Wilder Woods at The Vogue in Indianapolis on Wednesday, April 26, 2023!
Wilder Woods
“I’ve heard that wisdom comes from two things: traversing the peaks and valleys that
surround falling in, being in, and staying in love, as well as good ol’ fashioned experiences, the
repetitions and mistakes it takes to achieve excellence,” says Wilder Woods, “but I don’t think
you can understand either love or experience unless you’re willing to take the first step out of
the “comfortable” and dive headfirst into the unknown.”
With his brilliant self-titled debut, Wilder Woods, also known to many as Bear Rinehart, is
doing precisely that. A timeless blend of classic soul, infectious R&B, and modern pop, the
record captures the sound of a veteran songwriter confidently breaking new ground, blazing
his own distinctive trail through uncharted territory with comfort and style. Simultaneously
vulnerable and self-assured, the songs reflect both the rich well of experience from which
they’re drawn and the bold leap that they represent, pairing intimate, introspective lyricism
with effortless swagger and monster hooks. Wilder Woods is a new side of Rinehart, but one
that he’s more than ready to share.
Drawing the inspiration for his new musical moniker from his two sons, Wilder Rinehart
and Woods Rinehart, Wilder Woods knew he couldn’t expect his sons to see the value in
taking bold, potentially life-changing chances if he wasn’t willing to do it himself. So,
foregoing the comfort and security he’d built across a storied career in music thus far, he set
about building a brand new sound from the ground up, one that was refined yet
approachable, sophisticated yet raw, modern yet classic. He crafted songs with a series of
collaborators in Nashville (where he and his family would soon move full-time) and team
up with rising producer Gabe Simon, whose indie pop approach proved to be the perfect
counterweight to his own old-school sensibilities.
“This music represents a new direction and something totally fresh for me,” he says, “so I
wanted to find a producer that I had never worked with before who could match that energy.
Gabe was perfect because he came from a completely different musical world, but he was still
somebody I could get really deep into guitar tones and harmonic structure and rhythmic
ideas with.”
While the early demos often included digital elements, Wilder Woods assembled an all-star
band, including but not limited to Tyler Burkum, Jeremy Lutito, Ian Fitchuk, Darren King,
Jesse Baylin and Te Watson Twins, record everything live in the studio, humanizing the
intricate arrangements with passionate, explosive performances. The result is a singular blend
of old and new like a vintage Eldorado retrofitted with a 21st-century engine. It’s a
captivating duality, one that mirrors the split personality of the project as a whole.
“There are two distinct sides to this album,” says Wilder Woods. “Tere’s the Wilder side,
which is all about love and flirtation and desire, and the Woods side, which is more serious
and reflective. We all contain multitudes, and you have to recognize and honor all the
different parts of yourself if you ever want to feel whole.”
The record opens with the seductive “Light Shine In,” a gorgeous meditation that revs its way
up from a delicate whisper to a spiritual roar. Fueled by Woods’ stop-you-in-your-tracks
vocals, the songs play out like a Wilder Woods manifesto, a stream-of-consciousness plea that
sets the stage perfectly for an album all about understanding, forgiveness, and self-love in a
world that’s conditioned us to feel like we’ll never be enough. The tender “Someday Soon,”
meanwhile, wrestles with internalized doubt and shame, and the stripped-down “Religion”
challenges conventional notions of happiness and success.
As much as Wilder Woods’ children inspired him to put pen to paper on this album, it’s clear
that his wife, Mary Reames Rinehart, is an ever-present muse. He taps into the lightning he
felt the first time they met on the explosive “Electric Woman,” offers reassurance in the face
of uncertainty on “Mary, You’re Wrong,” and imagines the life ahead of them in their new
home on the gospel-influenced “Hillside House.”
“Marriage and fatherhood have shown me that the hard times are what teach you the most
about who you are,” he reflects. “Nobody else can give that to you. You have to experience it
for yourself.”
His burning desire to experience the unknown reached an apex during a rare break in 2017
from his relentless tour schedule with NEEDTOBREATHE, the chart-topping rock band he
co-founded in his hometown of Possum Kingdom, South Carolina. Bear Rinehart felt as if
he was watching his sons grow up at light speed. He wanted to stop time, if only for a
moment, and write a letter, both to himself and to his kids. Looking back on his own
childhood, 15 years with NEEDTOBREATHE, chart-topping releases, GRAMMY
nominations, multiple sold-out tours, and the like, he asked himself the harder questions:
What would life look like if we strive to enjoy the journey as much as the destination, the
struggle as much as the victory? What risks would we take if we could see our mistakes for the
gifts that they really are?
In that respect, ‘Wilder Woods’ is as much about self-discovery as it is about leading by
example, about daring you to be bold and take your own leap towards realizing your truest
self. Think of these songs as little beacons of light, lanterns to help guide you on your passage
into the unknown. As Toreau put it, “If one advances confidently in the direction of his
dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success
unexpected in common hours.” Wilder Woods is proof of that.
$1.00 per ticket sold goes to the artist's charity.
WILDER WOODS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2023
21+
THE VOGUE THEATRE
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
TICKETS AT THEVOGUE.COM
PLEASE NOTE:
THIS SHOW IS GENERAL ADMISSION AND SEATING IS NOT PROVIDED. YOU MUST BE 21+ TO ENTER THE VENUE WITH A VALID FORM OF IDENTIFICATION. ALL TICKETS ARE NON-TRANSFERABLE AND NON-REFUNDABLE. TWO FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION MAY BE REQUIRED FOR ENTRY.
