“Carolyn Wonderland is the real deal! She’s an amazing guitar player. And damn, can she sing.”
– Los Angeles Times
On ‘Peace Meal’ (9.27, Bismeaux Records), “blues guitar goddess” (NY Post) Carolyn Wonderland reaches into the depths of the Texas blues tradition with the wit of a poet and the grit of a survivor. Best known for her astounding vocal energy and musicianship, Wonderland is a true legend in her time, equipped with the soulful vocals of Janis Joplin and the guitar slinging skills of Stevie Ray Vaughan.
‘Peace Meal’ is a career benchmark for Wonderland. She collaborated with expert producers Larry Campbell, Ray Benson and famed musical impresario Michael Nesmith of The Monkees. Not one to take comparisons to Joplin Joplin lightly, Wonderland dug deep into Joplin’s vault to find a rare, bootleg recorded in Austin of the little-known gem “What Good Can Drinkin’ Do.” Additional stand-out tracks include the Vince Welnick / Robert Hunter composition “Golden Stairs” as an epic goose-bump-inducing ride, “Two Trains,” a tribute to Wonderland’s Houston mentors like Little Screamin’ Kenny and Wonderland’s fresh take on Bob Dylan’s “Meet Me In The Morning.”
‘Peace Meal’ shows just how far Wonderland has come in her career, touring non-stop across three continents, performing on PBS’ Austin City Limits, and a Janis Joplin tribute at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and collaborating with a long list of luminaries such as Levon Helm, Guy Forsyth, Susan Tedeschi and John Jorgenson. For some time after relocating to Austin from Houston, Wonderland was living out of an old van – flat broke and looking for a gig. It’s been a tough fight and the experience lends a unique credibility to her music and to her life. As a constant advocate for the homeless and peace, the Texas Homeless Network’s John Paul DeJoria Award recognized Wonderland’s efforts in 2010.