Summer is recently in full swing in Austin, and watching Carolyn Wonderland's cherry-red hair fly around her head during a gently screaming guitar solo may be one of the best ways to ring it in. She's a pure Texas blueswoman, and then some. She can weave in gospel, country, swing, soul, and zydeco .. can play piano, trumpet, electric mandolin, and take your pick: electric, acoustic, or slide guitar. Among her noted fans are Bob Dylan and producer of her latest album Miss Understood: Asleep at the Wheel's Ray Benson. ....
I briefly wrote about Carolyn on January 1st of this year, because I saw her perform with The Guy Forsyth Band, but she clearly deserves an entry of her own. In addition to many other awards previous, she recently won both Best Blues Band and Best Female Vocalist at the Austin Music Awards in 2009. She has released 3 albums of her own, and has a list of collaborations with other artists, recorded or otherwise... has been the primary singer fronting The Imperial Monkeys and Jerry Lightfoot's Band of Wonder (Texistentialism), founded both the Loose Affiliation of Saints and Sinners (an Austin all-star band) and the Austin Volunteer Orchestra (an unofficial non-profit group focused on music education, organizing resources for artists, and showcasing blended talent), and was lead guitarist for the all-gal southern-rock band Sis DeVille. ....
Just wait til you see her play. My first time was a couple of years ago, when I happened to enter Gruene Hall when she was in mid-musical-sermon. She turned that building temporarily into Church. ....
On drums tonight was Austin veteran Rob Hooper (Guy Forsyth Band, Ted)-- likely filling in for her regular drummer Michael Lefkowitz, backup vocals and tambourine by Shelley King, and exquisite playing by the fella with a cigarette dangling from his lips-- Cole El-Saleh on keyboards and key-bass.....
This was an outdoor event sponsored by the recently controversial KGSR (changed format and frequency--trying not to make additional comment).. but if KGSR is still hosting Carolyn and she's publicly grateful for the event, there's at least some integrity left to the station.....
When performing, Carolyn appears to be at the mercy of what comes through her-- every cell channeling, eyes shut, her mouth miming the guitar notes that her fingers are tearing up. She played some choice cuts-- of her own, such as "Misunderstood" (yes spelled differently than the album title) and "Walk On" (guitar slung back momentarily for a trumpet solo from Carolyn), and some reeeeally well done covers: Jimi Hendrix' "Wind Cried Mary" -- showing off Carolyn's natural, electric, somber blues side-- and "Cumbia Raza" by Los Lobos... demonstrating her ability to spicily change musical colors.. complete with a bona fide Cajon solo from tonight's drummer Rob Hooper. Dare I mention a soulful version of "What Good Can Drinkin Do?".. a Janis Joplin song appropriately nodding to Carolyn's performing essence. Without ever having seen Janis Joplin in person--only videos--she's the first person I think of every time I see Carolyn on stage. To really complete the evening, we were delivered-- "Nobody's Fault But Mine"-- a Blind Willie Johnson song, first slow and mournful, and then downright funkified and electric. This lady can sing from the bottom of her being. Shred the guitar, dirty. Whistle like a bird. Scat. And then lay you to rest with a woeful love ballad.....
And, like a real blueswoman, she might intimidate you. Before the set break, she proclaimed: "God bless you for taking a chance on live music. And don't forget to tip [the waitstaff], or else I'll have to beat you up."....
I think she meant it.
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