JL & the “band”
It’s classic country music… thrown for a loop
JL Wilkins is known all across America as the Bob Ross of classic country music. Using his modern live-looping equipment as his “easel,” he re-creates the forgotten sounds of a time gone by on a canvas of sound. His “palette” includes guitar, upright bass, fiddle, mandolin, and a cocktail drum kit. Watch and listen in amazement as he brings the legends of country music—as well as a few long-forgotten troubadours—back to life before your eyes and ears with a series of sonic “brushstrokes.”
Always live and never pre-recorded, JL sings, plays, records, and plays some more until his entire “band”—appropriately named “All By My Lonesome”—paints a picture you’ve got to see and hear to believe.
JL and his “band” regularly roam throughout the lower forty-eight, evoking smiles from folks at guest ranches, dude ranches, senior living communities, corporate retreats, community centers, private parties, and even RV parks.
What in the world is live looping?
happy little notes
Attending a live-looping show is like witnessing a recording session. It’s like seeing somebody try to do everything at once. It’s a lot like watching Bob Ross paint a sonic picture using “happy little notes.”
Technically speaking, “live looping” is the recording and playing back of a piece of music in real time using a device called a looper (also known as a “phrase sampler”).
When All By My Lonesome uses live looping, it is always live and never pre-recorded. This ain’t a karaoke show! It’s also not a one-man-band circus act featuring a guy with a bass drum on his back and a pair of cymbals between his knees.
What’s an “All By My Lonesome” show like?
Entertaining and Informative
It’s entertaining, that’s for sure. But it’s also pretty informative. JL is very outgoing and engaging. He usually tells you something you didn’t already know about a song. He also explains what he’s doing, while he’s doing it—in easy-to-follow terms.
Shows can be as brief as an hour or can go for over four hours if you don’t keep a close watch on the “band.”
For a lot of folks, a big part of the entertainment is watching JL’s feet. It’s not his dance moves—it’s the flurry of activity that is necessary to keep the “band” together. All By My Lonesome regularly uses a ten-foot projection screen to show the fancy footwork up close.
Where in the world is All By My Lonesome?
Eh… Try “Rural Route #2, USA”
All By My Lonesome is based out of South Dakota, but travels extensively throughout the lower forty-eight.
The “band” is currently in:
- Texas – January 2025
The “band” plans on being in:
- Texas – February 2025
Why’s JL so “lonesome” anyway?
As it turns out, he’s not
Maybe he never played well with others. Or maybe he actually likes trying to do everything at once. The truth is that becoming mediocre at every instrument in the music store sounded like a whole lot more fun to him than attempting to become really good at just one instrument.
