Wednesday Toast ‘Colbert’ With ‘Elderberry Wine’ For Television Debut

In a case of perfect timing, Wednesday made their television debut on their namesake day. The North Carolina rockers performed their new single, “Elderberry Wine,” on Wednesday’s episode of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

While guitarist MJ Lenderman recently revealed he’ll no longer tour with Wednesday, he shared the stage with frontwoman/guitarist Karly Hartzman, bassist Ethan Baechtold, drummer Alan Miller and pedal steel guitarist Xandy Chelmis at the Ed Sullivan Theater. Lenderman also contributed to the studio version of “Elderberry Wine” and will continue to record with the band.

“Elderberry Wine” marked the first new music from Wednesday since the release of their 2023 album, Rat Saw God. Hartzman shared the following statement about the song:

“‘Elderberry Wine’ is about the potential for sweet things in life (love, family, success) to become poison if not prepared for and attended to correctly. Elderberry is known as a healing fruit, and is an ingredient in many tonics and syrups to aid the immune system. One time however, my sister consumed them raw and it immediately induced vomiting.

“So ‘Elderberry Wine’ is ultimately a love song about creating just the right environment for fulfillment. There’s a delicate balance that needs to be created, especially in love, for two lives to intersect without poisoning each other.”

Watch Wednesday performing “Elderberry Wine” on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert below:

MJ Lenderman closed out the North American leg of his spring tour last night in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Karly Hartzman emerged three songs into the concert to join the band and stuck around for the remainder of the show.