Today, Stephen Wilson Jr. released two new songs, “yellow brick home” and “Exorcisms on the Weekend,” following the release of his song “Cørnerman” about a month ago, which commemorated the third anniversary of his debut double album Søn of Dad, and is a deeply personal tribute to his father on the eight-year anniversary of his passing.
If you’re unfamiliar with Stephen, he released his stellar debut Bon Aqua EP in 2023, which featured the likes of “American Gothic” and “Year to Be Young 1994.” In June of 2023, Wilson Jr. made himself known in a big way just six months later with his mammoth, 22-track debut album, Søn of Dad.
He has an incredibly unique sound you may hear him refer to as “Death Cab for Country,” and he has noted a range of artists like Willie Nelson, Kurt Cobain, and Bruce Springsteen as his heroes, and you can definitely hear that in his music. There is no one in country music who compares to his sound, and he’s easily one of the best in mainstream country right now in my humble opinion. Weaving together so many touches from different genres is so hard to do, and he does it seamlessly and it feels so authentic and true to who he is as an artist.
Stephen Wilson Jr. wrote “Yellow Brick Home” with Natalie Hemby and Kate York, and he says it’s about “fury of forces unknown & tagging along for the ride”:
“‘Yellow Brick Home’ is the choosing and accepting a world where an existence of familiar chaos is seemingly more entertaining than the chase and catch of money & modern riches.
The real wealth being the fury of forces unknown & tagging along for the ride because that’s all this really is. ‘A real green sky is a real mean guy,’ and he can’t wait to meet him. “
Of “Exorcisms on the Weekend,” which he wrote solo, Wilson Jr. says it’s about about a “misunderstood, small town anti-hero,” unlike any you’ve probably ever heard before:
“‘Exorcisms on the Weekend’ introduces a misunderstood, small town anti-hero who doesn’t shy away from helping others in her own way. Wielding weapons of fearless faith & oppositional defiance to religious and worldly norms.”
They’re introspective, full of that grungy, country fusion I love so much, and Wilson Jr. has an incredible knack for finding such interesting ways to cover really unique and pretty niche topics, and his entire is just so different and so cool.
There’s no one else in country that has a sound or style that’s anything like him, and these two songs are incredible examples of that. Check them out here:
“yellow brick home”
“Exorcisms on the Weekend”
Wilson Jr. earned four nominations at this year’s 60th Annual CMA Awards for both Song and Music Video of the Year for “Gary,” as well as for the accompanying video. He was also nominated for New Artist and Male Vocalist of the Year.
He put out “Cørnerman,” which commemorates the third anniversary of his debut double album søn of dad, in September:
He released a song with Miranda Lambert called “Hardwired” in July:
Throughout the rest of the year, Wilson Jr. will tour the US and Europe on his headline Gary The Torch Tour that will culminate with two sold-out shows at The Truth in Nashville on December 11 and 12.
Find a full list of tour dates below or visit his website.
Stephen Wilson Jr. Tour Dates:
10/17 – Castlebar, IE – TF Royal Theatre
10/19 – Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy Glasgow # SOLD OUT
10/20 – Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy Glasgow # SOLD OUT
10/22 – London, UK – O2 Academy Brixton # SOLD OUT
10/23 – Bristol, UK – The Prospect Building # SOLD OUT
10/25 – Manchester, UK – O2 Victoria Warehouse # SOLD OUT
10/27 – Paris, FR – Le Trianon #
10/29 – Zurich, CH – Volkshaus #
10/30 – Cologne, DE – Theater am Tanzbrunnen # SOLD OUT
11/1 – Utrecht, NL – TivoliVredenburg (Ronda) # SOLD OUT
11/3 – Copenhagen, DK – VEGA # SOLD OUT
11/4 – Stockholm, SE – Fållan # SOLD OUT
11/5 – Oslo, NO – Sentrum Scene # SOLD OUT
11/20–11/22 – St. Petersburg, FL – St. Pete Country Fest *
11/21 – Birmingham, AL – Avondale Brewing Company # SOLD OUT
12/2 – Pittsburgh, PA – Citizens Live at The Wylie #
12/3 – Indianapolis, IN – Murat Theatre at Old National Centre # SOLD OUT
12/5 – Cincinnati, OH – Andrew J Brady Music Center # SOLD OUT
12/9 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy # SOLD OUT
12/11 – Nashville, TN – The Truth # SOLD OUT
12/12 – Nashville, TN – The Truth # SOLD OUT
1/20-23 – Cancun, MX – Dave & Tim Riviera Maya 2027 *
4/24 – Indio, CA – Stagecoach 2027 *
* Festival
# Gary The Torch Tour
