When I recently interviewed Wheat, Brendan Harney described their upcoming album White Ink, Black Ink as "more positive, more confident, more comfortable than anything in our past." The same goes for their Saturday night performance at TT the Bear's. For their first show in over a year, Brendan, Scott and Luke seemed thrilled to be back on stage. The crowd, which impressively ranged in age, seemed likewise ecstatic, with beaming faces and voices ready to sing along.
Wheat filled two-thirds of their setlist with songs from White Ink, Black Ink, and the crowd welcomed their debuts with thundering applause. Since the album is so upbeat and joyful, it was easy to catch on to standouts like "Half of the Time," "Living 2 Die," and "My Warning Song." For the latter, Scott invited any willing person on stage to sing the chorus. In true Wheat style, it became a community love fest, with over a dozen kids on stage singing "this is my warning," while the rest of the crowd reassured, "everything's gonna' be alright." It was fantastic.
Of the dozens of shows I've been to this year, Wheat's was by far one of the most fun. I'm surely not the only one who can't wait for the new album's release and (fingers crossed) a Spring tour. A year is too long to wait for another Wheat show.
Setlist:
1. Half of the Time (White Ink, Black Ink - new)
2. Change Is (White Ink, Black Ink - new)
3. Living 2 Die, Dying 2 Live (White Ink, Black Ink - new)
4. I Met a Girl (Per Second...)
5. If Everything Falls Together (White Ink, Black Ink - new)
6. El Sincero (White Ink, Black Ink - new)
7. Don't I Hold You (Hope and Adams)
8. Closer to Mercury (Per Second...)
9. Little White Dove (Everyday I Said a Prayer...)
10. Coke & Tangueray (White Ink, Black Ink - new)
11. My Warning Song (White Ink, Black Ink - new)
12. Baby in My Way (White Ink, Black Ink - new)
