Wavves
Encyclopedia
Wavves is an American surf pop/noise punk band based out of San Diego, California
.
Wavves released their self-titled debut album
in 2008, subsequently drawing the attention of Pitchfork Media
. At the time, the band consisted of guitarist Nathan Williams and drummer Ryan Ulsh.
Their second full-length album, Wavvves
, was released on February 3, 2009, and was well-received by outlets such as Spin, The Onion
A.V. Club, and Pitchfork.
Singer Nathan Williams experienced a public breakdown as the band was unable to complete their set at the 2009 Barcelona Primavera Sound Festival. Williams, who admitted he'd taken a cocktail of ecstasy and Valium, fought with drummer Ryan Ulsh and insulted the Spanish crowd, who then pelted him with bottles and a shoe. Apologizing for their performance, Williams admitted the next day that he was addicted to alcohol
. As a result, the band canceled the remainder of their European tour. When Ulsh quit the band, Zach Hill
from Hella
replaced him as the drummer for Wavves for a brief time. Two members formerly of the late Jay Reatard
's band, drummer Billy Hayes
and bassist Stephen Pope, joined Wavves in November 2009. Williams also reported that an album featuring Zach Hill on drums was to be expected towards the end of 2010 along with a possible EP featuring Hayes and Pope.
The third Wavves album, entitled King of the Beach
, was released on August 3, 2010, by Fat Possum Records, and features the latest lineup of Nathan Williams, Billy Hayes, and Stephen Pope. The album received generally positive reviews from the likes of Paste Magazine, Dusted Magazine, and The Onion's A.V. Club. The album received an average of 72 out of 100 on Metacritic
, based on 26 critics reviews. The album was named the 24th-best album of the year by Spin, and the 50th best album of the year by Pitchfork. The group's single "Post Acid" was featured in a 3 minute and fifty second promotional cartoon called: "Scott Pilgrim vs. the Animation"
In support of King of the Beach, Wavves has scheduled tour dates throughout North America beginning on August 2, 2010, culminating in a handful of shows opening for Phoenix
and playing Austin, Texas
's Fun Fun Fun Fest
.
Billy Hayes left Wavves in November 2010 and was replaced by Jacob Cooper, formerly of The Mae Shi
.
Wavves' two songs Take on the World and When Will You Come? have both been used for promo commercials of the MTV
television show Awkward. (TV series)
.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
History
Wavves started in 2008 as the recording project of Nathan Williams. Wavves released several 7"s as well as a cassette leading up to the first two releases 'Wavves' (Woodsist) and 'Wavvves' (Fat Possum/Bella Union). After gaining recognition Ryan Ulsh was enlisted as a touring drummer and Wavves did the first US and European tours.Wavves released their self-titled debut album
Wavves (album)
Wavves is the debut studio album by the American band Wavves. It was originally released on cassette format in September before being re-released on LP/CD formats.-Cassette edition:#"Intro Goth" – 1:22#"California Goth" – 2:18...
in 2008, subsequently drawing the attention of Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
. At the time, the band consisted of guitarist Nathan Williams and drummer Ryan Ulsh.
Their second full-length album, Wavvves
Wavvves
-Track listing:All songs written by Nathan Williams.#"Rainbow Everywhere" – 1:29#"Beach Demon" – 3:31#"To the Dregs" – 1:56#"Sun Opens My Eyes" – 3:20#"Gun In the Sun" – 2:33#"So Bored" – 3:13#"Goth Girls" – 3:13...
, was released on February 3, 2009, and was well-received by outlets such as Spin, The Onion
The Onion
The Onion is an American news satire organization. It is an entertainment newspaper and a website featuring satirical articles reporting on international, national, and local news, in addition to a non-satirical entertainment section known as The A.V. Club...
A.V. Club, and Pitchfork.
Singer Nathan Williams experienced a public breakdown as the band was unable to complete their set at the 2009 Barcelona Primavera Sound Festival. Williams, who admitted he'd taken a cocktail of ecstasy and Valium, fought with drummer Ryan Ulsh and insulted the Spanish crowd, who then pelted him with bottles and a shoe. Apologizing for their performance, Williams admitted the next day that he was addicted to alcohol
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
. As a result, the band canceled the remainder of their European tour. When Ulsh quit the band, Zach Hill
Zach Hill
Zach Hill is a musician residing in Sacramento, California. Primarily known for his drumming, he performs/has performed in numerous Pacific Coast based groups, including his primary group, Hella, as well as Holy Smokes, Nervous Cop, and a diverse range of others including El Grupo Nuevo de Omar...
from Hella
Hella (band)
Hella is an American band from Sacramento, California. They play a technical blend of math rock, noise rock, and experimental rock. The primary members of the band are Spencer Seim on electric guitar and Zach Hill on drums...
replaced him as the drummer for Wavves for a brief time. Two members formerly of the late Jay Reatard
Jay Reatard
Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr. , better known by the stage name Jay Reatard, was an American musician from Memphis, Tennessee. Lindsey was signed to Matador Records...
's band, drummer Billy Hayes
Billy Hayes (musician)
Billy Hayes is an American musician and former drummer and back-up vocalist for Wavves, a California-based noise punk band.He first performed in the psychedelic pop band the Barbaras and the Boston Chinks, both based in Memphis, Tennessee....
and bassist Stephen Pope, joined Wavves in November 2009. Williams also reported that an album featuring Zach Hill on drums was to be expected towards the end of 2010 along with a possible EP featuring Hayes and Pope.
The third Wavves album, entitled King of the Beach
King of the Beach (Wavves Album)
King of the Beach is the third studio album by the American band Wavves. It was set to be released in the USA by Fat Possum Records and in the UK by Bella Union Records on August 3, 2010, but digital copies became available July 1 as a result of early leaks...
, was released on August 3, 2010, by Fat Possum Records, and features the latest lineup of Nathan Williams, Billy Hayes, and Stephen Pope. The album received generally positive reviews from the likes of Paste Magazine, Dusted Magazine, and The Onion's A.V. Club. The album received an average of 72 out of 100 on Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, based on 26 critics reviews. The album was named the 24th-best album of the year by Spin, and the 50th best album of the year by Pitchfork. The group's single "Post Acid" was featured in a 3 minute and fifty second promotional cartoon called: "Scott Pilgrim vs. the Animation"
In support of King of the Beach, Wavves has scheduled tour dates throughout North America beginning on August 2, 2010, culminating in a handful of shows opening for Phoenix
Phoenix (band)
Phoenix is a Grammy Award winning French indie rock band from Versailles, founded by Thomas Mars, Deck d'Arcy, Christian Mazzalai and Laurent Brancowitz.-Formation and early years:...
and playing Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
's Fun Fun Fun Fest
Fun Fun Fun Fest
Fun Fun Fun Fest is an annual music festival held in Austin, Texas. Started in 2006, the festival brings together many progressive and underground musicians with a focus on indie rock, punk rock/hardcore, and hip hop/DJ....
.
Billy Hayes left Wavves in November 2010 and was replaced by Jacob Cooper, formerly of The Mae Shi
The Mae Shi
The Mae Shi are an experimental punk band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2002.-History:The band was formed by Tim Byron and Ezra Buchla, who had known each other for years, having spent time growing up in the Los Angeles suburb of Claremont together—Jeff Byron and Buchla were classmates at...
.
Wavves' two songs Take on the World and When Will You Come? have both been used for promo commercials of the MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
television show Awkward. (TV series)
Awkward. (TV series)
Awkward. is an American comedy-drama series which premiered on July 19, 2011 on MTV. The show revolves around the life of 16-year-old Jenna Hamilton , who is struggling with her identity, especially after an accident is misconstrued as a suicide attempt.The show is based on the high school, Palos...
.
Albums
- WavvesWavves (album)Wavves is the debut studio album by the American band Wavves. It was originally released on cassette format in September before being re-released on LP/CD formats.-Cassette edition:#"Intro Goth" – 1:22#"California Goth" – 2:18...
(Woodsist, 2008) - WavvvesWavvves-Track listing:All songs written by Nathan Williams.#"Rainbow Everywhere" – 1:29#"Beach Demon" – 3:31#"To the Dregs" – 1:56#"Sun Opens My Eyes" – 3:20#"Gun In the Sun" – 2:33#"So Bored" – 3:13#"Goth Girls" – 3:13...
(Fat Possum, Bella UnionBella UnionBella Union is an independent record label that was started up by Simon Raymonde and Robin Guthrie in 1997.After releasing records with 4AD for a large part of their career, Cocteau Twins decided to take a step towards independence and started up the Bella Union record label, through which they...
, 2009) - King of the BeachKing of the Beach (Wavves Album)King of the Beach is the third studio album by the American band Wavves. It was set to be released in the USA by Fat Possum Records and in the UK by Bella Union Records on August 3, 2010, but digital copies became available July 1 as a result of early leaks...
(Fat Possum, August 2010) US #168
Singles and EPs
- "Weed Demon" / "Beach Demon" (Tic Tac Totally, 2008)
- "So Bored" / "How Are You?" (Young Turks, 2009)
- "California Goths" / "Here's To The Sun" (Fat Possum, 2009)
- "To The Dregs" / "To The Dregs (Version 2)" (PPM, 2009)
- "Post AcidPost Acid"Post-Acid" is the lead single from Wavves' album King of the Beach. It was made available digitally June 9, 2010 by Mountain Dew's label, Green Label Sound. Patrick O' Dell directed a video for the song, featuring an introduction by John Norris and a cameo by skateboarder Kevin Long as an alien....
" (Green Label Sound, 2010) - "TV Luv Song" (Free Download, 2011)
- "I Wanna Meet Dave Grohl" (Ghost Ramp, 2011)
- Life SuxLife SuxLife Sux is the EP by the artist Wavves. On September 20, 2011 it was released on the record label Ghost Ramp. It features collaborations with Best Coast and Fucked Up.-Track listing:#"Bug" – 2:54#"I Wanna Meet Dave Grohl" – 5:02...
(Ghost Ramp, 2011)
Splits
- "Summer is Forever 7" split with Best CoastBest CoastBest Coast is an American indie rock band based in Los Angeles, California, and is often categorized under the subgenres of garage rock, surf pop, and lo-fi. The band currently consists of Bethany Cosentino, who writes all of the band's songs and fronts the group, multi-instrumentalist Bobb Bruno, ...
(2011, Mexican SummerMexican SummerFounded by Kemado Records in 2008, Mexican Summer started out by releasing limited-edition, ornately packaged vinyl pieces. Mexican Summer has expanded its catalog to over 100 releases across multiple formats....
) - Split with Trash Talk (2011)