With the pre-show press releases touting David Wilcox as the next best thing to James Taylor and Bob Dylan, this reviewer went to his recent show at Seattle’s Triple Door with high expectations. Fortunately, the comparisons proved apt.
Wilcox doesn’t break new ground; to the contrary, his sound is comforting and uplifting, with the timbre of someone one has known a long time. With the tried and true sound of a traditional singer and his travel-worn guitar, his voice caressed the audience with its poetic allure and vocal clarity, nearly always wedding an uplifting melody and positive narrative even when dealing with unhappy topics. His audience was clearly familiar with his impressive body of work, and seemed to hang on his every (often humorous) word. His stage presence, too, showed the level of confidence he has attained as a musician; songs flowed seamlessly into one another, with breaks in between as he tuned and retuned his guitar while carrying on the aforementioned banter with the audience.
For fans of James Taylor, David Wilcox is likely either a must-see or a redundancy; regardless, he provides an enjoyable, melodic way to spend an evening.
