LIVE: Carolyn Wonderland @ Caffe Lena, 06/25/2021
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Carolyn Wonderland and her raucous roadhouse band are on their first tour away from their home base in Austin since the pandemic. The powerhouse combo blues belter and guitar slinger played her brand of blues rock to appreciative audiences at Saratoga’s Caffe Lena.
The audience knew it was in for a treat when she opened “Nobody’s Fault but Mine” with high energy, self confessional vocals and spirited guitar. “Texas Girl,” about her collection of boots, followed. She then ran though a series of songs that she has performed on her own or with the Subdudes, covers of Ruthie Foster and her boss in her other main gig as lead guitarist with John Mayall’s “The Laws Must Change”.
Bandmate, and star in own right, Shelley King sang a haunting gospel number, “Welcome Home,” that was written around the time Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. She also showed her virtuosity on lap steel guitar, performing some music with “Crack in the Wall” and several other numbers. She ended her set with a cover of the Band’s “Don’t Do It “ dedicated the late Woodstock resident Levon Helm.
The skin tight rhythm section of Kevin Lance and Naj Conklin fit tightly in the pocket and made all the music danceable.
This was the first visit of Carolyn Wonderland to the Caffe and I hope it won’t be the last. See you on your next tour of the Northeast.
CAROLYN – LEAD GUITAR VOCALS
SHELLEY KING-RHYTHM GUITAR
KEVIN LANCE- DRUMS
NAJ CONKLIN-BASS
SHELLEY COX- ROAD MANAGER
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