Carolyn Wonderland, or: Why I love Austin

Before we begin, I'd like to say that I know that this is a very long post, and that that's kind of a turn off. Sorry folks! Feel free to skip to the end for link/video goodness :)

So, a couple of weeks ago my friend Jonathan and I were running around downtown (making our high school history teachers proud) at the Million Musician March for Peace. (Maybe you read about it?) Anyway, while I think that went over splendidly and feel like we really accomplished a lot that day, what I'm interested in talking about today is a certain musician we stumbled across following the actual march.

Having nothing better to do immediately following the protest, we took a seat in the shade and began to chat as musicians and stage-crew swapped various instruments and equipment from the stage, readying it for the next performance. Before we knew it an older gentlemen had taken the microphone and, stage now set-up, announced a certain Carolyn Wonderland was to perform next. With that, a petite redhead sprung forth from the crowd and joined the eclectic mix of poets, musicians, and artists already on stage.

Following some introductory banter, Wonderland grabbed her telecaster and proceeded to blow the entire crowd away with guitar skills that could've rivaled Stevie Ray Vaughn himself. Somehow that managed to go right over our heads, because even though we sat through her entire set, enjoyed it, and ended up staying after for the rest of the performers, we really didn't think too much about any of it after we'd left.

The lady in question, with the telecaster in question.

That's not to say we didn't like her, because later that week when we found out she'd be playing at the Nutty Brown Cafe on the 10th we resolved to see her attend. After all, it's not like we'd made plans for the 10th, and she had played at the protest, after all. I mean, we'd quite liked everything about that protest, so we couldn't go wrong with this, right? Right.

Oh. My. God. We had no idea what we were in for. Carolyn took the stage last night roughly around 9pm (or was it 10?) and, for lack of a better word, dominated.

She started things off with several high-energy, guitar heavy songs, rocking away with intricate runs and a picking style reminiscent of a classical guitarist. (If that classical guitarist hated picks and had in fact originally been a bass player who was quite into slap-style.) It was incredible. Then, after having toned it down for a few songs, she whipped out a mandolin! Nice, we thought to ourselves, as she covered a Hindrix tune on what we eventually decided was the flute of string instruments.

Here she is busting it out on a Les Paul. Photo (c) R.R. Rodriguez

Now, this was all well and good on it's own, right? We were already completely smitten, when, after already having traded the mandolin back in for her original Telecaster, she gives up string instruments entirely in favour of a trumpet! (Is there anything she can't do?) Following a brief solo, she picked up the Tele once more and pretty much continued with it for the rest of the show.

Other memorable moments:

• Carolyn's whistling solo
• Crazy long drum solo while Carolyn and her Keyboardist/Bassist set up for the...
• ...Los Lobos covers at the end (featuring Wonderland and P. Brink on horns!)

She'll be playing at Antone's on the 25th for all you cool cats that live in and around the central texas area. If you can't make it out or would just like to see a full tour schedule, feel free to check out the myspace and her official site.

Also, instead of MP3's today, I give you:



Enjoy!