Feaver, The Narwhals, Wallows – this LA-based rock band has been known by many names. While their name may have changed over time, their undeniable songwriting abilities and chill yet catchy style has always been there.
Dylan Minnette, Braeden Lemasters, and Cole Preston officially made their debut in 2017 as Wallows with their single “Pleaser”, which reached the second spot on Spotify’s Global Viral 50 Chart. Although they had been together since 2011 under other titles, it wasn’t until “Pleaser” that they had their breakthrough. The trio had known each other long before they started making music though; Minnette and Lemasters met as child actors in LA, and later added Preston into their group as teenagers. They first started making music around this time and pursued the formation of a band while all three were college students at the Keyboard Galleria Music Center in Santa Clarita, California. Originally there was one more member of the band, Zack Mendenhall, but he eventually left and Wallows became established as a rock trio with Minnette on the rhythmic guitar, Preston on the drums, and Lemasters on the bass guitar and as the lead vocalist.
Since their debut in 2017, Wallows hasn’t skyrocketed to fame but has gradually climbed up the mountain that is the music industry. After “Pleaser”, they released their first EP (Spring EP) in 2018, followed by Nothing Happens in 2019, EP Remote Deluxe in 2021, Tell Me That It’s Over in 2022, and Model in 2024.
Wallows has also been known for their philanthropy work. On their Nothing Happens Tour in 2020, the trio partnered with local non-profits on different legs of their trip and posted lists of donations for fans to bring to their shows. This brought in an abundance of items, which were used by disadvantaged individuals across the US.
Their music is distinct because it’s a perfect blend of both rock and indie, highlighting the best aspects of both genres while simultaneously molding them into complimenting each other. Their albums remain relatively the same over time, with different songs of course but no deviation in music genre. I find that the instrumentation in their music does a really good job of reflecting the melting pot of genres going on – electric guitar, heavy drums, and a prominent bass bring in the underlying rock feel while funky sound effects, harmonica, acoustic guitar, and the crackle of the speakers helps you feel that indie vibe.
A lot of their songs reflect harmonies of The Beatles, incorporate Southern instruments, and bring in artists from genres other than their own, which allows Wallows to present themselves as the culmination of musical favorites throughout history. Their vocals are a bit raspy and go along hauntingly with the fry of the electric guitar. More niche instruments such as the tambourine and the harmonica work surprisingly well with the harsher instrumentation of traditional rock music, and help soften some of the more overpowering sounds in order to make the vocals audible. All of their songs are really fun to listen to, and I think Wallows is a perfect option for those who appreciate rock but are looking for something a little less intense.
My Top Ten:
- “OK – with Remi Wolf & Solomonophonic” (Remote Deluxe)
- “Calling After Me” (Model)
- “Ice Cold Pool” (Nothing Happens)
- “Are You Bored Yet?” (Nothing Happens)
- “Ground” (Spring EP)
- “Especially You” (Tell Me That It’s Over)
- “Marvelous” (Tell Me That It’s Over)
- “She’s An Actress” (Model)
- “A Warning” (Model)
- “Dig What You Dug” (Remote Deluxe)
For fans of The Smiths, COIN, Dayglow, Dominic Fike, and The Backseat Lovers.
