The Bridge: Wilde and Wilda – Uxbridge Theatre: August 25, 2024

Wilde and Wilda are Jesse and Faith Wilde along with Mema Wilda and her brother Levi Lights On. Together they all made The Bridge something well-worth crossing.

What is The Bridge? It is a project created by Brightside Productions which they describe as “a new platform to give singer-songwriters a stage to showcase their talent”.  They held a test-run earlier this year, but this Sunday’s was the first “official” event and the 120 year former church that is now Uxbridge Theatre was the perfect venue.

The show was hosted by local DJ PJ Taylor (East FM) and 60% of the proceeds went to Music Helps.

Scheduled to start at 4 pm and run til 6, the show started on time but ran longer than expected due to the amount of music and storytelling that went down on this Sunday afternoon in Howick.

Audience members were encouraged to take part in this interactive forum and so we had time to formulate any question we might have as the first two pair of performers each played a couple of songs.

Up first was Jesse Wilde and his 22-year-old daughter Faith. Jesse and Faith once lived nearby, so this was a bit of a homecoming for them with both Faith’s and Jesse’s parents in attendance.

Jesse introduced his song, I Ain’t Gonna Let You, one of several songs we’d hear from his 2006 self-titled album. Of course daughter Faith was only 4 at the time, now she’s old enough, and talented enough to help dad, joining in on harmony vocals and harmonica. The Wilde’s sound is rooted in country with helpings of folk and rock.

Faith then took the mic, first to tell us about her time in Nashville and how she was invited on stage to sing along with Noah Kahan in front of 25,000 people at the Hinterland Music Festival and urging aspiring artist to “Dream Big”.

Then she sang her own song, Hate You Now with Jesse supporting on harmonica and BVs. They also had their friend Earl Robinson sitting in on drums. After hearing a seeing Faith perform her own song, it was clear the apple hadn’t fallen far from the tree.

All the while Mema and Levi sat together on a couch on stage waiting from their turn.

“We’re gonna put Mema Wilda in the spotlight now”, announce PJ.

Mema was looking a bit nervous…

“Why music for you?” came a question from the audience.

In a soft voice Mema finally responded…”What do you mean? Why not?”

It was clear from the outset that Mema and Levi were less about self-promoting and more about songwriting and singing.

I’ve been a fan of Mema’s ever since I saw her and her band open for Larkin Poe at The Powerstation in 2023. She’s kept a low profile since then but whenever I have heard her I’ve been impressed. And this was no exception.

Mema’s older brother Michael Levin Sesega has been recording as Levi Lights On Project but this is the first time I’ve see them together. They are 2 of 5 siblings who grew up in Samoa, proving as Jesse and Faith did, that music flows in the blood.

While the Wilda Q&A may have been awkward, their performances were anything but.

The due performed two originally recorded by Levi…Eyes Of A Child and Live To Be…and the voices blended as only siblings’ can. Mema, in particular, has a powerful, soulful voice and the two of them made a perfect counterpoint to Jesse and Faith.

As we were to hear, the songwriting on display by all four artists was extraordinary.

The show was divided into two set, with the first running for about an hour. PJ did an admirable job of keeping things moving and moderating the audience questions. Ultimately we got 8 songs, 4 each from Wilde and Wilda, with my personal fave being Mema’s Dirty Rain.

After an interval…snacks and drinks and merch available…set two got underway with much the same format.

Jesse and Faith got it started with Jesse’s song Blood Is Love, a song which could have been the theme for the afternoon. Jesse told a charming story about him and his grandfather plotting to run away and move to the South Island…another highlight of the day.

Then Faith performed one her songs. Cowboy James Dean is a fave of her dad’s and now we know why. More excellent songwriting…and she’s only 22.

Of course Mema was not any less awkward but Levi managed to take of the chatter as the brother and sister performed two more soulful songs…If We Could featured some fine whistling by Levi and and Not Two (Advaita) was stunning.

Then PJ opened up the floor for questions and this went on for about 30 minutes. While it was interesting, perhaps it could have been pared back some.

Set 2 ended up running for 8o minutes and the event finished at 7pm rather than 6. But, to be honest, the songs at the end were well worth the wait and Jesse organised an impromptu version of The Weight, the song by The Band he knows from the Easy Rider Soundtrack (its his dad’s favourite song). PJ sat in on drums and Mema slinked away with Levi, Faith and Jesse trading verses.

It was all about family on this occasion. We’ll be keen to see where The Bridge takes us when it happens again…next one is scheduled for November.

Marty Duda

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