Country meets grunge in a rousing, sold-out show from a rising star
IT'S a thrill to witness a musician on the rise. So many talented artists deserve to hit the big time but don't make it; a blessing for fans who get to keep seeing them in small venues without big ticket prices. But frustrating for the musicians who never quite achieve the arena tour of their dreams.
Stephen Wilson Jr isn’t there yet but the last time I saw someone go, like him, from support-slot unknown, to small venue tour, to selling out the 1,500 capacity O2 Ritz, it was Luke Combs - then the next time I looked he was playing the Arena and people were paying £50+ for a ticket.
Stephen Wilson Jr’s rise hasn't been quite as meteoric but his debut album Son of Dad has slowly built momentum since its release in 2023, so much so that this is his second time touring it in the UK. Dates sold out fast at a time when more established country artists are struggling to reach capacity. At his pre-Glastonbury gig at The Ritz on Thursday night, it was obvious who is powering his popularity.
“You’re all men,” observed the ethereal Florence Welch-esque support act Scarlett Loran. Country music audiences aren’t exactly known for their diversity but the gender mix is usually a little more balanced than tonight.
Men love Stephen Wilson Jr. We know this because they tell him so in between songs. ‘We love you Stephen,’ someone shouts. ‘I love you too’ he replies and it’s sweet and open and natural, like when he waves enthusiastically at every section of the crowd as if he wants everyone to feel personally welcomed.
The reason men love him is probably the same reason I do: he’s got a bunch of absolute bangers in his repertoire. His grungy country rock debut album is full of songs that make you want to learn all the words so you can sing and howl along with every unashamedly catchy chorus.
And in learning the words you notice something else about Stephen Wilson Jr - he’s a poet. The lyrics in songs such as 'Billy' and 'Calico Creek' bring an originality to the well-trodden theme of life in rural America.
Take the chorus to 'Twisted'. "Tornados roll through town at Christmas / Nobody’s hurt but the house is missing / God is good / Life is twisted". The Manchester crowd sang along like it was some strange, startling new hymn we were belting out in church.
He brings this fresh perspective to his other main theme - the unexpected death of his dad in 2018. From the balcony, I could see the crowd feeling the catharsis of the chorus of 'Father’s Son', and I was surprised by a sudden sense of sidelined grief myself, even though I’ve listened to that song loads of times before.
It was something about the way he sang, "I’ve never known better / Cause every bone's tethered." I could hear an echo of Nirvana in his raw, gut-wrenching wail and in the loud-quiet-loud structure of some of his songs. He references this inspiration openly in the first few bars of 'Year to Be Young 1994'. This cool Generation X equivalent of 'Summer of '69', is about being a teenager in the mid-nineties when 'Live Forever' was on your stereo and your "sweatshirt said 'No Fear - ha."
With his growling voice, masterful guitar-picking, Chuck Berry stage moves, and songs about skinning a buck, Stephen Wilson Jr is intensely masculine, but without being a dick about it. His version of masculinity values kindness and connection over money and power. I found it reassuring and uplifting that the men in the audience were so into it - as if it’s a lot closer to who they are and what they want to be than we’ve been led to believe.
Like Luke Combs, Stephen Wilson Jr has that 'everyman' appeal going on. And we all know where that leads. Go and see him on a small stage while you still can.
Stephen Wilson Jr plays the Avalon Stage at Glastonbury Festival on Saturday 28 June, 2.15pm-3.10pm.
Main image credit: Emma Golpys @golpysphoto
