WAVVES IN CONCERT:
Indie rockers Wavves make the best of their So Cal origins, blending hardcore punk fury with sunny surf melodies. The band sets itself apart from the rest of the indie scene with charmingly lo-fi pop tunes and sweet, passionate melodies belted out by frontman Nathan Williams. They’re a force of nature on stage -- the band tears into live staples like “So Bored”, “No Fun”, and “Afraid of Heights” to create gleefully chaotic jams, complete with heart-pounding tempos, overdriven guitars, and pummeling rhythms. Packed with all the giddy pop and punk attitude ticket buyers could want, Wavves’ one-of-a-kind shows are not to be missed whenever the band goes on tour.
BACKGROUND SNAPSHOT:
San Diego surf rock savant Nathan Williams (vocals/guitar) began Wavves as a lo-fi recording project, releasing his self-titled debut album directly to cassette in 2008. He smartly parlayed his preexisting presence as a hip hop blogger to generate buzz for the project, eventually drawing the critical attention of Pitchfork. On the way to his 2009 sophomore album Wavvves, he enlisted the help of drummer Ryan Ulsh to form a dedicated touring unit. After a falling out with Ulsh, Williams tapped drummer Billy Hayes and bassist Stephen Pope, formerly of the late Jay Reatard’s band. The trio produced the unexpectedly polished pop punk record King of the Beach, which Pitchfork named one of the best albums of 2010. The ‘90s alternative influenced Afraid of Heights followed in 2013, after which the frontman began touring with the solidified lineup of drummer Brian Hill and lead guitarist Alex Gates in addition to holdover bassist Pope. In 2015 Williams thrilled fans with the announcement of two new Wavves albums as well as a fall tour that will bring the group's punk enthusiasm and pop revelry to adoring fans across the country.
