She Calls Him Wilson brings classic and modern tunes to Lodi wineries
Anyone who spends time around Lodi-area wineries is sure to recognize She Calls Him Wilson.
The husband-wife duo of Annie and Greg Havens played at Van Ruiten and Clarksburg’s Rendez-vous winery last weekend.
This weekend, they’ll be at Viaggio Winery on Friday for Patio Pairings, followed by a Sunday performance at a luau at Galt’s Grace Vineyards.
And next weekend, they’ll head to Mettler Vineyard in Lodi and Baiocchi Tasting Room in Sutter Creek.
“We play everything from the ’60s to today,” Annie Havens said. “We’re pretty eclectic.”
She provides the main vocals for She Calls Him Wilson, along with playing tambourine, shaker, cowbell and occasionally the piano.
Greg Havens is the main musician.
“He plays guitar and the stomp box,” Annie said.
A stomp box has a microphone so that a musician can provide their own beat, similar to a bass drum, she said.
“It’s kind of an old blues trick,” she said.
She Calls Him Wilson came into existence a couple of years ago. The duo met on Match.com, which is where the band name came from — Greg’s email address had “wilson” in it.
They admit that in their 50s, they’re a little older than most bands just starting out.
“You get to go out and do something considered a young person’s sport,” Annie said. “We’re just trying to change that — and work on our own original album in the process.”
They’re hoping to release that first album before the end of this year.
In the meantime, they’re having a blast performing both original work and covers of fun hits.
“Currently, I’m really enjoying singing a Nancy Sinatra song called ‘These Boots Are Made For Walking,’” Annie said.
Playing wineries and other local venues is fun because they get to meet so many different people. Everyone has a lesson to share, she said.
“It’s fun just connecting with people from all age groups. You get a different perspective from everybody,” she said.
For Annie, She Calls Him Wilson is a passion, but for Greg, it’s also the realization of a long-held dream that sat on the back burner for years.
“When I was 18 or 19 I was in a band with a really good friend of mine,” he said.
The two got into colleges in Los Angeles, and planned to try and start a band and make it big while they were there.
That dream was cut short by a devastating car accident. Greg’s friend was killed, and Greg — who was in the car at the time — was left with survivor’s guilt.
“It’s been a lifelong dream,” he said. “I never really realized until I met Annie.”
The pair were asked to sing during the break of a Big Booty Bob & the Backside Kickers show, and decided to give their own band a shot.
“We just celebrated our hundredth gig,” Greg said.
The pair invite everyone to find them online or on social media — they’re on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter — to hear samples of some of their songs.
Or Lodi-area residents can come out to Viaggio or Grace Vineyards this weekend.
“Come out and enjoy a day and give us a shot,” Annie