The global pandemic has forced musicians to get more creative than ever in ways to distribute their art. One of the many artists to rise to the challenge was Holly Bowling who embarked on The Wilderness Sessions virtual tour in summer 2020.
The 11-week tour saw Bowling trek the country coast-to-coast and deliver crowd-less, solo performances in breathtaking locations from notable locations. Though Bowling is now off the road and preparing for the birth of his first child, she is allowing fans to relive the wonder of The Wilderness Sessions with full soundboard audio released to Bandcamp.
The Ghost Light keyboardist announced the launch of the releases last week, stating that every Thursday would bring the upload of another stop from the tour. Volume two of The Wilderness Sessions found Bowling in Yosemite National Park in California. Nestled in the Sierra Mountains, Bowling delivered a jammed-out set of three unique songs by the Grateful Dead and Phish.
Holly Bowling begins The Wildnerness Sessions Volume 2 with the Grateful Dead’s “Cassidy”. Fittingly, the release of this volume comes 53 years after cultural icon Neal Cassady—about whom the song alludes—died of exposure beside the train tracks in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. This Bob Weir/John Perry Barlow original receives a full telling by Bowling, who pushes it beyond the 15-minute mark before segueing effortlessly into “Billy Breathes”.
Related: Holly Bowling Finds A Change Of Scenery With The ‘Wilderness Sessions’ [Interview]
After this brief respite, Bowling launches into “Scents and Subtle Sounds” for another improvisational highlight of The Wilderness Sessions Volume 2. Bowling’s full-band transcription of the Undermind track onto piano makes for a dark, brooding mood for the song’s intro before entering into inspired improvisation. The Yosemite show comes to an end as Bowling reprises “Cassidy” from earlier in the show.
Listen to Holly Bowling’s The Wilderness Sessions Volume 2 via Bandcamp or watch pro-shot footage of the show on YouTube.
Holly Bowling – The Wilderness Sessions Volume 2
Holly Bowling – Wilderness Sessions – 9/10/20
[Video: Holly Bowling]
