Fiery Carolyn Wonderland heats High Sierra Music Fest

Carolyn Wonderland is among the litany of outstanding Texas blues guitarists, but she uses her voice as an even greater instrument. Her songwriting is superb, as well, and last month the triple threat from Austin released a blues-jazz gem of an album.

The fiery redhead from Austin will return to the hot High Sierra Music Festival for performances at the Big Meadow stage, at 8:05 p.m. Saturday and 11:45 a.m. Sunday, the latter show no doubt featuring Wonderland’s gospel blues.

“When I go to the mountains, I feel like a shampoo bottle on an airplane,” Wonderland joked before opening a set June 10 in the Crystal Bay Casino’s Crown Room, elevation 6,400 feet. No need for concern at High Sierra. Quincy’s elevation is a mere 3,432 feet.

The Crown Room appearance was an album release show 1,750 miles from Austin on the final day of a tour. While that might seem unconventional, Wonderland, of course, always has been called “Miss Understood.”

Wonderland’s new album is “Moon Goes Missing” and on the night of her show the moon over Tahoe was hidden behind clouds. The moon wasn’t all that was missing.

“Songs from the new album will provide the evening’s thematic soundscape as we bask in the bliss under the Blake Tree back there,” Wonderland announced.

Blake’s Tree was placed next to the sound board after sound engineer Blake Beeman died of cancer in 2015. The show marked Wonderland’s first Crown Room performance since her dear friend had died.

The performance stopped for a minute as the band held a birthday toast for Shelley Cox, who has been the tour manager for eight years. Wonderland’s shows are often as informal and humor-filled as they are inspirational. This one had some poignancy, too.

“Here’s looking at you, Blake,” Wonderland said, tipping her glass before an emotional rendition of “She Wants to Know,” one of the many standout tracks on the new album.

• Carolyn Wonderland
  High Sierra Music Festival
  – 8:05-9:20 p.m. Saturday, Big Meadow
  – 11:45 a.m. -1:15 p.m. Sunday, Big Meadow
• Carolyn Wonderland
  ‘Moon Goes Missing’
  Label: Home Record
  Release: June 9, 2017
  Standout tracks: “Open Eyes,” “Swamp,” “Hellfire Bitters”
• Carolyn Wonderland
  Crystal Bay Casino, June 10, 2017
  Set
  1 – Nobody’s Fault But Mine
  2 – Come Together
  3 – Honey Bee
  4 – To Be Free
  5 – Swamp
  6 – Two Trains
  7 – Things You Do (Shelley King)
  8 – Miss Understood
  9 – You Can’t Hide From God
  10 – Judgement Day
  11 – She Wants to Know
  Encore
  Coming Home
  —-