Stephen Wilson Jr. SON OF DAD TOUR 2024

CRITIC’S PICK: Steven Wilson Jr, Buckhead Theater—There aren’t many Americana artists with degrees in microbiology let alone ones who once were food scientists at a major candy company. But Wilson Jr. checked both those boxes before turning a professional singer/songwriter. Look no further than his composition “American Gothic,” where he and Hailey Whitters reference Mellencamp, Springsteen, Stephen King and Kerouac from last year’s popular Son of Dad debut, to understand his edgy, often dark country rocking influences. He’s already headlining this larger theatre on the basis of that album, which bodes well for a newcomer whose best days are ahead of him. — Hal Horowitz