Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons Get Their Shot
Cory Chisel and Joshua James played the Majestic Theater in Madison Friday night to a crowd of about 150. Both artists showcased a lyrically rich, folk-rockesque sound with material from their new albums.
Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons deliver soulful vocals wrapped around honest, intelligent lyrics. It makes you wonder how it could come from someone based out of Appleton, Wisconsin. Appleton is the birthplace of legendary magician Harry Houdini and home to 1950’s anti-communist senator Joseph McCarthy. Even the ultra-conservative John Birch Society has its headquarters there. Religion and politics play an important role in this blue-collar community that has little time for pretense and hype. But, you know, that’s the essence of Cory Chisel, down-to-earth and real. You can’t manufacture that feeling. It has to come from the heart.
Cory still lives in Appleton and his unjaded approach to the new single “Born Again”, co-written with Brendan Benson and keyboardist/vocalist Adriel Harris , reflects his upbringing performing music at church functions. His father was a Baptist minister and Cory takes that past spiritual discipline and melds it into a soulful sound all his own. The new album “Death Won’t Send a Letter” was recorded in California and Nashville, with a major label promo push that includes a Jimmy Fallon appearance, and a European tour opening for friend and former Raconteur Brendan Benson. Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons are on the verge of becoming very popular and it's exciting to see it happen to a Wisconsin musician!
