As some of you are already aware (based on your selection last week as Reader’s Pick), Carolyn Wonderland can play a wicked steel guitar. And on her newest release, Truth Is, she plays with attitude.
Hailing originally from Houston, Wonderland didn’t have it easy. A high school dropout, she moved to Austin to pursue her musical fortunes, sometimes living out of her van for periods of time. A multi-instrumentalist, Wonderland has long been a mainstay in the Austin music scene. Yet her reputation spread beyond the Lone Star State until John Mayall brought her on as lead guitarist for his Bluesbreakers from 2018 until his death last year. She thus joined a long line of great guitarists including Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Taylor, Jon Mark, Harvey Mandel, Rick Vito, Coco Montoya, and Walter Trout, all of whom before her were men. (Oh, and she’s married to Saturday Night Live alum A. Whitney Brown for what it’s worth.)
With Truth Is, Wonderland’s skills on steel and electric guitar are clear on display. On the opening song, “Sooner or Later,” in particular, her skill with the steel is immediately evident. Then she launches into the protesty “I Ain’t Going Back” and “Truth Is.” Other great songs include the more somber “Let’s Play a Game,” the reflective “Wishful Thinking” and “Flowers in Bloom,” and the Caribbean influenced “Deepest Ocean Blue.” Produced by SoCal legend Dave Alvin, Truth Is makes for great listening.
About the author: Bill Wilcox is a roots music enthusiast recently relocated from the Washington, DC area to Philadelphia, PA and back again.