If you go
Janine Wilson with Jeremy Johnson
Where: Iota, 2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
When: 9 p.m. Thursday
Info: $12, no advance sales, 703-522-8340; iotaclubandcafe.com
This could well be the year of Janine Wilson. The Ohio native may have moved to Washington, D.C., to pursue a career in government, but she ended up with a vocation in music. After years of juggling both heavy-duty career paths, she recently took the leap into playing music full time supporting her latest release “Wakin’ Up,” which will is available this week on her Web site (www.janinewilsonband.com).
“I quit my job … [so I can concentrate] on promoting this album,” said Wilson. “I’m really looking forward to focusing on getting the word count and playing gigs and getting it all going.”
Wilson has built a solid regional following since her 2000 debut “The Blue Album.” Yet “Wakin’ Up,” which she wrote with guitarist Max Evans (Ugly Americans), she moves her music into a more mature sound.
Wilson’s latest music keeps hints of the blues sound that first gained her attention, but the songs on “Wakin’ Up” are much more rootsy and rocking than those that know her past work might expect.
The blazing guitars in songs including “Wakin’ Up in Texas,” and “Just Kiss Her,” make it clear these songs are fiery manifestos. To Wilson’s credit, she infuses just enough passion into her vocals without taking them over the top. Instead the lyrics — including “You keep wasting your time/while I’m standing here/offering mine/and it’s all right here for you” — are told in poignant, genuine tones.
Yet Wilson and her band aren’t content to just dwell in the rock world, swerving more into alt/country with such songs as “Rustin’ in the Rain” — a tune that pleads not to waste the opportunity to love — and more into blues, folk and even jazz in other songs.
Thumbs up early reviews aren’t surprising.
After all, Wilson just took a gold award in the 26th annual Mid-Atlantic Song Contest for “It Should Be Me.”
In a way, the award underscores the maturation of Wilson’s style that has moved from rockabilly to blues, to folk, to roots rock with hints of other genres.
“It’s a maturing of my style,” Wilson said of the shift. “It’s some sort of journey.”
Although heartened by the early reviews of “Wakin’ Up,” Wilson isn’t taking success for granted.
“It’s exciting and scary at the same time,” Wilson said. “I’m putting my life out there on record.”
