Some duos just share a stage. On Thursday evening at Saint Andrew’s Hall, Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, the husband and wife at the heart of The War and Treaty, seemed to share a pulse.
Founded more than a decade ago in Albion, Michigan, and now based in Nashville, the band is often billed as a country act. The duo has played the Grand Ole Opry and collaborated with the likes of Zach Bryan, Shania Twain, and Billy Strings, among others. But the vibe that night was more soulful and jazzy, with the PA system setting the mood with big band music by artists like Buddy Rich.
Speaking of duos: Michigan’s own May Erlewine was hand-picked to open the night. The Traverse City-based singer-songwriter performed a short set with creative partner Packy Lundholm, who she could not stop gushing about, calling him “one of the greatest guitar players.” She explained that they met when he was playing drums on one of her projects, but she was floored when she heard him strumming a guitar during a break from recording.
This was apparent in their performance of “Days Go By,” a laid-back number with a surprisingly searing guitar solo. “See what I mean?” Erlewine said. Another track, “Animal,” dedicated to “the ancient animal inside all of us,” saw Erlewine and Lundholm practically headbanging while incense burned onstage beside them.
The War and Treaty came onstage next, with Michael’s piano set up sideways, facing Tanya, who looked like a lounge singer wearing an elegant black cocktail dress. At times, Tanya leaned on the piano, with the two seemingly playing for nobody but each other.
The duo was bolstered by a six-piece backing band, expanding into a sound that blended gospel and R&B with hip-hop and reggae inflections. There was a medley featuring spiritual standards like “Down by the Riverside” and “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” and the band also premiered a track from its soon-to-be-released Christmas EP.
They even brought out the Detroit Youth Choir, made famous by a 2019 appearance on America’s Got Talent, for a rendition of “Skyscraper,” with Michael explaining that the track is about all of the underappreciated hard work that goes into building a beautiful tower. The DYC elevated the performance into the heavenly.
There was something for everyone, reflected in an audience that was a mix of Black and white, young and old. Despite the group’s Michigan roots, the room was about half-full — but the band played like it was a sold-out arena, beaming with joy and shedding tears of gratitude for the opportunity.
Michael has been open about his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder as an Army veteran of the Iraq war. (As the story goes, he taught himself to play a piano from one of Saddam Hussein’s palaces.) The realness is no doubt a huge part of the duo’s appeal, but at times these emotional moments could feel like they were bogging the show down, especially for a band this talented.
Perhaps someday soon, though, the arena crowds will come.
Follow Midbrow Detroit on social media:
Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, X.
