NYC-via-Texas project Why Bonnie’s sophomore album and Fire Talk debut, Wish on the Bone, “is a ‘level-up’ in every way” (UPROXX). Surrounding its release, Wish on the Bone received a wealth of praise from Pitchfork, Stereogum, Consequence, FLOOD and more, with the latter praising Why Bonnie’s “signature Western influence along with bright guitars and massive build-ups that mimic the light of unwavering hope illuminating [their] songwriting.” Today, Why Bonnie unveil “Rainbows and Ridges,” a cover of the Blaze Foley classic lifted from the cutting room floor of Wish on the Bone’s recording sessions. “This is a cover of one of my favorite songs,” lead singer Blair Howerton says, “It highlights the duality of life — all of the beauty and all of the pain.”
Why Bonnie’s cover of “Rainbows and Ridges” precedes the upcoming Texas tour, which begins this Thursday at Dallas’ Ruins, and includes stops in San Antonio, Austin, and Houston. Next year, Why Bonnie will embark on a west coast tour alongside Video Age as well as headline dates, with performances in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and more. A full list of tour dates are below, and tickets are on sale now.
Listen to Why Bonnie’s “Rainbows and Ridges”
With Wish on the Bone, Howerton had no interest in adhering to genre standards. Alongside bandmates Chance Williams and Josh Malett, the trio fleshed out songs with help from Jonathan Schenke, who co-produced Wish on the Bone alongside Howerton. “We were trying on musical hats,” Howerton says, laughing. “There’s still some country on this record, but I wasn’t thinking about sticking to one thing. Personal experience of learning to be bolder and more assertive and trusting myself has carried over into my music. I’m not afraid to take risks.” Although Wish on the Bone is untethered from the particulars of landscape or genre, its fixation on what it might look like to lead an authentic life grounds the record in place. “I’ve changed since [90 in November], and I trust that I’ll probably continue to change,” Howerton says. “Maybe I won’t be the same person entirely two years from now.”
Though Howerton may change, her convictions are steadfast, as is her sense of moral responsibility. “These songs were written out of hope for a better future. I’m not naïve, the world is fucked up, but I think you can radically accept that while still believing it’s possible to change things,” Howerton says. “Hope, to me, is strength.”
Why Bonnie Tour Dates
- Thu. Dec. 5 - Dallas, TX @ Ruins ^
- Fri. Dec. 6 - San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger ^#
- Sat. Dec. 7 - Austin, TX @ Antone’s ^
- Sun. Dec. 8 - Houston, TX @ White Oak (Upstairs) ^
- Fri. Feb. 14 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah *
- Sun. Feb. 16 - Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy’s and Harriet’s *
- Tue. Feb. 18 - Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room *
- Wed. Feb. 19 - Los Angeles, CA @ Zebulon *
- Thurs. Feb. 20 - San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord
- Sat. Feb 22 - Seattle, WA @ Barboza
- Sun. Feb 23 - Portland, OR @ Show Bar
^ w/ Skirts
# w/ Dorothy’s
* w/ Video Age