wilder woods — MUSIC — Unclear Magazine

BY AMANDA SIGMAN

Electrifying.

That’s pretty much the only word I could use to describe the unforgettable night that was the Wilder Woods show in Brooklyn, New York. From the intimate venue to the vibrant set to the energetic audience, each and every piece of the night perfectly fused to create an atmosphere of, to put it simply, good vibes.

The night kicked off with Rodrick Cliche and Four20's who made up not only Wilder Wood’s openers, but his own personal band during the main set as well. With their funky rhythmic energy, and self-proclaimed “walk through a record store” set list, Rodrick Cliche and Four20's introduced just the right amount of hype to warm the audience up for the show.

By the time 9pm rolled around, the audience was buzzing, ready to see the ever-anticipated main act. The audience was made up of both committed NEEDTOBREATHE fans and brand new Wilder Woods fans. No matter how long they had known the name Bear Rinehart, everyone had one thing in common; they were ready to jam.

When Wilder Woods hit the stage, the hype reached an all-time high and everyone let loose. Starting off with his own personal favorite and the first on the album, “Light Shine In” brought out everyone’s singing voices and dance moves, kicking off the night with the high energy the album calls for.

Wilder Woods kept the night flowing, mixing album pieces with a few fan-favorite covers. Some notable moments included the heartfelt and personable anecdote that introduced “Feel” as well as the completely acoustic rendition of “Religion.”

With so much energy it only seemed fitting that the night ended on a high note, which Wilder Woods knew. He closed out the night with a fan favorite and his number one play on Spotify, “Supply & Demand.” This upbeat bop calls for all the dance moves, and that’s just what the audience and Wilder Woods did. Even after he exited the stage, the audience continued to sing and dance to that last little bit of an unforgettable night.

If it wasn’t clear, I personally felt like the night could not have been more-free and fun flowing. In fact, it was so good, you might just catch me getting tickets to the next closest one, which would be a short 10-hour drive.

If you want to have the time of your life and hear songs that are even better live than they are recorded, get your Wilder Woods tickets right now.

BY AMANDA SIGMAN

Driven by a passion for music and a love for creating, NEEDTOBREATHE’s frontman Bear Rinehart released Wilder Woods, a self-titled debut album, complete with soulful, smooth tunes that take introspection to a new level. This melodious combination of modern alt pop, R&B, and soul perfectly pairs carefully crafted sounds with lyrics discussing lifelong themes like patience, forgiveness, and self-love.

What launched Bear on this solo music journey? To him, it was never about signing a major label deal or hitting impressive cities on tour. From the very beginning, Bear didn’t have any tangible goals, rather he was just making music he loved. He shared, “I really wanted to make music that wasn’t a means to an end. It was really fun to make something that I had no idea where it was headed.”

It was his desire to set a strong example to his kids that led Bear to actually release the music. He shared with Unclear that it wasn’t as much the songs on the record, but the fact that he made it. To him, he was setting an example to his kids that it’s okay to take risks and make mistakes because in the end, something beautiful may come of it.

Even with relaxed intentions, Bear’s solo career quickly took off, gaining momentum from both long-time NEEDTOBREATHE fans to brand new Bear Rinehart fans. Wilder Woods hit streaming services in early August and has received nothing but glowing reviews since. With melodious rhythms like “Someday Soon” to driving beats like “What Gives You the Right” this album truly speaks to any and every mood.

The album walks listeners through a variety of themes that can be felt in pretty much any stage of life. Each song takes listeners on a journey of introspection and self-reflection that will leave you thinking about life long after the last track ends. Bear shared that while writing, he drew inspiration from his life, wife, and kids. He reflected that creating for himself rather than a band brought a refreshing perspective to his lyrics, as he didn’t need to speak for anyone else; just his own, impactful experiences.

Complete with ten gorgeous, raw, ridden-with-life-experience songs, Wilder Woods covers a myriad of genres and topics. Of all the songs on the album, Bear pinpoints “Lights Shine In” as his proudest piece. Listed first on the album, he considers this song to be somewhat of a personal manifesto and something he’ll be proud even 15 years from now.

We know everyone’s wondering, what comes next? Is this just a hobby? Will there be more? For now, Bear expressed that this project is incredibly important to him and he is highly committed to it. He’s excited to see it all come together on tour and in live shows and cannot wait to share his passion with the audience. Follow @iamwilderwoods for all the tour updates.