James Wilkerson

James Wilkerson
The stars of the night were easily James Wilkerson and his partner-in-crime, rapping vocalist Pat Armstrong. The unlikely pairing of bluesy acoustic rock with mega-tight emcee skills was a uniquely curious sound that worked. Wilkerson’s charismatic and instantly likable personality was further enhanced by constant references to Indiana and his native Rensselaer. - Nuvo

James Wilkerson is up first. He was part of the competition a few years ago, and I remember him impressing me back then. Let’s see if that still holds up.

Joining him on stage was Pat Armstrong, who provided raps at breakneck speeds to contrast Wilkerson’s intricate blues-inspired melodies. Acoustic and rap may sound like an odd combination, but their dynamic actually works very well. Though they did have a few technical issues (microphone cutting out and dropping his pic during a song), he took it all in stride, and also pointed out when he messed up, usually within the context of the song. Technical difficulties and a tendency to pull away from the microphone aside, he turned in a very enjoyable performance. In short, there’s a reason he got to the finals last time, and he looks more than eager to make another run this year. - Concart: The Art of Live

Let the second half of the evening commence! After a few seconds to switch over and one quick trip to the bar so I can get a Red Bull, our next one looks ready to go. It’s a rap/blues combo led by James Wilkerson.

It’s an interesting mixtures, especially given the dynamic between Wilkerson and partner Patrick Armstrong. The former is more calculated and precise in what he does while the other breaks out rhymes at breakneck speeds. The difference between this time and the last was instead of easing us into what their sound is, they chose to throw us right into it, doing a great job in establishing what they would sound like. Also another key difference was not acknowledging any mistakes (on stage and in song, no less). Overall, even if this kind of thing isn’t your cup of tea (or your can of Red Bull), they’re very polished, and they operate on the same wavelength, and this combination can be a force to be reckoned with if they can make it past this round.

After another long wait, we finally have our winners. Our host Rob Snodgrass comes out and thanks everyone for coming, before revealing our 4 finaliists (not in order, because where’s the suspense in that?). So who’s moving on? Let’s find out:

1st: James Wilkerson
2nd: The Dapper
3rd: Brad Kleinschmidt
4th: Tied To Tigers

So there we have it. The 8 Indiana artists who will grace the stage at 247 Sky Bar downtown has been set. It’s going to be a battle, but it will also be one of the biggest celebrations in original music that this city hasn’t seen in some time. - Concart: The Art of Live

Loughmiller's Pub & Eatery
Loughmiller’s is a tavern that serves up American pub grub and has live music at least once a week. Some of their “Live at the Lock” events have featured local bluesy, new-folk artists such as Jay Elliott and Craig Thurston, but other events include “’90s Night with James Wilkerson.” The best thing about Loughmiller’s? Their live music events are cover-free! - VisitIndy.com