Tucker Wetmore turned the Waves on a Sunset Tour into a sold-out Halloween party at The Hall in Little Rock.
Hannah McFarland got things going with backing guitar and vocals from Kaylin Roberson. Both showed their Halloween spirit, sporting Buc-ee Beaver jumpsuits. McFarland recently signed with Core Records/Capital Music Group and is taking full advantage of this sold-out run of shows to showcase her music to new fans.
Being short on released material called for a few covers, and McFarland did not disappoint with a medley of Brooks & Dunn’s “Neon Moon” mixed with Taylor Swift’s “Our Song.” She followed that up with a great version of Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats.” Original highlights were her 2023 single “The Bed I Made” and her newest release “Hey Highway” (written by McFarland and Roberson).
Hannah McFarland is definitely somebody to watch in country music heading into 2025.
When the lights dropped to announce the arrival of Tucker Wetmore, the Little Rock crowd went absolutely crazy. When the lights came back up, fans were met with an entire band clad in uniforms from 2001’s Super Troopers. As band costumes go, it was a great choice.
Having only recently released his debut EP (Waves on a Sunset), it seems unlikely that a sellout tour would be happening right now for Wetmore, but that just shows the way his music is resonating with fans. The band launched into “What Would You Do?” and the show was off and running. Wetmore’s live show is a stark departure from the sound of his EP, with the full band adding much more energy and power to the songs. On the EP, “What Would You Do?” is much more laid back with the vocals mostly being backed by a beat but live, it’s a full-on classic rock song.
The more classic country “Silverado Blue” came next, with “Break First” wrapping up a powerful show opening. During “Break First,” a fan threw their phone on stage with it recording, which led to Wetmore recording himself singing the chorus to the delight of everyone in the crowd (the fan did eventually get her phone back). You could tell the band was aware of the comic value of their costumes, with Wetmore stating at one point, “I’m about to sing a sentimental song… in a Super Troopers’ Costume.”
An unexpected turn came when the band exited the stage, leaving Wetmore alone with a keyboard. He told the crowd about piano being his first instrument and went on to play an extensive medley of songs that wowed all in attendance. He started off with Beethoven but then changed to the intro of the Queen classic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” with the audience providing the lyrics. He closed out his solo set with Jerry Lee Lewis’s “Great Balls of Fire” and The Commodores’ “Easy.”
Keeping the intimate feeling of the solo set, Hannah McFarland returned to the stage to duet with Wetmore. When she walked out though she was no longer in her Buc-ees jumpsuit, but a full-on Tucker Wetmore costume, complete with a fake mustache. The two then sang an amazing version of Chris Stapleton’s “Whiskey and You” from Traveller.
Now without Super Trooper costumes, the band returned to the stage to get the energy back up as the show shifted into its final act. Wetmore introduced “Bad Habit” from his upcoming full-length album, and also reached back for a rocking cover of Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody.”
As things really started to wind down, the crowd showed their appreciation by “Calling the Hogs” (a University of Arkansas football cheer) for the band. Wetmore had to admit, “That was cool as s***.” As he thanked the fans for coming out and spending their hard-earned money, he let them know that they gave him “The best damn Halloween party I’ve ever been to.”
The Waves on a Sunset Tour continues through the first part of December, and you can hear Waves on a Sunset on all streaming platforms.
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