Gary Wilson
Thursday
Reviewed by Audra Schroeder, Fri., March 18, 2011
Gary Wilson
Electric Endicott (Western Vinyl)Many have tried (hey, Ariel Pink), but no one's ever duplicated the mismatched fantasy world of Gary Wilson. Listening to 1977's electro-funk id explosion, You Think You Really Know Me, felt like a blind date, a 2005 documentary on the upstate New York oddity describing his music as "Steely Dan on crack." Locals Western Vinyl took on the challenge of Wilson's latest, and he returns to Endicott, as well as his favorite themes: Kathy, Karen, Lisa, and Sandy. Unlike Daniel Johnston, who usually sang about one woman, Wilson used names as placeholders in his "love" songs. While there's no equal to "6.4 = Make Out" or "Chromium Bitch" on Electric Endicott, Wilson stays true to his creepy titles ("She Forgot To Lock Her Door"), while doing what he's always done best: Making very effective pop that sounds distinctly like Gary Wilson. (Thu., 10pm, Red 7 Patio; Sat., 1am, Lamberts)
