Stephen Wilson Jr.
Photography by Lauren Fuchs
STEPHEN WILSON JR TAKES OVER THE MASONIC in San Francisco!
September 24, 2026- Stephen Wilson Jr. brought his Gary The Torch Tour to The Masonic in San Francisco, California, delivering a deeply personal and dynamic performance that showcased the emotional weight, rock driven energy, and storytelling at the heart of his music. Opening the night with “Preacher’s Kid,” Wilson Jr. immediately established the tone for an evening built around songs that explore family, identity, grief, growing up, and the experiences that shape a person. He continued into “Billy” and “Cuckoo,” two standout tracks from his acclaimed album søn of dad, bringing the record’s intimate storytelling into a powerful live setting. Much of the San Francisco set centered around søn of dad, the 2023 album that introduced Wilson Jr.’s distinctive blend of country, rock, Americana, and alternative influences to a wider audience. “Patches,” “Father’s Søn,” “The Devil,” “Grief is Only Love,” “Calico Creek,” “Year to Be Young 1994,” and “Holler From the Holler” each offered a different perspective on the themes that run throughout his songwriting. “Father’s Søn” stood as one of the evening’s more reflective moments, continuing the album’s focus on family and the complicated emotions surrounding his relationship with his father. The performance also made room for “Grief is Only Love,” a song that captured the vulnerability that has become one of the defining elements of Wilson Jr.’s songwriting. Wilson Jr. also brought the tour’s title track, “Gary,” to the stage. The song has become an important part of his current live set and represents another side of his ability to turn deeply personal stories into songs that connect with audiences on a larger scale. His performance of “Gary” gave the San Francisco crowd another glimpse into the storytelling behind the Gary The Torch era.
Later in the set, Wilson Jr. shifted into a grittier moment with his rendition of Nirvana’s “Something in the Way,” putting his own rock influence at the forefront of the performance. The cover fit naturally within a set that consistently moved between country, Americana, and heavier alternative rock influences. The night also included “I’m A Song,” “Hardwired,” “Werewolf,” and “Holler From the Holler,” keeping the energy high as Wilson Jr. moved between songs from across his catalog. His ability to transition from stripped back storytelling to louder, guitar driven performances gave the set a sense of movement while keeping his voice and songwriting at the center. A notable part of Wilson Jr.’s current live repertoire has also been his rendition of Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me,” a cover he has incorporated into performances throughout the Gary The Torch Tour. His version has become another opportunity for him to show the soulful side of his voice while putting his own character into a familiar song.
At The Masonic, Wilson Jr. continued to demonstrate why his live performances have become such an important part of his growing career. Rather than relying solely on production, the evening was driven by his voice, guitar, songwriting, and the stories behind the songs. The September 24 performance served as another stop on Wilson Jr.’s Gary The Torch Tour and a showcase of the world he has created through songs like “Billy,” “Father’s Søn,” “Grief is Only Love,” “Gary,” and “Year to Be Young 1994.” With his ability to move between vulnerability and intensity, Wilson Jr. gave the San Francisco audience a performance that reflected the many sides of his music while bringing the emotional core of his songwriting to the stage.
