I took a weekend trip to Bowling Green, Kentucky to breath some non-Nashville air and get a change of scene. My friend suggested that we go to this free show that the Nashville band Wilder was headlining. The lead singer was an old friend of hers from Bowling Green, and she said the crowd would pretty much consist of a high school reunion with a few actual high schoolers drooling over the cool hometown guy who went to Nashville to become a rock star. Yeah, it was just as amusing as it sounds.
When I saw the lead singer’s mom wearing the band’s t-shirt and dancing in the front row I knew I was in for a fun show. The band delivered quite the set with a proper mix of upbeat and slower songs. Their performance of “I Just Got To Love You” featuring singer Chloe Gilligan stole the show. With a flawless intro of “Can’t Help Falling In Love” and a killer guitar solo by Ben Booth, the band took the crowd through a dance of swaying and jumping and cheering. Although the cherry on top of my night was seeing a group of bros in camo hats head banging to the band’s cover of “The Funeral” by Band Of Horses. The hometown love was strong that night.
Towards the end of their set lead singer Charlie Greene was left alone on the stage with his acoustic guitar to perform a couple songs solo. The music graduated from indie rock and leftover teen angst to the sound of experiencing heartbreak for the first time. Charlie put a spell on the crowd that couldn’t be better described than with the words “Ugh. Melting.” that came out of my mouth during his first line.
Before the show hit its halfway point I knew this band was article worthy. So I found them back in Nashville and went to another show, this time with my camera ready. I sat down with the boys and got to know them a bit before the show.
Band frontman Charlie and lead guitarist Ben Booth started making music together this past year at Belmont University. Bass player and Belmont student Taylor Dubray has since been added to the band along with Miami transplant Danen Reed as their drummer. Each member is 20 years young with plenty of time to season their already exceptional musical talent. And if that doesn’t work out, they all had some pretty cool things to say about their dream jobs for another life. Charlie said without hesitation that he would be a writer for SNL. Ben would be a professional gamer. Taylor would entertain in a traveling circus. And Danen, well, he’d run for office. Quite the diverse team.
Oh and Charlie can freestyle.
And it’s inspired me to start what I hope will be the beginning of something beautiful. Wilder, I dare you all to come up with a freestyle jam at your next show. (That’ll be January 8th at Exit/In in Nashville, TN.)
Be sure to like the band’s Facebook page and check out their music while you’re there. You can also find their video for “The Fire / Hope” on YouTube and more music on Spotify, iTunes and Soundcloud.
