The War and Treaty Give DC A Night Of Music, Love and Dancing
The War and Treaty Give DC A Night Of Music, Love and Dancing
Date: November 12th, 2022
Venue: Sixth & I
Washington, DC
What’s up everyone, it’s Derek here! I’m back again with another night of music in Washington, DC. It also happens that DC used to be home of the featured artists of the evening.
For those unfamiliar, The War and Treaty is composed of husband and wife duo Tanya and Michael Trotter Jr. Tanya grew up in Maryland so anytime they are in the area it’s a family affair, although every show of theirs makes you feel like family which is why I try to catch them every chance I get. On this night, their show was held at one of DC’s hidden gems when it comes to venues.
In fact, by day it’s not a music venue, it’s a synagogue, which is 114 years old, but with remodels in recent years it provides an incredible and beautiful space for gatherings of all kinds.
Getting the evening started was another local musician and a popular one at that. Nate Bergman has a voice you won’t forget and the songs to touch your heart and soul. The Silver Spring, MD native walked out on stage and instantly transported us into his world as he stood there by himself and began to sing acapella.
Following that moment, he continued to gift us more songs, many of which are from his latest album Metaphysical Change, including “Highway Friend” and “Ode to Manchester,” the latter of which was inspired by being locked down in Manchester as the pandemic began.
With a voice that growls and pulls you in, his is a set that grabs you and doesn’t let go until the very last note.
Then it was time for the main event, and if you’ve seen The War and Treaty live you know it truly is an event. As they walk onto the stage they are instantly greeted with cheers and a warm welcome by friends, family and fans. “Hi Ho” is one of their earliest songs but is just the right fit to get the party started and the fans moving. Shortly after we then got treated to one of their newer hits, “Lovers Game,” creating a truly electric environment.
One of the amazing things about live music is how it brings people together, and that’s exactly what Michael and Tanya aim to do at their shows. So much so, they take a moment shortly into each of their sets to officially welcome and thank everyone and to then encourage connection and unity. They do this by having everyone turn to their left and right and say hello to your neighbor and give them a high five.
Then after we had all connected a little more it was time to witness the connection of the two on stage. As “On The Patio” began, the two embraced each other and did a little slow dancing as the band played. Continuing to share their connection, Tanya told us a little bit about their journey in music and life, from the moment they decided in Michigan to gain a fresh start and unsure where the road would lead them.
Well, that road has now led to them signing with Universal Music Group Nashville, having performed on the CMA awards and the Grand Ole Oprey stage which deserves to be celebrated and the crowd gave them a standing ovation. It goes to show, you never know what life will bring you but sometimes great things begin with a “Blank Page,” a song that also acts as the title track to their latest EP.
Before the night drew to a close, there were many more memorable moments including that of which comes with the performance of “Yesterday’s Burn,” a song amplified by their Grand Ole Oprey performance. We can’t mention memorable moments and leave out that of “Set My Soul on Fire” as the horns kicked in and felt like we were transformed into a jazz club of the best kind, including the upright bass. One additional moment that truly stood out was the dedication of the song “Up Yonder” to the late Leslie Jordan and, a touching moment to remember their friend, in the crowd, who was also Jordan’s manager.
Earlier I mentioned their shows being a family affair and it couldn’t be more true as a fan but also when Tanya’s brother joins them on stage to perform “Keep On Sailing.” You don’t go to The Church of The War and Treaty and leave without feeling something, especially when you get treated to a live version of “All I Wanna Do,” complete with tambourine, crowd participation, and a mashup of covers including “Uptight (Everything’s Alright) and “Respect.”
The song creates an incredible end to an incredible night but sometimes… you don’t want the night to end. You want just “Five More Minutes” and that’s exactly what they gave us before making their way into the crowd to shake hands, give hugs, and say goodbye to those in attendance.
If you haven’t had the chance to experience the magic of The War and Treaty live, be sure to check them out when they are in a city near you. They just announced their 2023 Lover’s Game Tour so chances are they’ll be in your city soon! In the meantime, check out their music and stay tuned for more new music coming soon!
If you happened to capture any shots of the night, feel free to tag us on social media at Shutter 16 Magazine and throw in #Shutter16 and #TwitFromThePit for the world to see.
See all the photos from the night here.
Catch them on tour:
2023 LOVER’S GAME TOUR DATES:
03/19/23 Oklahoma City, OK
03/21/23 Phoenix, AZ
03/23/23 Solana Beach, CA
03/24/23 Santa Ana, CA
03/25/23 Pioneertown, CA
03/26/23 Los Angeles, CA
03/28/23 San Francisco, CA
03/30/23 Portland, OR
03/31/23 Seattle, WA
04/01/23 Vancouver, BC
04/03/23 Bozeman, MT
04/05/23 Salt Lake City, UT
04/07/23 Denver, CO
04/13/23 Louisville, KY
04/14/23 St. Louis, MO
04/15/23 Davenport, IA
04/16/23 Minneapolis, MN
04/19/23 Chicago, IL
04/20/23 Grand Rapids, MI
04/21/23 Detroit, MI
04/22/23 Columbus, OH
04/23/23 Cleveland, OH
04/25/23 Buffalo, NY
04/26/23 Toronto, ON
04/28/23 South Burlington, VT
04/29/23 Brownfield, ME
04/30/23 Rockland, ME
05/02/23 Hamden, CT
05/03/23 New York, NY
05/05/23 Ardmore, PA
05/06/23 Washington, DC
05/09/23 Charlotte, NC
05/10/23 Durham, NC
05/11/23 Knoxville, TN
05/13/23 Nashville,TN
