• Photo courtesy of Aaron Farrington
• Sons of Bill
• Summer Sounds
• Friday, July 13, 2012
• Greensburg

“Bill Wilson is from Central Virginia. He is a professor of philosophical theology, a songwriter, an expert on southern literature, and a father of six. His three eldest sons returned to Virginia to start a rock band in 2006 with long-time musical compadres Seth Green and Todd Wellons. As a tribute to the man who taught them how to play guitar, write songs, drive a stick-shift, and back up a trailer, the band decided to name themselves Sons of Bill. In the summer of 2011 Sons of Bill entered Sound of Music Studios in Richmond VA, with producer David Lowery (Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven) to record their latest record “SIRENS.” The band describes this record as a musical arrival point, and will be released on March 26th 2012.”

The band plays Greensburg’s freevoutdoor summer concert series tonight. My thanks to Vocalist/Guitarist/Son James Wilson for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

• The first album you ever bought?
• ‘Top Gun’ soundtrack.
• Your last album bought?
• Dawes, “Nothing is Wrong”.
• Favorite album of all time?
• Oof…3 way tie between Tom Waits, “Closing time,” R.E.M., “Life’s Rich Pageant,” and Metallica, “Ride the Lightning”.
• Least favorite/most disappointing album?
• Tough question, not sure.
• First concert attended?
• Nerve No Pain at Trax in 1995 in Charlottesville, VA.
• Last concert?
• That I wasn’t playing? The Hold Steady.
• Favorite concert ever?
• Megadeth at 9:30 Club in 1996. I don’t know if I’ll ever be that excited to see a band again.
• Least favorite concert?
• Brian Jonestown Massacre in NYC. But at least it made an impression.
• Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
• Catholicism, Football, and amazing Deli’s. Just a great city.

Thanks, James. Brian Jonestown Massacre is also a disappointment for me as well. Not because of the band though. The audience was the problem. Smoking (meth?) and blitzed out of their mind…gross!