Congrats to Wayward, who celebrated the release of their third or maybe 22nd, EP ("Without a Light") Thursday night at the Knitting Factory.
I've seen lots of groups release CDs at the closest bar or maybe just a cardboard box in Fulton Alley, so this had to be exciting. and the band was particularly gracious and grateful to the hundreds of fans who stuck around for their set, the venue, and the touring bands who opened for them.
Locals June Set Fire and Weston Buck were on the bill, and pop-punk bands Rufio (Cali) and The Higher (Vegas) played before Wayward took the stage.
While enjoying the headlining spot, Wayward still tuned their own instruments and checked their own mics. They're real people! But real people who get to hear a crowd go through a couple rounds of cheering "Wayward, Wayward!" That has to feel pretty nice.
The downside of having a big show as locals is that you get to hear people shout out during the set change (which was crazy fast) things like "I've seen you drunk!" and the yeller is probably telling the truth.
But the gentlemen rocked. Their sound is much more straight-ahead rock than either the Higher or Rufio, a difference that I preferred (though 10-years-ago-me might disagree).
The opening track, "Without a Light," and closer, "Miles," are particularly strong but the whole mini-album sounds good. Check it out now on iTunes and tell them what you think on their MySpace page.