When Jason D. Williams took the stage during Todd Snider’s festival-ending show at the Americana Music Festival in Nashville back in September, I looked up to the stage and thought “Is that Jerry Lee Lewis?” But then, he was far too young, and far too energetic to be “The Killer” even though he was performing with much the same fervor and craziness, his curly blond hair flying into his eyes as he pounded the piano mercilessly.

No, Jason D. Williams is not Jerry Lee Lewis, but he’s channeling “The Killer” like he was possessed by his spirit and is one of the most exciting performers I’ve seen in years. Now he’s released an album that underscores his live performance, appropriately titled “Killer Instincts,” produced by Todd Snider and featuring performances by Dan Baird and Keith Christopher, formerly of the Georgia Satellites, as well as Amy LaVere and Bobby Bare, Jr. among a group of A-list studio players.

Besides the obligatory Jerry Lee cover, a great version of “Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-Oh-Dee,” and a fabulous version of John Prine’s “Daddy’s Little Pumpkin,” all the songs on “Killer Instinct” were written in the studio as they went along. This was Snider’s brilliant move, as he became entranced with Williams’ uncanny ability to create poetry on the spot.

Many of the previously-written songs that were slated for recording were tossed and the creative floodgates were opened, and the result is an album of wildly imaginative songs like “You Look Like I Could Use A Drink,” “If You Ever Saw A Baby With Its Pud,” “To Hell With You,” and the autobiographical “Like Jerry Lee.” Williams truly captures the spirit and excitement of Jerry Lee Lewis’ special brand of frenetic energy, and his piano playing matches it.

After hearing this album, you'll understand why critics have called him the “past and future of rock ‘n’ roll,” and “the world’s greatest piano player.” Most importantly, it reminds us of why we got into rock ‘n’ roll in the first place: to get a little wild!

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