Wilderado storms the Momentary

Indie-rock band from Tulsa gathers velocity for national tour

Wilderado, the Tulsa indie-rockers headed for Bonnaroo and Red Rocks this year, stormed the Momentary in Bentonville with a crowd of road-tripping hometown fans — the type of fans who dance and know the lyrics to the group’s original songs.

Wilderado was the Feb. 8 headliner at the Send It South Bike & Music Festival with three days of winter riding on the area’s 500 miles of bicycle trails. Other acts included the OKC dream punks Stepmom and Bonnie Montgomery, a country music bad-girl from Little Rock.

Wilderado, rooted in folk and country as much as rock, sounds something like Wilco with the sweet harmonies of the Jayhawks. Other influences breeze through their sound – some jam band and an occasional hint of invasion pop. They could also be called an Americana act.

After a decade of paying dues in Oklahoma, the band is on the verge of wider fame. Wilderado is embarking on a nationwide festival and club tour to support its 2024 album “Talker.” Stops include Nantucket with a finale at Red Rocks in October. They appeared on CBS television, and sang a Richard and Linda Thompson song on the soundtrack of last year’s disaster movie “Twisters.”

At the Momentary, the band played a polished 90-minute set with material from the new album and their eight-year catalog of singles and EPs. The performance was well-paced and entertaining, with the band fulfilling its reputation for engaging an audience.

Singer-songwriter Max Rainer, Wilderado’s frontman, was rustic in voice and wardrobe. He and writing partner/second guitarist Tyler Wimpee cycled through a stable of vintage axes, including hollow-body electrics. Justin Kila is the third longtime member and vocalist whose drumming was crisp and concise. Despite its folkiness, the band often deploys quick, driving beats.

Avid fan Hayden Peters, a Tulsa native now working in Northwest Arkansas, said the concert was “tuneful and soulful.” A follower since 2018, he remarked that Wilderado is “unlike anything else I’ve heard out of Oklahoma including the Flaming Lips.” He enjoys the band’s unusual lyrics and “borderline psychedelic folk.” Peters departed the venue holding a set list autographed by Max Rainer.

Both the audience and band enthused about the excellence of the sound system in the Momentary’s RØDE House music club. Distortion-free and warm while plenty loud, the setup was perfect for Wilderado’s vintage instruments and melodic vocals. The light show was immersive with multiple small spotlights and waves of shifting, shimmering colors.

After the concert, Wilderado’s merch table was mobbed – a promising sign for any up-and-coming band on the road.

Story and photo copyright 2025 by Mickey Mercier.