Great Waves is an awfully grandiose name for a young band - a band that, indeed, is young enough to compete in this year's EMP Sound Off! competition. Reflecting the grandiose name, Great Waves give titles to their songs like "The Moon and the Gutter" and "Konza Plains." In turn, the epic titles are reflected in the band's, truly, quite awe-inspiring music- songs that are as impossibly huge as the images the titles conjure up.
But I feel I should rephrase what I wrote earlier. The members of Great Waves are young, but the band itself is not.
This is an important distinction. However old the band members are (I didn't ask), they are at least three-year veterans of Great Waves. The band formed in high school after what seems like a bluff from bassist Paul Beeman, who claimed he could, "Play bass and sing real good - Chris Cornell style." Over time, the band's style has grown, with Great Waves ultimately finding footing with the inclusion of Ashley Bullock on lead vocals. It's Bullock's beautifully expressive voice that provides the backbone to the band's songs.
"We kind of started off wanting to be an indie pop band, and then kind of morphed into wanting to try being more experimental," says Bullock. "This last CD kind of ended up being folk, for some reason. It kind of comes and goes depending on what we're listening to."
The CD she refers to is Blue Blood, Great Waves' new EP. I can see what she means about the folky qualities of the record, but it's more complex than that. The band vacillates between picturesque folk ("The Moon and the Gutter") and darker, Radiohead-esque atmospherics ("Blue Blood," "Sea Legs").
In the end, the takeaway of Blue Blood is the astonishing professionalism displayed by Great Waves. The band has a real future - one that may be expedited by winning Sound Off! I wish them luck.
[The Den @ urbanXchange, Great Waves with Brooklyn Pool, Nextdoor Neighbors, Tom Ten, Thursday Feb. 18, 7 p.m., $5, 1932 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.2280]
Comments for "Young veterans" (6)
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Martin Koskey said on Feb. 18, 2010 at 6:15pm
Excellent review of an particularly promising band. I've heard the EP and it's great -- very sophisticated given their ages. Great Waves should do well at Sound Off. MK
Erika K. said on Feb. 20, 2010 at 12:57am
Wow, I love the Konza Plains piece. I've listened to it over and over. This band is pretty amazing, writing songs so much better than anything new on the radio these days. I hope they take the prize at the EMP next week -- they really should.
Teo C. said on Feb. 21, 2010 at 8:37pm
An excellent write-up for an excellent band.
Ryan Sprute said on Feb. 22, 2010 at 3:08am
Thanks so much for the write up Adam, and thanks for the comments guys! It's extremely flattering to hear that people enjoy our music. Hope you guys come to Sound Off!
Thanks again,
Ryan (drummer of Great Waves)
Randy said on Mar. 01, 2010 at 10:31am
At the EMP Sound Off this weekend, I could not believe how good this Great Waves band was. Every musician in the band was dynamite. The lead guitarist on the acoustic guitars was unbelievable. The original songs are unique and memorable. I picked up a free CD there and have been listening to their music all weekend -- hypnotic. Great Waves does Seattle proud. Where are they playing next?
Randy
Rev. Adam McKinney said on Mar. 01, 2010 at 3:48pm
Congratulations on winning your round, guys. Good luck at the finals.
--Rev.
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