Nashville-based star of stage and screen Webb Wilder made the rounds in Atlanta this past Saturday night. Wilder started the evening with a rollicking performance at Smiths Olde Bar. He featured many songs from his 2008 live release Born to Be Wilder (which currently sits alone atop the Roots Charts) like Tough It Out, You Might Be Lonely for a Reason, and the classic, Human Cannonball. Longtime Wilder side man George Bradfute sat in with the band when current Wilder bassist Tom Comet missed the show due to a family illness. Bradfute, the Tone Chaperone, is a multi-instrumentalist and has been a part of many previous WW outfits, handled the bass duties on this evening. The Wilder loyalists, some of whom had that traveled a very long way, also reveled in the healthy sampling of rarities, which included TCB Yodel #9 from Wilders silver screen Corn Flick, Horror Hayride (featuring the lyrics, if you dont think Elvis was number 1, then youre full of number 2) and the second-ever public performance of Everyday I Kick Myself from his 1991 release, DooDad.

Then Wilder made his way over to over to Highland Avenue to bathe in the incisive twin-guitar-driven music of Atlanta fixtures, Delta Moon who were performing to a sold out crowd at Blind Willie’s. Wilder enjoyed the band amidst the crowd for a while. However, after tearing through Stranger in My Hometown, from last years Clear Blue Flame release, Delta Moon invited Wilder for a swamp-drenched, explosive and surprisingly seamless three-guitar attack. Wilder and The Moons Tom Gray and Mark Johnson locked in during Chuck Berrys Let It Rock. They honored Atlanta native blues legend Big Maceo Merriweather with a version of his Worried Life Blues and then wrapped up the impromptu crosspollination with Sugar Coated Love from the pen of Louisiana s Leslie Lazy Lester Johnson.

Delta Moon and Webb Wilder each have gigs coming up at the Bamboo Room in Lake Worth, Florida. Delta Moon will perform there on March 8 and Webb Wilder March 13. Each will also be seen at festivals across the country this summer. Delta Moon will start their festival season with a performance at Atlantas 72nd annual Dogwood Festival on April 4 and you can catch Webb Wilder when he co-headlines with Pure Prairie League at the unique Chicken and Egg Festival in Moulton, AL on April 12. It should be noted that veteran blues harpist Lazy Lester continues to tour. He is currently on the road with Mark Hummels Harmonica Blowout, which will begin a six night stand at Paris Le Meridian Etiole on March 11. Report by Rob Turner