Summerfest '09 finds: Cory Chisel And The Wandering Sons
Decider goes looking for some side-stage serendipity
No matter what you think of this year’s Summerfest lineup, there’s probably at least one show you’re looking forward to. (At the very least you’ll get drunk and go see Judas Priest.) But Summerfest shouldn’t be about what you plan on seeing—what’s really fun is accidentally stumbling across something great while you’re trying to find a beer stand that sells something stronger than Miller Lite. To help coax some serendipity into your Summerfest experience, Decider goes looking this week for side-stage shows that you might not have circled on your calendar yet, but should. In our first installment, we look at a Wisconsin native starting to make noise outside of the state.
Cory Chisel And The Wandering Sons (8 p.m. June 25, Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard)
Good for fans of: Singer-songwriters with a dash of Sam Cooke.
Background: Cory Chisel became an unlikely success story in 2007 when he signed a deal with RCA Records while still living in his hometown of Appleton. Even before he was signed, the young Chisel had attracted famous fans like Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick thanks to his soulfully gritty vocals, charismatic stage presence, and solid songwriting, which is rooted in the bluesy Americana of Tom Waits and Time Out Of Mind-era Bob Dylan. Last year, Chisel released the EP Cabin Ghosts on RCA imprint Black Seal, and he’s prepping a full-length for later this year with members of My Morning Jacket, The Raconteurs, and Band Of Horses.
Sneak preview: Here is Chisel performing "Gettin' By" last year at Lawrence Memorial Chapel in his hometown of Appleton. For more information on Chisel, check out his website at corychisel.com.
