A Night with Needtobreathe
At Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheater
As the hot summer day turned into a mild summer night, the smile never left her face. This wasn't her first concert but it was the first time she would hear rock’n roll live. At age twelve, one thing was for sure, the band on stage was important to her and she was about to have a night to remember.
This young girl was among so many people who expected to have an outstanding night and TOUR DE COMPADRES did not disappoint.
After a pretty lengthy break between Mat Kearney’s set, the amphitheater lights finally turned off to signal the start of Needtobreathe's show. A glitchy, digital, retro man in sunglasses and a suit greeted the crowd on a screen with sounds reminiscent of TRON playing in the background.
“I trust you’ve found your seats by now and are nearing a place of gloria…ANTICIPATION.
An-an-an-ticipation…it’s the spice of life!”
He continued on in random banter for a minute longer as the band took the stage to kick off their set with “Money and Fame;” one of their first singles from their new album H A R D L O V E.
Their set was a good mix of new jams and songs from “Rivers In The Wasteland” People clapped, danced, worshipped, and sang. The band took everyone to church with “Difference Maker” and asked everyone to join in as the large choir for the song “Happiness.”
The stage was set with lights that appeared like glitter and gold shimmering in the darkness. Bear Rinehart, the lead singer of the band, later explained that Bo Rinehart was the vision behind their entire stage for this tour. As the band has grown and changed over the years, it is evident that they push themselves to leave fans with an experience different from the last time they were in town. Their sound and creative expression continues to evolve which has proven successful time and time again.
Most of the night was performed with a full band and backup singers but as hoped for, they broke it down to the main four. Bear reminisced about their beginnings when they played at Tremont Music Hall and felt like their next song was made for small intimate settings. The four gathered close together in the middle of the stage; the banjo picked in, guitars played along, and the harmonica was brought forward as they sang "Oh, Carolina,” a fitting song showing their South Carolina roots.
After “Oh, Carolina,” the stage became even more intimate and the rest of the band left the stage while a grand piano was rolled out. Bear now being the only one, sat down at the piano and playfully went through a medley of Needtobreathe songs from the past, playing favorites like “Return” and “Beautiful” and other mellow songs like "Be Here Long" before the end of the show.
A clip of one of their most personal videos about the dynamic of the two Rinehart brothers was shared before everyone came back out on stage for the encore of their long-awaited song “Brother.” A song with deep emotional ties and one that seemed to connect us all together.
As everyone left the amphitheater that night, you could feel a lightness in the air...more cheeriness than before. Yes, it was a night to remember indeed.