Since hitting the scene in 2013, Sydney power-pop trio Wasters have established themselves as a dynamic live outfit with a commanding stage presence.
Last year the band released their second EP 'We All Fall Down', which features killer single 'Keep Me Waiting'.
With Wasters playing Dicey Riley's in June, we catch up with the group's bassist Andrew Read to talk music, touring and what's coming next.
How have audiences reacted to the 'We All Fall Down' EP?
[Andrew] Quite well I guess. They're all songs that were in the live set for a good amount of time, so they were familiar to fans already. I think having your own copy of a track with the lyrics up online is nice; you can really dig into it and find out what it means to you.
Is the band happy with how the EP turned out?
Happy with how it turned out. I think it flows nice track to track as a whole. 'Jesus' is my favourite off it. It’s maybe a little too polished to properly represent us as a band though and our next one will be a bit more raw and live sounding.
What's the strangest thing that's happened to the band while on the road?
Our buddies, Angus & Julia Stoned, followed us on a tour one time and busked outside each of our Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne shows.
Are you working on an album?
Yep, all the band parts are tracked. We did it live at Def Wolf in Sydney. We'll spend the next few months doing vocals and tweaking other stuff ourselves till we are happy with where it’s at. Hopefully have a track from it out before the end of the year.
What can audiences expect from your live shows?
Three-piece power-pop. Some random friends jumping up on stage singing songs with us. Kate Campbell being nearby.
If we were to check your playlists, what bands/ artists are you listening to at the moment?
I work at a liquor store in St Peters, so my daily shop playlist currently consists of Pavement, Tom Waits, Josh Pyke, Lost Gospel, Jonesez, Tower Of Power, You Am I. Good mix for both beer and wine selecting.
What have been some of the highlights from your time in the band?
The recordings all feel special to us, as does each time we pile in the van to make the journey to Brissie or Melbourne on a tour. Playing support slots at the Metro is always cool, but playing smaller, packed rooms like Rad or Hideaway Bar seem to be the most meaningful and memorable.
What's happening for the band in the second half of the year?
After the Wollongong show on 16 June, we’ll be diving back into the recording files and finishing our debut album. Hope to make it our best release and something we feel really connected to.
Favourite app at the moment?
Notes. It's full of all my useless lists/ ideas/ goals and it gets more full everyday.
Finish this sentence: 2018 will be remembered for…
Fergie’s national anthem.
