Indy In-Tune #157: Brandon Wilson

You just get a hunch about some people. Rarely anymore am I shocked to find out that the really outgoing guy at a show the week before turns into a deer-in-the-headlights once you put him on a microphone and try to start a conversation with him. Nor is is usally a surprise when the reserved guy you've known for years suddenly turns into an instant extrovert who doesn't even notice the mike when you put a couple of beers in him and hit record (okay, guilty, I'm that one). Granted, early on I was blown away by how a dynamic stage presence didn't always translate into an equivalent level of charisma off stage, but I suppose it makes sense. Everyone has a comfort level and a tolerance for the unknown/unrehearsed, some thrive on it; some run from it. I had a hunch about Brandon Wilson from the first time I saw him. He carries himself with somewhat reserved confidence, but given the proper opportunity and setup, and he has about as sharp a wit as I've seen. That plue the fact that he put on a killer set at Claude and Annie's last week pretty much told me my mission in life was to get this guy out to the masses. That hasn't happened since some kid named Pedigo came to town and showed up at the same open mic. You get the feeling you people need to be coming to open mic yet?

How Brandon Wilson has managed to stay under the radar of just about everyone I've spoken to is beyond me. Seriously, the guy should take up a career in espoinage or special ops or something. This is a town rife with singer/songwriters, and while I wouldn't give any of them up (well, maybe a couple of them), very few of them distinguish themselves as the triple threat of a great player, a great singer, and a great composer. If you have one of these, you'll be a welcome performer at any corner pub or coffee shop; two of these and you'll have fans, which means you can start getting some good gigs. If you have all three, however -- and there are may be only a half-dozen in town that I can think of -- and you finally get to the part of the story where you can shape your own destiny, and I think Brandon is one of those. In addition to a fun interview, he treats us to four tracks, which he played live on the air in Studio B. I think you'll get where I'm coming from.

Links referenced in the show:

• Brandon Wilson can be found here: Web Site | Facebook (Seriously!? This guy has zero Internet presence.)
• Co-hosting this evening is Benjamin/Brandon Cannon of Shine Indy.
• Brandon's latest album, Fall, was recorded two years ago, prior to moving to Indy. You can obtain a copy, presumably, at his shows or by contacting him directly.
• Apparently, as a result of this interiew, you can catch him at both a Shine and Indy In-Tune Monday Night Live show in the near future.