This time last year, Wave Chase were four fresh faces in the South Coast's music scene. New kids on the block, they had a lot to prove in the saturated indie scene. But fast forward just one year, they've established themselves as key players within Bournemouth's live music scene. Tucked into the corner of one of Bournemouth's three notorious Wetherspoons, the boys are eager to get a final round in before heading across to the venue for their first gig of the year. Surrounded by a table of empty Coors Light glasses, it would be easy to mistake them for your average university friendship group: four young lads dressed as if they've stepped fresh out of the vintage clothing store, Beyod Retro. But Wave Chasae are about to perform a headline show at one of Bournemouth's only remaining independent venues, The Anvil. They're also celebrating the release of their debut EP, Tell Me What to Know, an uplifting sunshine-soaked reflection on their first chapter as a band. "Everything is a bit crazy at the moment," frontman George laughs, "I don't know how it's happened but we're certainly not complaining."
Approaching the beginning of their second year together and at the end of their teenage years, their success is evident to see. Still unsigned but bounded by optimism, they are regular fixtures across some of the South Coast’s most-loved venues, previously supporting the likes of Indoor Pets and BBC Introducing’s Lauran Hibberd. Their debut single Fangs in 2018 set the band on a road to success, but tonight’s gig is set to be a special one - a coming of age party for one of Bournemouth’s musical underdogs.
“The EP has been a long time in the works, so to finally have the five tracks out as a cohesive body of work is really cool.” Addicted, the lead track from Tell Me What to Know is your classic indie anthem. Fun-loving, innocent and catchy, it’s an ode to where they were in the moment of writing the record. From classmates to bandmates, their unity is clear within the music. The cascading guitars of Right Side couple effortlessly with the chorus’ crowd-screaming chant, creating a track that will almost certainly become a festival favourite this summer. The record, inspired by the likes of The Vaccines, The Libertines and Arctic Monkeys, is an EP demonstrating grass-roots music at its best, from a band determined to leave their mark on the indie music scene.
“We all have our own individual tastes and we like to have a laugh with our music. Being an unsigned band is hard, especially when you’re outside of the country’s main musical hubs. But I think we’ve done alright so far.” Charlie comments with a cheeky grin. To record Tell Me What to Know, the band commandeered the home studio of fellow Dorset band Galaxy Thief. Settling in Swanage, another coastal down just west of Bournemouth, they recorded the tracks over five long days. “We were easily putting in twelve-hour days to get the EP out. Jamie and Jake [from Galaxy Thief] were heroes in this situation.”
Although the release is certainly something to celebrate, overcoming the challenges of any upcoming band, it’s clear that the excitement lies around their headline show tonight. It’s taking place at The Anvil, a one hundred capacity venue just across the road from The Christopher Creeke Wetherspoons. “It’s known to draw Bournemouth’s ‘good-timers’. You know, the ones who have had a little too much to drink and just want to party.” Inconspicuous in the daylight, it sadly often goes unnoticed by passers-by. But filled with craft lagers, the city’s renowned ‘good-timers’ and oozing in vibrant character, the underground venue is a hotbed for promising regional talent. “A trip downstairs is one to remember, even if you do come back up dripping in sweat,” Tim says surely.
Their journey to headline status is largely reliant on the encouragement and support provided by independent venues, a factor that doesn’t go unnoticed by the band. “These venues are incredibly important to bands like ours! It’s where you learn your craft and get that early hit of exposure. Although like many they dream of mass success, the Wave Chase boys are great advocates for the smaller venues that allow artists like themselves to get started. With Independent Venue Week on the horizon, they’re keen to show awareness and support for venues that are often diamonds in the ruff, “They may not be the most glamorous venues in the world but that’s partly the charm of them, as well as their intimate settings. It’s something that can’t be beaten.” The boys collectively nod in agreeance, “They’re very important and deserve much more funding and recognition.”
Despite being relatively new on the block, they’ve had their fair share of troubles with touts, an issue that’s ongoing within the industry. They’re happy to laugh about it now, often joking about the scenario with fans across social media in the lead up to their gigs, but their experience shows that any band or venue are vulnerable, “We have played The Anvil seven or eight times now, including our first headline show which was here back in July of last year. We actually oversold the venue’s capacity, which was a bit of an issue in itself. We weren’t sure how it had happened, but it turned out that there was some strange woman in Florida selling fake tickets online. Sounds made up but it’s not.”
If there’s one thing to note here, it’s that they display unwavering levels of gratitude and charisma that carry over into their live performances. This is likely due to their experience as fans before becoming artists, or perhaps due to the youthful essence of naivety, but this is no reason to dismiss them as ‘just another indie band’, “I feel as though too many bands have a strategy about looking and sounding professional and polished. To some extent, you need to be a tight band, but the way we portray ourselves on stage makes the biggest difference.”
“Mickey often leaps off his amp and joins the mosh in the crowd. It’s quite a sight,” Drummer Charlie laughs before the welcomed interruption of a further four pints arriving at the table, “I think people would much rather watch that than watch four motionless lads playing Oasis rip-offs.” With gig tickets in high demand and the band often performing to capacity, their suspicions may be correct.
But things look set to change in the next chapter of Wave Chase’s journey. Whilst Tell Me What To Know will hit any indie lover’s sweet spot, future releases may give fans something a little different, “We are aiming to be back in the studio around Easter time and are keen to change our sound a little bit. We have some stuff in the works that has a little bit more nineties grunge influence, so expect more singles before the summer! Maybe an EP. Who knows?”
Tell Me What to Know is available now across all major streaming services.
*This piece was originally conducted as an email interview but spruced up to perform as a colour piece as part of a University submission*
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