If by tomorrow your Mifflin and/or Revelry hangover has been cured, head on down to The Frequency. The Lonely Wild will be performing at 9 PM in what is sure to be a moving experience.
As I listen to band founder Andrew Carroll’s voice crying out amid the quintet, I cannot help but get a little emotional. The Lonely Wild has recently debuted their LP, The Sun As It Comes, which I have been listening to constantly as it has taken me on an emotional revival, stomping and belting out as I walk the streets of Madison.
My personal favorite track off this new album is “Closer Than The Needle.” This song reaches into the soul and takes a tight grasp. As a listener one confronts their own personal demons through the powerful words of Carroll and the soft harmonic instrumentals. The astounding “Buried in the Murder” will make one question the boundaries of genre. By means of confession and a call to become men of conviction, Carroll’s voice pulls at the heart while multi-instrumentalist Ryan Ross, lead guitarist Andrew Schneider, vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Jessi Williams, and drummer Dave Farina create a sound I have only formerly heard in old western films. Then, it takes off as Schneider’s guitar uplifts and Carroll roars out.
The band uses many instruments to create a unique sound that is refreshingly moving. Carroll does not like the restriction of genre. “You could call us: rock ‘n’ roll, folk, country, western, experimental, chamber music,” he tells us.
Carroll says he has always tried to surround himself with the most talented and versatile musicians. With each track is a new percussion object — and I say ‘object’ because The Lonely Wild is not confined to traditional instruments (which they use plenty of) but find the unique sound in trash can lids to create a neo-orchestra.
“We’ve used these particular instruments basically because these are the ones that we can play and that we have at our disposal,” Carroll says. “I approach each song as its own sonic landscape.”
The Lonely Wild has been able to maintain their unique symphony at live venues, according to Carroll. He was worried when writing “Everything You Need” that his idea for two trumpets might not work out live, but luckily Williams just so happened to be able to play trumpet. Beyond her capacity to play multiple instruments, Jessi Williams’ voice is just a beautiful as Carroll’s and it is a great joy to listen to the duet. In title track “The Sun As It Comes,” Carroll and Williams sing in perfect harmony in undoubtedly one of the best duets I have heard in a while. This is truly a talented group of musicians.
When asked about the ultimate goal for The Lonely Wild, Carroll replied: “World domination.” After listening to their new album I do believe that their goal is attainable.