Pullin’ ‘Tubes | Our Dear Friend Jonathan Wilson

Let’s just float this out there –Jonathan Wilson is some kind of musical shaman. The singer-songwriter-guitarist has justly earned the lofty praises not only from his contemporaries, but also from an impressive group of music’s elder statesman that include the likes of Jackson Browne, Phil Lesh and Bob Weir – all of whom he’s shared the stage with, and all of who seem to be impressed not only with his fluid guitar playing, but his ability to interpret their songs. Wilson has become one of the faces of California’s nascent folk-rock revival movement, producing arguably its quintessential album -Father John Misty’s Fear Fun -as well as the first two studio efforts from Dawes.

In 2011, Wilson released his debut album Gentle Spirit. The critically-acclaimed record showcased his gorgeous, sweeping psychedelic suites that often stretched past the six minute mark. On October 15, Wilson will release his highly anticipated sophomore album, Fanfare, via Downtown Records. For his follow-up Wilson wrangled up a heady list of collaborators that includes Graham Nash, David Crosby, Patrick Sansone (Wilco), Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers) and his pals Jackson Browne, Josh Tillman (Father John Misty) and Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), along with co-writing several tracks with British folk-rocker Roy Harper.

Judging from the record’s lead single, “Dear Friend,” we can likely expect more of Wilson’s expertly crafted Harry Nilsson meets the Grateful Dead sound, along with a heavy dose of Bitches Brew-era Miles Davis. Let’s check out the music video that features Victorian-dressed ballroom dancers, Wilson and his band rocking out in a garage and sweeping landscapes over some Jerry Garcia-esque guitar solos:

Written By: Jeffrey Greenblatt