DIY meets Boston Emo
There came a point where I believed the days of gritty Emo were over, be that from evolution of equipment, or the feeling that new artists are now capitalizing on trends. Last year I found myself at a show in Lowell Massachusetts, TX2 was headlining, a show that for the most part, I’d rather forget. I was surrounded by a room full of impressionable, young, fans; all worshiping a headliner who I thought was a little more than disingenous. But, there was one saving grace of the show, and that was Dead Wait.
Dead Wait is a group of guys who can put any 00s fan of the genre in a time machine. I got a chance to meet them, mostly to go nuts about their cover of “I’m Not Okay, I Promise” by My Chemical Romance. I was met with a group of humble musicians, meeting every fan, taking pictures, who were sometimes shocked by the compliments they were getting. They were there for music, something that I usually don’t expect from musicians outside Punk and Hardcore.
I decided to slide into their DMs to ask some questions. After exchanging some niceties I got right to it. Here is what guitarist Josh Thibodeau and vocalist Matt Wood had to say.
Atonal Asides: Today in music, help is a common word. In my opinion you guys are one of the last DIY bands in Emo. You carry the torch for the genre and it gives your music fantastic attitude. How does it feel to make your own path in an age where so many artists don’t have the choice?
Josh: I feel like the genre still has a lot of room for evolving and growing. There's been a pretty big resurgence of fans of the genre in the last few years, and we want to bring them a new take on [the music] from the early 2000s.
Matt: It feels natural to us. We could try to follow the trends and [we] would get more play for it. But the core of DIY is doing things your way… because it’s your art you’re making to share. Of course we want people to listen to our music, but… because they like what we are making. Not because we made it to fit an image that’s currently popular.
Atonal Asides: When I look at your catalog there is an evolution, be that, technique, theme, content, etc. What [inspiration] do you draw from to keep things fresh, instead of falling into a rut creatively?
Josh: I love taking the foundation of the genre and mixing in… something extra. Whether… anthemic solos a la Queen, or ballbusting riffs like Metallica.
Generally when I go into a new song I’ll mess around until I get a feeling… then my number one goal is to fully uncover that feeling and make it as strong as I can.
Matt: That’s… the beauty of being in a band. We’re… always listening to different music and letting it influence what we are writing… we never stop writing, so there is always something new to develop on our own or incorporate something we heard and loved.
Atonal Asides: What is the goal for you guys in the end with this music?
Josh: We have a new album coming out that we hope people like. If they don’t, no big deal, we love it and we can’t wait to put it out. Ideally we hope enough people like it where we can play more shows, make more merch, and make more music.
Matt: A lot of people and musicians now-a-days are very results driven… we all want to see our dreams come true. But if a few people listen to our music and can have a cathartic or healing experience with it, like we have, then I’d say this band has always been a success.
Atonal Asides: Thank you for your time and I can’t wait for the new album.
Dead Wait is, has been, and continues to be, an embodiment of 00s Emo. They are really stepping up their schedule as of late, popping up in underground shows all over Massachusetts. If you’re ever in the Boston area look them up, they might even be playing a show that day, and be sure to keep a lookout for their new album. Below I’ve linked their Instagram account, so you can keep up on all things Dead Wait.
Copyright 2024: All Writing Owned by Justin Grevencamp (Atonal Asides Blog)
All images of artist used are for free use under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976
Comments
Post a Comment
Comment Below: