Work hard, rock hard, eat hard, sleep hard, grow big, wear glasses if you need ’em.” This is the Webb Wilder credo. It is a credo that I have lived by since my college days in the late 80s when I first heard Webb Wilder. Back then Webb was doing the college bar circuit that included bands like Jason and the Scorchers all of which are to blame for my mis-spent youth. Nothing has changed since then for Webb though. Webb is the self-proclaimed last of the full grown men. His humor can take things like circus freaks and make a song about them (As he did in his early classic “Human Cannonballâ€). His music is Rock and Roll with a mix of Blues and Rockabilly. He is also the epitome of cool. In addition to being a prolific musician, Wilder is a filmmaker. He made a collection indie shorts collectively known as the Corn Flicks in the spirit of 70s B-movies. These movies are as hilarious as they are demented. Wilder was also a DJ for XM Cross Country before it became a fatality of the Sirius merger.
Mostly though Webb likes to Rock Hard, and his new album More Like Me has plenty of examples to prove it. The album begins with the Rockabilly throw down “Ju Ju Man.†It is no secret Webb is a fan of Link Wray and that influence is apparent on “Don’t Slander Me,†a song in which space aliens make an appearance. “Honky Tonkin’ (in Mississippi.)†is an electric blues number that will no doubt get the crowd moving. The ballads on the album are a mixed back. “Sudden Stop†is a very good number and a very unique song for Webb, but “She’s Nor Romantic†frankly could have been left off the album. Another notable cut is the Southern Boogie of “Still Water Runs Deep.†More Like Me is Wilder’s first album in five years. It is safe to say he hasn’t forgotten his credo and still knows how to have a good time. Look for him on tour and I promise you will have time worthy of a full grown man.
Sample at his Website
About the author: Chip and his family live in Birmingham, AL. Roll Tide!