Mari Wilson took the stage in a long, glittery gown holding an electric guitar with attitude and confidence just like the woman in the picture she saw as a child. That woman was Sister Rosetta Tharpe, 1930’s through early ‘70’s genre-bending singer/guitarist. Photos of Tharpe, known as the “godmother of rock and roll”, portray a joy-filled woman cranking up the volume like nobody’s business when the featured business – shredding on a guitar – was made up mostly of men.
Wilson and her band, together known as Mari & The Dream, performed songs from their debut mini album entitled One to an enthusiastic crowd that evening. It’s no surprise that the band was well supported by the crowd. Wilson spends a lot of time inspiring others. In fact, she inspired her now band-mate bassist Bella Cooper so much that Cooper approached Wilson at an open mic and said, “I’m going to be your bassist.” The other band members, Kenny Jones on keyboard and Tyler Spraag on drums, are musicians Wilson met while managing stages at venues in Bend.
With just elementary and middle school experience playing the flute in band and no musicians in her immediate family, Wilson had only her heart to follow when she bought her first guitar with her birthday money at age 12. Her grandmother had shown her the Woodstock documentary and Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, and Canned Heat captivated her. Her stepfather’s words, “you’re never gonna learn how to play that thing” had no place in the world Wilson was creating for herself. She brushed them off.
“The guitar is empowering,” Wilson says, smiling. “I always wanted to be a singer, and the guitar allows you to accompany yourself.” She initially taught herself to play covers of other people’s songs. Then she began pulling the songs apart to learn structure. “Turning a poem into music happened naturally from there," says Wilson.
After graduating from Mt. View High School in Bend, Wilson chose a career in banking. Yet when she began playing and singing at shows, she’d found the world in which she wanted to live. She started by attending open mic nights. Soon, she began performing at various open night locations. Six years ago, she had her first paid solo gig at a local taphouse. After seven years in the world of finance, she quit and dove into music full-time.
Wilson now wears many hats: show manager, open mic host, sound engineer (also self-taught), and solo and band musician – all at several local venues. This combination provides her with a community of like-minded people who are focused on lifting each other up. You’ll find Wilson working among them in different roles, alternatively starring and supporting within the span of minutes. For example, on the night of the EP release, Wilson first set up the stages and ticket booths at two Silver Moon Brewing venues. Then, she stood in the midst of the crowd in her sparkly gown running sound for the two bands that came before hers. Several beats later, there she was, singing and playing original songs for an audience eager to hear what she had to say.
Wilson’s original tunes are deeply personal. I Don’t Like You (but I love you) was written about her childhood with her mother. Her mother showed up to Wilson’s first solo gig performing her own music and therefore was one of the first to hear this song. It might have been awkward to have her mother recognize herself in the song, yet Wilson is comfortable speaking her truth. In her song, Haunting, Wilson details the feeling of struggling with depression. When she’s writing, she doesn’t think about an audience. She thinks about the emotions she’s looking to convey. If she’s writing to please a crowd, she feels as though she loses authenticity.
Encouraging women musicians with her weekly rounds of hosting open mic nights is a highlight for Wilson. Most hosts are male, and that can be intimidating for some women who are taking the first bold step of performing music for others. More and more, the open mic nights she hosts are filled with women. Wilson provides a safe space.
To women who are having a hard time following their dreams, Wilson offers some thoughts that can become mantras, “Things come to you when you start living your truth. Keep going. Ignore the noise. You’re only doing this life once, what are you doing anything other than following your dreams?”
Mari Wilson’s dream? “I hope my story helps people know that they can do whatever it is they’re wanting to do. Society makes us think we can’t.”
Thinking about getting up there on the stage?
Read Mari’s Guide to Open Mics:
● Show up with no expectations a few times and just listen.
● Check in with the host to learn about protocol.
● Talk to a musician who inspired you while there.
● When ready, on a second or third or fourth visit, put your name on the list.
● Have three songs ready, yet perform even just one if that feels right.
● People really are there to support and listen.
● Have fun!
Mari hosts open mics at:
● Silver Moon - Sundays 5-8 p.m.
● The Cellar - Tuesdays 6-8 p.m.
● Velvet - 4th Thursday monthly 7-9 p.m.
@mariandthedream
“Things come to you when you start living your truth. Keep going. Ignore the noise. You’re only doing this life once, why would you do anything other than follow your dreams?"
- Mari Wilson, Mari & The Dream