Carolyn Wonderland Plays the Saxon Pub, Then Austin City Limits Show

It was standing room only as usual at the Saxon Pub in South Austin and the place was buzzing with rumors that Wonderland's days playing smaller venues like this one might just be numbered. Wonderland was preparing to tape her Austin City Limits appearance on June 5th (according to her Myspace page.) Rare Magazine featured her in their Music issue (March 2008.) The Houston Press called her the "blues Wonderwoman," and for good reason. She writes, she sings, I've lost count of how many instruments she plays and she even whistles a solo in "I'm the Man" (from her 'Alcohol and Salvation' CD.)

(Get a load of that rare talent around 2:43 on this YouTube Video here. (Filmed at a very dark Dan Electros Guitar Bar in Houston, TX.) I can't even whistle for my puppies reliably.

Between songs, when the audience was cheering and hollering for more, Wonderland was modest and shy, but as soon as she started singing, nothing held her back. The music flowed out of her body and over the crowd in waves, leaving everyone in the small venue awestruck. By the time she finished her set (to a standing ovation,) there was one marriage proposal from the audience, then an "oh no, she's mine" rose up from a female fan, which left Wonderland giggling, saying, "There's really no response to that."

- She was considering the Jimi Hendrix classic, The Wind Cries Mary, for the Austin City Limits taping. View her rendition of that one on YouTube here.
- You can catch The Farmer Song, from her Miss Understood CD here.
- Carolyn Wonderland goes over all her gear (and a little bit of history) here.

If you haven't picked up her latest CD, "Miss Understood," you owe it to yourself to grab it. Wrap up Bette Midler (1970's Bette Midler that is,) Janis Joplin, Bonnie Raitt - and even that doesn't really come close to describing the powerful vocals and amazing number of instruments Carolyn Wonderland plays beautifully. In fact, finish reading this later - just go get the CD and come back. I'll wait . . .

Have a look and listen to what Wonderland has to offer Carolyn Wonderland's Website. at www.carolynwonderland.com and at her Myspace page here. Her band features Cole El-Saleh on keyboard and drummer Michael "Lefty" Lefkowitz. Musicians featured on her "Miss Understood" CD are:

• Ames Asbell - Viola
• Barry Frosty Smith - Drums
• Carolyn Wonderland - Choir, Chorus, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Lap Steel Guitar, Mandolin, Piano, Trumpet, Vocals
• David Sanger - Drums, Percussion, Tambourine
• Glenn Fukunaga - Bass
• Guy Forsyth - Harmonica
• Jamie Oldaker - Drums
• John H.R. Mills - Horn Arrangements, Saxophone
• Jon Blondell - Bass
• Leigh Mahoney - Violin
• Lloyd Maines - Guitar (12 String), Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Baritone), Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Steel)
• Ray Benson - Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Baritone), Guitar (Electric), Producer, Tambourine
• Sara Nelson - Cello
• Shelley King - Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
• Tracy Seeger - Violin
• Wes Hightower - Harmony Vocals

Discography

Miss Understood (2008)
Bloodless Revolution (2003)
Alcohol & Salvation (2001)
Bursting with Flavor (Carolyn and the Imperial Monkeys) (1997)
Blue Lights (Carolyn and the Imperial Monkeys) (1997)
Play with Matches (Carolyn Wonderland and the Imperial Monkeys) (1995)
Truck Stop Favorites #2 (Carolyn Wonderland and the Imperial Monkeys) (1994)
Groove Milk (Carolyn Wonderland and the Imperial Monkeys) (1993)

Carolyn Wonderland also appears on the following CD's (Courtesy of CDUniverse.com):

Blues Guitar Women: Disc 1: Judgment Day Blues
Jesse Dayton: Country Soul Brother: Background Vocals
Guy Forsyth: Love Songs For and Against: Background Vocals
Texas Unplugged: Vol 2: Turtle Bayou Turnaround - Cindy Cashdollar/Carolyn Wonderland
Ten in Texas: Honky Tonk-Heroes - Carolyn Wonderland
Texas Blues Evolution: Ain't Nobody's Business - Carolyn Wonderland
Wendy Colonna: Right Where I Belong - Background Vocals
Blues Guitar Women: Judgment Day Blues - Carolyn Wonderland

and:
Rebecca Cole with Carolyn Wonderland: Drink the Rain (Amazon.com.)

Carolyn Wonderland Tour Dates (subject to change - see www.carolynwonderland.com for details.)

Eddie's Attic Decatur, Georgia - Jun 13 2008 8:00P
Southgate House Newport, Kentucky - Jun 14 2008 8:00P
Rodeo Bar New York, New York - Jun 16 2008 8:00P
Rodeo Bar New York, New York - Jun 18 2008 7:00P
WNTI fund raiser at the Whitney Chapel! Hackettstown, New Jersey - Jun 18 2008 7:00P
Cantab Lounge Cambridge, Massachusetts - Jun 19 2008 8:00P
Montage Rochester, New York - Jun 20 2008 6:00P
Rochester Jazz Fest Rochester, New York - Jun 21 2008 7:00P
Ann Arbor Summer Festival @ Ingalls Mall Ann Arbor, Michigan - Jun 23 2008 8:00P
Beachland Ballroom & Tavern Cleveland, Ohio - Jun 24 2008 8:00P
FitzGerald's Berwyn, Illinois - Jun 25 2008 8:00P
Sam's Saloon Indianapolis, Indiana - Jun 26 2008 8:00P
The High Dive Farmer City, Illinois - Jun 27 2008 8:00P
Zoo Bar Lincoln, Nebraska - Jun 28 2008 8:00P

Sources:
http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid:597166
http://www.reverbnation.com/carolynwonderland
http://issuu.com/raremagazine/docs/march08
http://www.txmusic.com/articles/2008/04/wonder-woman
http://people.tribe.net/hoopinman/blog/c5f5ecf9-9c0e-47a4-8fa3-40764035bed4