The War and Treaty in Turner Hall in Milwaukee
Take Your “Plus One” To See The War and Treaty If You Can
The War and Treaty came out of the gates sprinting Thursday night at Turner Hall Ballroom in Milwaukee. The duo opened the night by tearing through “Tunnel Vision” off the new album, a couple verses of “Proud Mary” that emitted Tina Turner vibes and “Lover’s Game,” the title song from their 2023 album. That trifecta set the energy level at maximum. From there they would proceed to alternate between foot stomping R&B and arm swaying ballads — or as Tanya would call it: “country gospel.”
Michael and Tanya, the husband and wife pairing that fronts The War and Treaty, know how to captivate a crowd, and they had their audience mesmerized from note one. Part of their allure is certainly the sensual joy that radiates between the couple — the miles-wide smiles, the winks, the linked hands. If these two aren’t head-over-heels in love with each other and with the music they share, then they are most excellent actors.
During “Yesterday’s Burn,” a steamy waltz from Lover’s Game, Michael’s and Tanya’s visible affections for one another became intensely hot, but never in a vulgar way. You simply get the sense of pure love and physical chemistry. More than once, I found myself saying “They’re so frigging cute.”
Given that the site of Thursday’s performance has the word ballroom in its title, it was an odd choice to sell the show as a seated event. The War and Treaty had the crowd on their feet on and off all night long. Often, it seemed some audience members felt obligated to sit purely out of respect for someone sitting behind them. Sensing the dilemma, Michael provided a pass. “You feel like sittin’ feel free to sit. You feel like gettin’ up and cuttin’ a rug — go for it,” he said.
Opportunities to dance were many. “Are You Ready to Love Me?,” from their 2018 Healing Tide LP was extended into a groovy shakedown. “Love Like Whiskey” is a proper honky-tonker cowritten with Miranda Lambert that escalated into a gospel call-and-response.
There also were plenty of tender moments: the aforementioned “Yesterday’s Burn,” “Blank Page” and “Carried Away” come to mind.
Each song was brought to life by an excellent six-piece band. Led by the couple’s longtime production manager and guitarist Max Brown, other musicians include Jonathan “Bam” Homes on drums, Tom Davis on bass, Terrance “Slim” Holmes on hammond organ, Chris Collier, on guitar, and Taylor Shuck on banjo. The band was given a real moment to shine with an extended instrumental jam at the end of “Stealing a Kiss,” when Michael and Tanya left the stage for a break.
While Michael does play piano and keys, his true instrument is his voice. His and Tanya’s vocal ranges are impressive. Their improvised vocal solos alternate between tender and explosive. The pair exhibited this talent at its peak on an extended vocal back-and-forth on “Carried Away.”
Thursday’s set list featured the couple making their way into the audience on several occasions. Near the end of the night, Michael and Tanya, without microphones accompanied only by Brown on acoustic guitar, came down to the ballroom floor for a very intimate performance of an unreleased track called “Drink With Me.” It was a highlight of the night and showcased the pair’s ability to captivate a room.
This was my second opportunity to see The War and Treaty live. Each was a spiritual experience. Given their decade worth of recordings and tours, their multiple pairings with A-list musicians and their many “prime-time” performances on awards shows and music specials, I’m surprised they aren’t playing selling out larger venues. I’m confident that will come, so be sure to catch them in these smaller clubs while you can.
Find more information here on their website: https://www.thewarandtreaty.com
Enjoy our previous coverage here: REVIEW: The War and Treaty “Plus One” – A Jubilant Celebration of Love and Hope
Setlist
1. Tunnel Vision (Plus One, 2025)
2. Proud Mary (cover)
3. Lover’s Game (Lover’s Game, 2023)
4. Love Is on Fire (Plus One, 2025)
5. Five More Minutes (Hearts Town, 2020)
6. Are You Ready to Love Me? (Healing Tide, 2018)
7. Blank Page (Lover’s Game, 2023)
8. Yesterday’s Burn (Lover’s Game, 2023)
9. Love Like Whiskey (Plus One, 2025)
10. Stealing a Kiss (Plus One, 2025)
11. Carried Away (Plus One, 2025)
12. Leads Me Home (Plus One, 2025)
13. Home (Plus One, 2025)
14. Jubilee (Hearts Town, 2020)
15. Drink With Me (unreleased)
16. Can I Get an Amen (Plus One, 2025)