throughout are Toto Poznantek and Tony Braungel on drums, Chris Rhyne, Luca Catalfamo and Frankie Virens on keyboards, Hal Cragin, Brian Beal and Fabrizo Erba on bass, Marie K on harmonica, and additional contributions from Galen Keith.
Everything fires up with a slashing guitar intro to the classic blues of “It Hurts Me Too,” first recorded in 1940 by Tampa Red and reshaped by Elmore James in 1957. It’s driven hard by Wilson’s fierce vocals and bandmates crackling with full-blues energy. Wilson’s original “Lightning in a Bottle” follows, catching the spirit of its title in its own musical bottle. The high-spirited blues-rock of Wilson’s “Say You Wanna Dance” invites cutting up the dance floor to razor-sharp guitar: “Say you wanna boogie, say you wanna swing, say you wanna rock,” and the answer can only be “Yes!”
Next, Wilson captures the countrified roadhouse essence of the Rolling Stones’ “Dead Flowers” complete with well-Stoned backup vocals. The original “Monterey“ rolls majestically out in an anthemic ode to another California city, with its “waves on the rocks, seagulls in the sky.” Then Wilson’s “Heartbreaker” churns with torchy emotion on the perils of romance: “You can’t eat, you can’t sleep / the fever is so strong / you take a chance on love/ it’s a heartbreaker.”
Mick Ralphs wrote “Ready for Love” for Mott the Hoople in 1972, and Wilson leans into this striking cover with a sensitive vocal turn. Back to the originals with “Back Roads,” a journey down the less-traveled highways fueled by an elegant guitar solo. “Summertime Blues” covers the 1958 rock ‘n’ roll hit by Eddie Cochran with all of its teenage angst still intact. “Goin’ Home” is a gently eloquent Wilson ballad, with the band building to an emotional high : “Goin’ home to all that I know / goin’ home to all that I Iove.”
“I Work Alone” is Wilson’s romantic take on the eternal truck-driving theme: “Driving this truck, rollin’ along, thinkin’ about holdin’ you close.” The lyrical “Love and Peace” is a gorgeous instrumental cover of the Arthur Adams song first recorded by the Jazz Crusaders in 1968, with Wilson’s guitar gently weeping the melody. The haunting strains of “Teaser” follow, a reprise of the exotic “Vampires” score. For the closer, Wilson’s gritty vocals and deep blue guitar reach back for a passionate version of Willie Dixon’s “Groaning the Blues,” an Otis Rush chestnut from 1957.
Riding the waves of “The Californian,” Brad “Guitar” Wilson’s heady blues-rock crashes over you like the surf on Carmel beaches. Come on in, the music is up, and it’s plenty tough enough.
A live sample of Brad “Guitar” Wilson:
Tracklist:
01. It Hurts Me Too (3:39)
02. Lightning In A Bottle (3:39)
03. Say You Wanna Dance (3:32)
04. Dead Flowers (4:44)
05. Monterey (3:19)
06. HeartBreaker (3:59)
07. Ready For Love (5:03)
08. Back Roads (4:25)
09. Summertime Blues (2:43)
10. Going Home (3:54)
11. I Work Alone (3:48)
12. Love And Peace (4:20)
13. Teaser (3:15)
14. Groaning The Blues (6:02)
Blues Roadhouse 