Roots-rock artist Wil opened for (Matt) Andersen.

Like Andersen, Wil is an intense performer and knows how to pace a song — many of them about strained relationships — to coax every drop of drama from it.

A tall, lean man, he steps back from the mic between lines to bob and weave and frequently jerk a leg back and up, as though it’s attached to a string.

It makes for a distinctive performance, one that suggests his own total engagement in the song and, rather than distancing his audience, drew us in Thursday night.

His set included the dark tune Baby, Baby. It was the first time he’d played it in public, he said, and he accompanied the song with another concert first: whistling.

The latter was a tad ragged, but, his comment about always starting and finishing his shows on time suggesting a touch of obsessiveness, he’ll doubtless work on the whistling.

[ View External Article ]

Source: Ottawa Citizen

Author: Patrick Langston

In This Together on April 6, 2010

TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED FOR FEBRUARY-APRIL

B.C. based singer-songwriter Wil announces the upcoming independent release of his third album In This Together (ibreakstrings/FontanaNorth) on April 6th, 2010. A run of live theatre dates to support the album launch begin this month and wrap in April.

Last year, major label downsizing cut Wil free to return to what he truly and honestly connected to, his valued management team and close friends like writing partner Jeff Leitl. Hunkered down in his home in the woods Wil has created the most honest, heartfelt and optimistic record to date, aptly called In This Together.

In This Together (produced by Bruce Leitl – Jann Arden, and Wil’s debut album, Both Hands) moved as a volume of work, from the woods to the studio. The more acoustic-leaning tracks landed at Audities Studios in Calgary, the others hopped the border to Quad Studios in Nashville, to be more fully realized and lushly accompanied by top-notch studio players. The end result is an album that embraces the full spectrum of sound, with standout tracks like, UhOh!, Together and Baby Baby. Transitioning from the darker imagery of his previous albums, Both Hands (EMI) and By December (EMI), Wil has, in this new album, found a lighter stride.

After more then 10 years of intensive touring – Wil has shared stages with Matthew Good, Gomez, Serena Ryder and theater dates state side with Feist – he is reverently known for his dynamic and intensive live shows. Catch Wil live at his upcoming shows to celebrate In This Together.