Waiver Wire spent a little time talking about their awesome music and how they make it. Let’s see what they have to say!
First off, What’s up with your name? Is there a story behind it?
When the band first started, we had several sports fans among us, so many sports-related names were bandied about before we settled on Waiver Wire.
Tell us about your musical past, would you tell us about your early years?
We all come from varied musical backgrounds. Josh (vocals/rhythm guitar) has been grinding in local bands for nearly 20 years, having started his first in high school and plugging ever since. Zach (lead guitar) made his name as a guitarist in the Army band. Steve (drums) attended music school and is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist. Jeremy (bass) was a late bloomer who picked up music as a young adult and has pursued it ever since.
How would you describe your sound?
Definitely heavily influenced by “classic” pop-punk (blink-182, Fall Out Boy, Sum 41) but also the more modern set (Neck Deep, Real Friends, Knuckle Puck). We aim to put our own spin on the genre by incorporating our various non pop-punk influences.
Which artists have the biggest influence on your sound?
As mentioned above, the whole gamut of pop-punk (blink-182, Fall Out Boy, Sum 41, Neck Deep, Real Friends, Knuckle Puck) but much beyond that. Our individual tastes vary widely, from jazz to hip hop, reggae to prog, country to classical.
What’s the last song you listened to?
Joe Henderson – Night and Day
What’s your source for hearing new music?
Tidal, primarily, which does a nice job of collating new releases by artists you listen to. I also track Instagram for artist announcements about coming releases.
Who is your dream producer?
Our debut EP ‘Hold Your Applause’ was produced by Alan Day of Four Year Strong, which was a dream come true in and of itself. Other dream producers would be perhaps John Feldmann or Travis Barker.
If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?
Personally, probably Travis Barker. I love what he’s doing with this new generation of pop-punk artists.
What led you to music, and what motivates you to keep making it?
My (Josh) earliest musical memory is the drum intro to the ‘George of the Jungle’ theme song, which motivated me to learn drums. From there I fell in love with bands like KISS, and began desiring to play music myself. I started my first band at 15 and never looked back. In the years since, I have grinded and struggled through countless band breakups, setbacks, and the like. But, music is my life and my identity, and giving up has just never been an option.
Tell us about the songwriting process. How does it all come together?
It can vary song-to-song, but generally they start with a lyrical/vocal idea that Josh develops into a sketch of a song. Then, it’s brought to the band, where it’s worked out, changed, and developed until it’s ready for public consumption.
How do you connect with your audience? What is the easiest way for them to connect with you?
We’re a hardworking band, always playing as many shows as we can put together. Live performance and the community aspect of shows are definitely our primary means of connecting with our audience. We also remain as active as possible on social media, always responsive to anything the fans may post.
Facebook
Waiver Wire (@waiverwireband) • Instagram photos and videos
Waiver Wire (@waiverwireband) / Twitter
Waiver Wire – YouTube
What’s next for you?
Shows, shows, shows. We’re always grinding, and after an unplanned summer layoff, we are itching to get back at it, starting with a hometown show at Electric Haze in Worcester, MA on July 28. We have a weekend tour scheduled for Labor Day weekend, and several other things in the works for the rest of the year. We also have another single that is close to finished, which will be released by year’s end.
Bio:
Defying description since 2018…
… but I’ll give it a shot anyways. Waiver Wire are a pop punk four-piece hailing from Massachusetts. While formed in 2018, the band’s official debut EP Hold Your Applause was released in 2020, setting the stage for the classic high-energy pop punk sound the band has become synonymous for. Taking direct influence from legends of the genre in blink-182, Fall Out Boy, and Sum 41 on their debut, the band mixed in the modern flair of bands such as Real Friends and Neck Deep on their 2022 sophomore EP Wasted Time Well Spent. Now, the band is back with their new single “Brain on the Box,” expanding their sound once again and establishing themselves as an up-and-coming force to be reckoned with in the pop punk scene.
