Wilder Woods Lets The Light Shine In Charlotte
The Fever/Sky Tour Stops At The Neighborhood Theatre
Most of us are familiar with Bear Rinehart as the lead singer and founding member of the rock band Needtobreathe but in recent years he has embarked on a solo career under the name Wilder Woods. He has recently released his second solo album FEVER/SKY and is out on tour in support of the new record. Last week, the tour brought Wilder Woods to the iconic Neighborhood Theatre in the heart of the NODA neighborhood of Charlotte for an evening of majestic music that only Bear could bring.
As I arrived at the venue looking for a place to park, which is always an adventure in NODA, fans were already lined up around the corner in anticipation of what they knew was going to be a magical night. As I made my way to the back of the line, the young man in front of me greeted me with a “Hello friend!” and right then I knew that the crowd was going to be friendly and ready for a great night. As we chatted about previous shows and venues, a representative of the Wilder Woods fan club was walking around passing out Wilder Woods bracelets to anyone who wanted one, another shining example of Bear’s fanbase. It wasn’t long before the line started moving and I made it through security and into the theatre.
I made my normal visit to the restroom and grabbed a water from the bar (alas, there are no snacks at the theatre so I had to abstain from my pretzel addiction) and headed over to check out the merch. There was a line of fans checking out the hats for sale and based on the number of cream-colored fedoras I saw in the audience, I’m guessing the hats were a hit. Of course, there was your usual variety of shirts and music if hats are really not your thing.
The crowd was still filing in and the venue was filling up quickly as I headed down to the front of the stage area to get set up before the opening act took the stage. Opening up the show was singer-songwriter Abraham Alexander who made his way out onto the stage armed only with an acoustic guitar. Let me tell you that Abraham was a breath of fresh air with rock-solid vocals and poignant songs that hit you hard bringing out those emotions you didn’t even realize you had. Performing songs off his latest record SEA/SONS (see what he did there), Alexander was in a word breathtaking. In between selections, he told some background stories and also voiced his appreciation for the opportunity to be a part of the tour. If you’re heading out to a Wilder Woods show, get there early and be sure to check out Abraham Alexander’s set. It’s definitely worth it and you just may end up like me and have a new favorite artist to add to your playlist.
After a short break, it was time for the main event of the evening. The room was buzzing with excitement and the fan club members up front at the barricade were definitely ready for the show to begin. The stage was set up with keyboards and drums on risers at the rear of the stage with a large oval rug in the middle of the stage floor where Bear’s microphone was set up. Lit up at the back was the large “W” logo which added to the anticipation. As Wilder Woods made his appearance, the theatre absolutely erupted in cheers. Everyone and I mean everyone was hyped up for the event.
Things got started with “Sure Ain’t” off Wilder Woods’ 2019 debut album and we were off. Now, I’m pretty sure that Bear had his own team for lighting and sound, but I wanted to give a quick shout-out to the team at the Neighborhood Theatre’s crew because the sound quality has been phenomenal and the lighting schemes have been beyond beautiful, especially in comparison to similar venues in the area.
All eyes were focused on Rinehart as he melted his way into our very hearts and souls with his powerful vocals and a passion for his craft that simply energizes your very being. The first time I saw a Wilder Woods show in 2019, I didn’t even know who he was or what kind of music it would be and I was just blown away. Tonight would be no different as the intensity of the performance began to build and we were all encapsulated by it, experiencing all the highs and lows and the entire range of emotions that such an experience brings. There was joy and sadness, interest and surprise, calmness and awe. But most of all, there was peace. The kind of peace that comes from a shared encounter that is inspiring and energizing.
Bear’s band sounded phenomenal and his vocals were chill-inducing. He took the time to tell us about his two sons and how the name Wilder Woods is named after them as well as a fun parenting story or two. As the music went on, we were treated to a selection of songs from both the Wilder Woods and the Fever/Sky records as well as a few surprises thrown in. We got to see Bear groove to the Beatles’ “Get Back” and we got to hear his super-talented backup vocalist shine on Audioslave’s “Cochise.” The set closed with the grooving beats of “Supply & Demand” as we danced and swayed.
What an amazing performance but it wasn’t over yet. Wilder Woods came back for a two-song encore including beginning with “Maestro” before taking us all to church with “Heartland.” Whether you’re a fan of rock, indie, or soul, a Wilder Woods show has something for everyone. You’ll laugh and sing, dance and shout, and maybe even shed a tear but one thing for certain is you will simply feel and that is the one thing about live music that will never cease to amaze.
Click Here for the Full Gallery of the Evening!
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.
The FEVER/SKY tour runs through mid-May but is selling out quickly so be sure and grab your tickets now.
Click Here for Tickets and Tour Information!
TOUR DATES
APR 26, 2023
THE VOGUE THEATRE
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
WITH ABRAHAM ALEXANDER
APR 28, 2023
MAJESTIC THEATRE
MADISON, WI
APR 29, 2023
VARSITY THEATER
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
MAY 1, 2023
MADRID THEATRE
KANSAS CITY, MO
WITH ABRAHAM ALEXANDER
MAY 2, 2023
BLUEBIRD THEATER
DENVER, CO
MAY 4, 2023
3TEN
AUSTIN, TX
MAY 6, 2023
THE ECHO LOUNGE & MUSIC HALL
DALLAS, TX
MAY 11, 2023
THE CROCODILE – SHOWROOM
SEATTLE, WA
WITH IDA MAE
MAY 12, 2023
WONDER BALLROOM
PORTLAND, OR
WITH IDA MAE
MAY 14, 2023
THE INDEPENDENT
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
MAY 16, 2023
THE ROXY THEATRE
LOS ANGELES, CA
JUL 8, 2023
RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE
MORRISON, CO
SUPPORTING THE AVETT BROTHERS
SEP 10, 2023
MOON RIVER MUSIC FESTIVAL
CHATTANOOGA, TN
https://www.iamwilderwoods.com/
https://www.abrahamalexander.com/
