A few years back I was at SXSW with a manager I had at the time. I remember the rest of my band was exhausted from the show we had just done, but my manager and I decided to walk around and see some of the other random shows going on. I remember telling him, let’s head to the Red Gorilla side of town since a lot of the bands at the SXSW scene are always kinda the same. It’s the “unofficial” side of things that always tends to be more real and edgy in my experience. I can’t remember the name of the club, but we walked into this PACKED club around midnight and We Are Band Nerds were on stage. I’ve to this day never seen anything like it, and I’ve seen more shows then most people I imagine. A crowd of kids going crazy while this band tore up the stage with their own take on the genre of rap rock. It felt like seeing Rage Against The Machine when they were still young and dangerous, or Cypress Hill long before they made it big. They just had this attitude and sound that was intensely ALL their own. I remember wondering if they were as real off stage as they were on, and quickly that question was answered. My manager, who was with one of the biggest agencies in the industry, walked up to their singer and introduced himself and said who he was with and that he’d love to talk to them. The singer was nice, but acted very unimpressed and said “ya man, hit us up”. It was that moment I knew I’d be a fan of this band forever. A unique band, making the music they want on their terms, unimpressed by the industry, and into playing for all the right reasons. The way rock n roll once was and hopefully will get back to some day.
When I saw “Work In Progress” dropped on Friday, I couldn’t wait to hear it. The band had been on a bit of a hiatus and I’m glad to see that’s over. If this single is any sign of what’s to come next for this band, I have to say 2022 may be the year the industry finally catches on to what We Are Band Nerds has been putting down for years. Now do yourself a favor and turn this one up NOW.
-Andy
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