One of the best stickers I’ve seen recently is plastered to the side of former Solid 8 front man Andrew May’s sound equipment. The sticker asks simply, “What have you done for rock lately?” Seacoast rock act One Hand Free had this sticker printed around the same time it released its latest record, “Quadraphonic.”

For the Nate Wilson Group, the answer has finally presented itself with the band’s debut album, “Unbound.” The disc is a genuine throwback to the great classic sound of 1970s rock, complete with enough psychedelia to get you to bring out the black lights and turn up the volume knob until the glassware in the hutch is in a dancing frenzy.

“I think our music is mostly rooted in guitar heavy classic rock or even garage rock revival, to some extent,” Wilson said.  “I think what makes us a little different is that the harmonic content is a little richer than most of the bands in our category. It’s kind of like if the Cream-era Eric Clapton grew a huge mustache, packed up his 1975 Chevy van with the bubble window and went off to music school but flunked out after a semester and got really pissed. That’s probably the best description I can come up with.”

Wilson, known also for his time spent behind the keys in Assembly of Dust and Percy Hill, has surrounded himself with a stellar cast that includes Adam Terrell on guitar (Assembly of Dust, Groovechild), Tom Arey on drums (G. Love, Adam Ezra, Akashic Record), and Nate Edgar on bass (John Brown’s Body). Edgar, who is busy with many other groups, has since been replaced in the touring band by Tom Lada, who, according to Wilson, likes to be referred to as “Tommy the Tulip.” 

The recording brings out the best in all of the band’s influences but leaves plenty of space for Wilson to make its own mark. 

“‘Blind Faith’ is a huge (influence) for me,” said Wilson. “I’ve worn several holes through that record. Other than that, a lot of other classic albums from the ’60s and ’70s still get a lot of rotation for me. All the Zeppelin albums, of course. Black Sabbath’s first two records. The Band’s first two records. But I also at least make a few attempts at staying current. I definitely dig some of the newer “indie” bands, too—The Black Keys, Dead Meadow, Blitzen Trapper, Buffalo Killers, Raconteurs, etc.”

The energy of the group’s live shows is also worth mentioning. Amid all the successes the band members have had in their past musical endeavors, it’s clear they are having the time of their lives in this outfit. Members are grinning ear to ear at any given time during live shows, with the simple satisfaction of knowing they’re rocking the faces off the crowd.

“Beyond trying to deliver the songs the best and most faithful way possible, I don’t set a lot of goals,” Wilson said. “The best gigs, like so many things, happen when you least expect them to. So I find the less of an agenda you have, the better the show.” 

It’s exciting to see them translate this recorded material onstage, where it gets even grittier and louder, bringing you right back to the glory days of rock. You’ll not only witness Wilson slapping away at his keyboards, but also see him pick up an ax and join Terrell in a dual guitar attack. 

“Unbound,” is a testament to the local scene past and future. It’s interesting to see where Wilson and the rest of the group have taken their playing abilities. The end product is a step away from the jam scene these boys have long been associated with.

“‘Unbound’ is sort of abstract,” Wilson said of the album’s title. “It was mostly inspired by the kind of primal energy of early springtime that you feel around here when things in nature are pushing up and coming back to life—the idea of renewal, maybe. I thought it was a cool metaphor for the band because the album for us is a significant point of arrival. It’s something new and exciting. And for me, this is the first time I’ve been really in the driver’s seat as far as singing and songwriting goes, so the title is significant to me as kind of a new starting point in my career.”

There are quite a few people out there who claim rock is dead. But rock is not dead; you just need to leave the house and find it. The Nate Wilson Group is out there waiting for you.

The Nate Wilson Group will be at the Dover Brick House on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 9 p.m. as part of the WHEB Local Licks series. Copies of the CD will be available at the show. For more information, visit www.natewilsongroup.net.