*In this series we pose the age-old question to a wide array of music lovers. As fans of music, most of us keep a mental list of active bands we want to see live that we haven’t yet seen. The Bucketlist brings to you those lists of your favorite artists and why those bands mean so much to them*
Here at Metal Nexus, our goal is to bring the best in news, updates, and the goings-on with your favorite rock and metal groups. As well as this, we also strive to bring attention to lesser-known bands that are just as talented. As many of you know, our Bucketlist segment has shone light on many bands – from main acts on a festival lineup to festival openers and everyone in between. Recently, Metal Nexus established contact with a great up and coming band that some may know, Shadow of Whales. Admittedly, I had never heard the band, but after hearing a few songs, I was hooked immediately.
Shadow of Whales are an alternative indie-pop band that made their debut in front of thousands at Austin Convention Center, which ultimately led to the band being invited to play on KTBC – Fox 7 in Austin, TX. Although the name may not be very familiar to some, SoW do not fall short when it comes to experience. The guys have graced the stages of several music festivals including Van’s Warped Tour, RedGorilla, South By So What!?, and Heart of Texas Rock Fest alongside many established acts such as Mayday Parade, Cartel, Circa Survive, and Jonny Craig. Indie Band Guru have given praise to SoW saying, “Shadow of Whales has the tunes and the drive to make a big impact on the strong local Austin scene and beyond”, while Under The Gun Review states, “[Shadow of Whales has] dropped one of the sassiest and catchiest records in recent memory”, in reference to their debut self-titled album. In August of 2017, the band released their sophomore EP ‘What We Do’ and have been privileged enough to have “Runaway” & “Live it Up” selected for regular rotation in Starbucks and Hollister stores for the Fall/Winter 2017 season.
Now that you’re a little more familiar with Shadow of Whales, let’s get down to business. The band are the newest guests in our Bucketlist segment and JD Vazquez (keys/glockenspiel) gives us some insight on bands that helped shape him as a musician. So without further ado, here is this week’s Bucketlist interview with Shadow of Whales! Enjoy!
- The 1975
“I truly admire an act that can create an atmosphere so grandiose that you can just melt into it. Even on the small screen, it is evident that the line between band and audience becomes blurred in the pale and faded lights. It creates something beautiful that cannot be captured within even the most affluent of digital discographies.”
- Colin Meloy (of The Decemberists)
“As much as I appreciate a grand and flashy performance, there is a talent in captivating an audience with nothing to hide behind but an old acoustic guitar and the sound of your voice. There is a quiet intimacy when a hush falls over the crowd and alone and wonderfully full chord rings out uninterrupted. The lyrics are poetic and haunting. Often held in settings are unorthodox, yet unquestionably fitting. You may find yourself on a beach by a bonfire at dusk, or a rooftop café in Portland.”
- Fair To Midland
“Pure chaos. That is the medium this band operated within. Their stage presence was the most dynamic I have ever witnessed. From swelling and ambient soundscapes to the front man’s tornado of arms, legs, and hair, this band grabbed your attention and refused to let it go. Even in shaky cellphone YouTube videos, I could not look away. Unfortunately, they had parted ways before I ever got the chance to witness them in person. We recently played at The Curtain Club in Dallas, where they were sort of local legends. That was a humbling experience, to stand where my heroes stood.”
- The Killers
“Some acts truly last the test of time. I have been listening to The Killers since I was eleven years old. It’s been amazing to watch them just explode over the years. Every image of a The Killers show I’ve seen online, the audience bears more resemblance to an ocean than a crowd, and every time I see one of those photos, I long to be a drop in that ocean. The flair and flash are larger than life and is only matched by the pure talented on stage.”
- Foster The People
“As a synth player, I love this band from a technical standpoint. They are undoubtedly masters of their craft. I’ve read online about their incredible keyboard routing and their live production set up and I am so fascinated by the creativity displayed on stage. Their music is multidimensional and they never cease to surprise and delight. From a compositional standpoint, to the layers upon layers that fit into one another more neatly than Russian nesting dolls. So many bands struggle to recreate the many layers created for an album in their live setting, but this band sounds every bit as full live as they do on the record.”
So if these guys seem like something you’d be interested in checking out (which I highly suggest you do), be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, and BandsInTown to be notified when Shadow of Whales play a show near you!
