Stephen Wilson Jr. expands "Son of Dad"

"I had more to say"

Stephen Wilson Jr.’s Son of Dad was already a heart-wrenching, soul-baring debut. Now, with the release of a deluxe edition, the former boxer-turned-biochemist-turned-country-rocker proves he still has more to say—and shout—from the depths of his Indiana roots.

Released in April 2025, the Son of Dad (Deluxe) album adds five new tracks to the original 22-song release from 2023. It’s a bold move in a music industry that favors singles and short attention spans. But for Wilson, who writes with the precision of a poet and the punch of a street fighter, this extended version isn’t about trends. It’s about legacy.

“I wasn’t done,” Wilson said in a recent interview. “I had more to say about my dad, my upbringing, and how all of it is still shaping me. These songs are continuations—pages that fell out of the original journal.”

The album’s title is no accident. Son of Dad is a love letter to his late father, a boxer and working-class hero whose influence can be heard in every ragged vocal and sawtoothed guitar riff. The deluxe edition builds on that tribute with raw new tracks like “Year to Be Young 1994,” a nostalgic stunner drenched in ‘90s references, and “All the Wars From Now On,” a track that blends Appalachian storytelling with modern indie grit.

Sonically, Wilson Jr. continues to blur genre lines. One moment, he’s twanging through acoustic heartbreak on “The Devil,” the next he’s throwing down fuzzed-out rock punches in “American Gothic.” His voice—equal parts gravel and honey—carries both the ache and the fire.

The production on the deluxe tracks stays true to the original album’s DIY feel. There’s a live-wire energy that makes you feel like you’re in the room with him, whether he’s whispering a lullaby or belting out an existential anthem.

To support the release, Wilson Jr. has embarked on a North American headline tour that kicked off this spring, with a mix of club dates, theatre stops, and key festival appearances. Early reviews have praised the shows for their intensity and intimacy, often blending storytelling monologues with full-band eruptions that leave the audience breathless.

In Toronto, he played to a sold-out crowd at The Great Hall, where fans swayed and shouted along to “Holler from the Holler” and “Cuckoo.” Wilson paused between songs to speak candidly about grief, fatherhood, and the odd roads that led him here—from working in a lab to chasing songs in Nashville.

“It’s like going from test tubes to tour buses,” he joked on stage. “But honestly, both were experiments. I’m still figuring out what explodes.”

Listeners across Canada, including fans tuning in to The Bay 88.7 in Muskoka, have been connecting with Wilson’s unique sound, which has earned steady airplay on the independent station known for championing authentic voices.

The tour has become more than a promotional run—it’s a communal experience. Fans have responded not just to the music, but to Wilson’s authenticity. He doesn’t just sing about pain and perseverance—he lives it, then lays it bare, night after night.

Stephen Wilson Jr.’s Son of Dad (Deluxe) isn’t just a bonus edition. It’s a deeper dive into the psyche of an artist who is redefining southern gothic Americana on his own terms. The songs are jagged, beautiful, unpolished—and unforgettable.

For those just discovering him, this deluxe release is a perfect entry point. For longtime fans, it’s a reminder that the son of dad still has a whole lot of fight—and poetry—left in him.

Sources: Stephen Wilson Jr., Big Loud Records, Apple Music, Rolling Stone Country, American Songwriter, Bands In Town, Songkick, The Bay 88.7