Carolyn Wonderland - virtuoso lap steel guitarist from Texas!

Carolyn Wonderland, with her dynamic guitar playing, formidable songwriting, and pure Texas

vocals, has more than earned her reputation as a fiercely independent artist. Wonderland plays

original, bluesified, cosmic soul music, mixed with heavy doses of Tex-Mex and riff-fueled rock ‘n’

roll. She has been performing professionally since the age of 15 and has led a colorful and

adventurous life. On the road her entire career, she’s played with icons from Townes Van Zandt to

Levon Helm, from Buddy Guy to Hubert Sumlin, from Bob Dylan to John Mayall, all while writing

her own story.

On her new Alligator Records album, Truth Is, Wonderland, with her vividly detailed, instantly

memorable songs, reflects on the world with honesty and righteous conviction. Wonderland’s bold

and insightful songs tell common-sense truths that, in her words, “need to be told.” They are driven

by her sometimes savage and other times gently melodic guitar fingerpicking, along with her full-

throated yet still vulnerable vocals. As for the album’s brutally honest subject matter, Wonderland

says, “There’s always hope and we’re still here for each other, but at some point, you have to sing

about the elephant in the room.”

Truth Is is a timeless album for these times. Over the course of the album’s 12 songs—including 10

Wonderland originals and co-writes—Wonderland and her band create lasting musical magic. From

the blistering, ear-opening “Sooner Or Later” to the riff-heavy battle cry “I Ain’t Going Back” to the

emotional gut-punch of the title track, this is music that commands attention. The poignant,

profound and heartbreaking “Let’s Play A Game”, to the swaggeringly bluesy “Whistlin’ Past The

Graveyard Again” (“that’s a day in the life of me and my friends,” says Wonderland), to the

cathartic closer, “Blues For Gene” (a tribute to her late friend, piano giant Gene Taylor, with Carolyn

and album producer Dave Alvin shedding tears as they were recording the track), the songs tell real

and relatable stories while running the full gamut of emotions.

"Red hot guitar heroine, lap steel virtuoso, whip-smart songwriter and fire-breathing singer with 12 new tracks (including 10 Wonderland originals or co-writes) that deliver the blues’ honest truth in vividly detailed, infectious songs, all shot through with her stinging fretwork and full-throated vocals. Produced by roots music legend Dave Alvin, with guest performances from Alvin, Ruthie Foster, Marcia Ball and Cindy Cashdollar. "Pure electricity…astonishing playing and soulful, sophisticated singing…Wonderland delivers cleverly penned lyrics with sly joy. Her passionate singing is expressive and sensual. Her solos burn and elevate the groove.” – AllMusic