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Jonathan Wilson at The Rock Shop

Jonathan Wilson
The Rock Shop
Brooklyn, NY
January 21

Jonathan Wilson’s performance at The Rock Shop in Brooklyn concluded a three-night run in New York City, his first trip to New York as a bandleader. For several years Wilson has been the man behind the scenes of Laurel Canyon’s folk rock revival, frequently hosting all night jam sessions which have featured friends Chris Robinson, Jackson Browne and members of the Heartbreakers, The Jayhawks and Wilco. The list of musicians Wilson has collaborated with is endless, but until recently he has lurked in the shadows rather than lead his own band. That changed over the past year, as he released a long awaited debut album, Desert Raven, and embarked on national and international tours with his own band.

As Wilson has released just one album, the band played through most of it over the eighty-minute show. They kicked off the night with delicate acoustic ballad “Rolling Universe,” which featured Wilson’s softly whispered vocals and colorful textures from keyboardist Jason Borger. Wilson stuck with his acoustic guitar for the first few songs of the set, including “Canyon in the Rain” and “Gentle Spirit.” With a melodic Beatle-esque bassline, shimmering acoustic guitars and lyrics full of natural imagery, “Canyon In The Rain” displayed the best of Wilson’s mellow, folky side.

After “Gentle Spirit,” Wilson traded his acoustic for a beat up electric guitar, and the music shifted towards jammed out psychedelia. “Desert Raven” found Wilson’s fingers flying up and down his fretboard, delivering dizzying bursts of psychedelic noise. Wanting to mix up the set list on the third straight night in New York, the band then dove into Jerry Garcia’s “Mission In The Rain.” Rarely can singers do justice to Garcia’s most emotive ballads, but Wilson’s tender voice and gorgeous guitar fit perfectly. The band followed “Mission In The Rain” with another cover, a rollicking performance of Gordon Lightfoot’s “The Way I Feel.” Led by Jason Borger’s swirling organ, the band transformed the folk song into a funky psychedelic rocker.

Dipping back into original material, the band managed to again channel the Grateful Dead on Wilson’s own “Natural Rhapsody.” Though the song is hardly concise on Desert Raven, clocking in at a lengthy 8+ minutes, the band stretched it out to over twice as long live. With drummer Richard Gowen and bassist Jake Blanton pushing the tempo, the band launched from the melody into a roaring psychedelic jam, as Wilson’s ethereal wailing on guitar evoked Garcia. After the spacey explorations of “Natural Rhapsody,” Wilson ended the night with the gentle “Can We Really Party Today?” which showcased his mellow but soulful voice.

Though in recent years Wilson has spent more time as a sideman or producer in the studio than as a bandleader, it’s clear that live on stage is where he thrives the most. With his exploratory guitar playing leading the way, the band followed and infused his material with much more punch and energy live than the songs have on Desert Raven. With just one album under their belt and limited touring, it’s exciting how comfortable Wilson and his young band already sound, clearly having built a close musical chemistry during hours of jamming together at Wilson’s place. And it’s even more exciting to imagine what they’ll sound like after another year of touring together.