Webb Wilder: It’s sorta like we’re a roots band for rock ‘n’ roll fans and a rock band for roots fans” He also uses these phrases…“Swampadelic”, “Service-station attendant music”, “Uneasy listening”, “Psychobilly.”
Good morning everyone…since posting about the Scorchers yesterday…I thought Wilder would be good to go over today. Webb deserved more attention than he got. Good songwriting and his voice fits the roots music he plays.
In 1991 I was walking through a street fair in Nashville and there he was, playing with his band. He had just put out an album called Doo Dad that got some local and national airplay. His music is a mixture of rock/country/rockabilly/punk and anything else he can throw in. The man has the gift of gab also. His music is just different. He looks like he dropped out of a 50’s black-and-white detective show. I also saw him shortly later at the Exit Inn.
Webb Wilder’s quote when asked what kind of music he plays.
“I came to Nashville as kind of a hunch, an educated guess that it would be a good place for me. Rock ‘n’ roll and country have more in common than not. We don’t have the typical Nashville country sound, but we thought we could use that to our advantage. It’s sorta like we’re a roots band for rock ‘n’ roll fans and a rock band for roots fans” he also adds these phrases…“Swampadelic”, “Service-station attendant music”, “Uneasy listening”, “Psychobilly.”
His real name is John “Webb” McMurry and according to wiki “The Webb Wilder character was created in 1984 for a short comedy film created by friend called “Webb Wilder Private Eye.” The character was a backwoods private detective who fell out of the 1950s and happened to also be a musician. The short appeared on the television variety show “Night Flight.”[Whatever it is… it works.
This song I first heard on our local then rock radio station WKDF in Nashville. Poolside is what first drew me in. After I saw him in Nashville at a street fair I was a fan for life. I like unique…and Webb is unique…God bless him…
It also has elements of the 80s cowpunk music and just good rock and roll. I saw him twice through the nineties and he was excellent each time I saw him. This song was released in 1986 and it was on the album It Came From Nashville. Again…the local play in Nashville turned it into a regional hit.
My favorite song by Wilder is this one called Meet Your New Landlord. I purchased the Doodad album and this song is what I zeroed in on. The hit off the album was Tough It Out which peaked at #16 on the Mainstream Charts. It included guest appearances by Al Kooper and Sonny Landreth.
The guitar riff is instantly catchy and the first verse was about losing your house/land in a poker game. A great storytelling song.
He slapped his cards down on the table
Said, “Boys, I got me a winning hand.”
But the sight that made old T. Jim tremble
Was the king that took his land
This was probably his closest thing to a hit in America. In Nashville, it was played a lot on local rock stations. The song peaked at #16 in the Mainstream Rock Songs in 1992. This song came off of Doo Dad and is about the time I saw him for the first time. This song was being played on MTV at the time.
In 1990 this song charted on the Australian charts and it got a lot of airplay here.
Human Cannonball
Saw the ad in the paperSaid the hell with it allTook a gig with the circusAs the human cannonball
It didn’t take longTo learn my tradeVery first show, manI blew the folks awayNow the job’s a little riskyBut I’m my own bossI gotta tell ya, JackIt really gets me off
I live in a tent withThe world’s strongest manWhen I met the motherLike to broke my handMy baby she’s a ladyIn the high wire actWhen I’m feeling tenseShe walks on my back
Now the pay’s OKThe benefits are greatI get to shoot the bullWith the world’s smartest ape
Ahh hahhhI’m the human cannonballI’m the human cannonball y’all
Well, I’m a hot shotI’m a cool breezeUnderneath the big topI’m the big cheeseI lay it on the lineLet it all hangWhen I go least I knowI’ll go with a bang
I reckon I’m livingEvery kid’s dreamIt’s a buzz, its a gasIt’s a real scream
Ahh hahhhI’m the human cannonballI’m the human cannonball y’all
Yeah…
Alright folks, just make yourself at homeHave a snow cone and enjoy the show
They put me on the coverOf the USA TodayTell the world what theHuman cannonball got to sayOn the Carson showThey said “HC.What you do you got to beRight out of your tree”
Well, it’s a little riskyBut I’m my own bossI got to tell you, John,It really gets me off
Ahh hahhhI’m the human cannonballI’m the human cannonball y’all
I’m the human cannonballI’m the human cannonball y’all
Yeah…
HahahahahaNow blast off!I said… Blast Off
AhhahahhhahhhahhhaAhhahahhhahhhahhhaAhhahahhhahhhahhha
PowerPop... An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture 
Doo Dad Done Dirt Cheap! Thats a cool backstory on your discover of him Max.
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He is another guy that is kinda close to the Satellites with the southern rock and roll thing.
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interesting guy from the sound of it,neat that you got to see him so close. First video seems to just kick in about half-way through the song, but we get the gist of the tune. Seems a bit like Stan Ridgway in his story-telling nature, and sound maybe somewhere between rockabilly and Lloyd cole? Good that he at least got some local success there. Is he still around?
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Oh yea…he does a radio show on a satellite radio station I think. He is still playing also…I’m looking at the tour dates right now. I would like to see him again.
Tough It Out and Human Cannon Ball got airplay on MTV…I remember at the time…well he is really going to make it but of course it didn’t happen. He was too far out on a limb to be with the masses.
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Those are some fun songs. I think I’ve heard of him before, but I couldn’t tell you when or where. Human Cannonball doesn’t sound familiar, so I don’t think I ever heard him on the radio.
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He is a lot of fun….and he can write a good song. The way he looks…you just don’t expect what comes out to come out. Thanks for listening!
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Night Flight! I remember that! I had to look it up. USA Network. I haven’t thought about that in years. Night Flight Plus still exists.
Wilder is new to me.
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I did also…I remember watching it back in the day. He had a few on MTV but was huge in Nashville.
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God, I miss those days…Night Tracks (TBS), Friday Night Videos (NBC), Night Flight (USA), MTV (VH1, later on), The Box (out of Virginia) and my rogue video channel, with the “other” Dr. John & Carrot Top.
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I would look forward to Friday Night Videos and Night Flight and like you said….a bunch
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Webb is great and is also one funny guy who says things like “Wear glasses if you need ’em!” The self-dubbed “Last of the Full Grown Men” also hosts a weekly Americana countdown show called “The List” on Nashville’s WMOT-FM which you can and should stream. And let’s not forget – a great live performer and like the author suggested – every record collection should include “It Came Out of Nashville”.
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Mike, I’m happy that you know him. I think you and I are the only ones today. When I saw him…I loved his talking between songs. He always acted 30 years older than he was as far as talking.
I thought he did a radio show…I’ll check that out…thanks!
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One too add for me- sorry time is my enemy today so o’m keeping it shor-
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That sounds like a Bruce story! lol…glad you liked it.
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Sheeeit, I cain’t even find time to proof read my comments!
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Obbverse have a good night…or day or morning…not sure what time it is over there.
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Like your personalized connection as usual. Had a passing knowledge of Webb. You got me more into him a while back. I think we were talking Southern Culture on the Skids at the time. Anything to do with a Human Cannonball I’m in. I have Doo Dad on my spin list.
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That is my favorite album by him….Meet Your New Landlord. Some good piece of writing and of course Sonny Landreth. Some artists just scream CB…and this is one of them.
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Yup, Webb is in my wheelhouse.
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Webb Wilder sounds pretty cool and reminds me a bit of Phil. And I’m not talking Phil Collins, I’m referring to Phil Marlowe PI! 🙂
BTW, while driving yesterday, I listened to an entire compilation by Jason & the Scorchers (“EMI Years”) and thought their music is awesome. I imagine they must be fun to see live!
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LOL…I was going to say…I don’t think Collins is a match.
Jason and the Scorchers and Webb Wilder are great in concert. I do like the southern drawl of Webb.
If you ever get a chance to see either…don’t pass it up.
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I like this guys sound. Neat personal background story too Max.
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I forgot to mention have you heard ‘Not Strong Enough’ from Boygenius that Jeff posted about. Now that’s some song and video. ‘Powerpop’? They remind me a bit of Alvvays and The Beths.
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No I haven’t got to that yet…I stay behind with Jeff’s but I’ll listen to it.
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He has a rip-roaring, high-energy sound, and I love his descriptors of “Swampadelic”, “Uneasy listening” and “Psychobilly”.
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Wilder is cut from a different but cool cloth.
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