Wavves crawl to N.M. for Tarantula Tour

Posted by Terry Bowman | Jul 28, 2016 | Music |

Navajo Times | Terry Bowman
Wavves perform at the Launchpad Night Club as part of the Tarantula Tour on Saturday July, 23.

ALBUQUERQUE

San Diego rock band Wavves performed their first concert in the Duke City since 2013, drawing a larger fan base with positive reactions.

With over 100 fans gathered in attendance at the Launchpad Night Club on Saturday, July 23, in downtown Albuquerque for the Wavves Tarantula Tour, the band performed hits from their recent albums “King of the Beach,” “Afraid of Heights” and “V” for over an hour and a half.

“I feel great. We had a couple of sold out shows, it was really fun, especially here in Albuquerque,” said Wavves front man Nathan Williams in an exclusive interview with the Navajo Times.

Wavves was formed in 2008 in San Diego, and is comprised of singer/guitarist Williams; bassist Stephen Pope; guitarist/backup singer Alex Gates; and drummer Brian Hill. Known for its surfer punk rock sound, the group has experimented with psychedelic, alternative-style pop music in recent years.

Williams said it’s good to get exposure in smaller cities like Albuquerque, after coming off shows in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. Albuquerque is the third scheduled date of the Tarantula Tour and first show since headlining the Sunshine Theater back in September 2013 during the Afraid of Heights tour.

“It’s great to come out and play smaller cities like Albuquerque … I feel like people in smaller cities appreciate it more,” said Williams adding he enjoyed the environment of the Launchpad and the energetic crowd.

Wavves opened the show with “Afraid of Heights’” opening track “Sail to Sun” and “Paranoid” to the enthusiastic Albuquerque crowd. With a few mosh pits and fans losing shoes during the show, the band continued with songs off their latest E.P., “V.”

Songs like “Redlead,” “Pony,” and “My Head Hurts” from “V” were met with positive reactions from the audience; “V” was released on Oct. 5, 2015.