Grand Revival, junior Nate Wilkinson’s band, put on an energetic and surprisingly well put-together set on Nov. 21 at Jammin’ Java in Vienna. Wilkinson is the lead guitarist for the blues and hard rock foursome which is comprised of members from various regional high schools.
Wilkinson, performing shirtless and with specially straightened hair, seemed to have a separate guitar for each song, all of which he seemed to rip a solo on. The lead singer Alex Obolensky, a senior at Langely High School, fronted the group. Obolensky, a singer reminiscent of Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, oozed confidence and poise as he small talked the crowd between sets.
Wearing a bullet belt and looking very much like a pirate, Obolensky was a hit. At one point, he pulled a young lady—who was standing rapt watching him perform—on stage with him, charming an already enthusiastic crowd.
The pair danced through Wilkinson’s guitar solo and she stepped off stage beaming. Grand Revival plays again at Jammin’ Java on Jan. 3.
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The following is an edited transcript of an interview on Dec. 12 between Rank & File and Grand Revival guitarist Nate Wilkinson.
Rank & File: For the show we saw on the Nov. 12, did you guys write all of those songs yourselves? Were any of them covers?
Nate Wilkinson: The only cover was “Simple Man,” and we arrange that differently than the original band.
R&F: What kind of band would you guys call yourselves?
NW: A hard rock and blues rock band. Like the greatest band ever, Lynyrd Skynyrd.
R&F: What are you planning to do in the future? Continue on with the band?
NW: Well I am definitely going to keep playing; I want to go to college for music. Probably Berklee.
R&F: And the band? What’s going to happen to it in the next few years as they go to college?
NW: I am forming another band, with John, who is the drummer of [Grand Revival], and a friend of mine at NOVA, and this kid from my academy class.
So hopefully I can salvage something from those bands within the next few years.
R&F: And what about Grand Revival?
NW: I believe [Grand Revival] will still be my main band.
R&F: And what’s going to be different about the new band? A different sound?
NW: We will have a completely different vocal sound and a more funky rhythm section. A bit more groovy.