Born in Los Angeles, Noah G. Wilson moved to San Francisco when he was a year old. When he was 2, a family friend pointed out to Noah’s Mom that the toddler was keeping time on the bongos to a song that was playing. He also had an early love of Rock Music, taking AC/DC records to grade school parties and attending local KISS concerts. It was in the 6th grade that Noah took up the upright bass and learned to read music in the school orchestra. By the 8th grade, he had moved up to the advanced orchestra and had also begun playing electric bass in the school jazz band. Herbie Hancock’s “Chameleon” was one of his first and favorite songs.
Throughout high school he continued playing electric bass in the school band but eventually stopped playing the upright. While a sophomore, he was invited to audition and became a member of the McDonald’s™ San Francisco All-City Jazz Band, a band that played shows throughout the Bay Area. Attending the University of California, Santa Cruz, Noah was introduced to a world of underground music. He quickly teamed up with drummer John Vallier, who would remain a long-time rhythm section partner of Wilson's. Together they played in a number of bands, rocking shows and parties throughout Santa Cruz and the Bay Area. 1996 saw Noah move to Los Angeles to attend the Musician’s Institute year program. There he studied with Jeff Berlin, Steve Bailey & Todd Johnson, graduated with honors and was awarded the Humanitarian Award by his classmates. After graduating in 1997, Noah played numerous styles of music in many diverse bands in and around the Los Angeles basin, including playing with George Hurley — drummer of The Minutemen and fIREHOSE.
Noah and John Vallier reunited in 1999 and quickly formed the bass and drum duo, The Spirit Squad. In an article entitled “Ideal American Musicians” published by the DePaul University School of Music, professors and students were asked who they believed were “ideal American musicians.” Some of the answers that were given were George Gershwin, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. However, Dr. Pantelis Vassilakis had an entirely different answer stating, "My entry is an original music duo consisting of bassist Noah G. Wilson and drummer John B. Vallier. Their music offers clear and inspired - while utterly insane - ideas. It is executed with remarkable skill and honesty, and always captivates audiences, traditional and avant-garde alike.” In 2004, Noah joined the band Approximation, a post-hardcore rock band. Said Amoeba Records' Kwasi Asare: "Approximation's gut-wrenching and technically acute sound will surely be the blueprint for punk bands for years to come." Another reviewer described the sound as "Blue Cheer with a dash of Zappa" and "neo-art-punk." Noah left the band in 2008 to pursue new music opportunities.
Noah has a diverse and eclectic group of influences including but in no way limited to: Bill Frisell, Jeff Berlin, Stanley Clarke, Jaco Pastorious, Mike Watt, Primus, John Prine, Prince, Marcus Miller, Fela Kuti, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, the Melvins, Doc Watson and Weather Report.
email Noah at noah@philipclark.com
