Whatever you do, don't call WAG garage rock.

Don't Say Garage Rock

From left to right: Nevrla, Garcia, Darula and Strong
Photo by Skyler Warren

A drum kit, guitars and amplifiers line the wall of the dining room of a Richmond district apartment. A few steps away are the kitchen and living room's poster-cluttered walls, paying tribute to the likes of Pink Floyd, the Misfits and T. Rex.

This is the headquarters, and practice space of WAG, a band made up of four San Francisco transplants; Hayden Strong, Jordon Darula, Lucas Nevrla (all from New Hampshire) and Mario Garcia (from San Diego), who aim to contribute to the changing underground music scene in the city.

WAG isn't set out on changing anything in the
scene outright, but they are looking to respond to the once hyperactive garage rock scene that has recently begun to fade.

With last year's departure of garage rock pioneers, Thee Oh Sees and Ty Segall (both artists relocated to Los Angeles), there is room for change.

"In a scene, there has to be transition," Strong said. "People were stuck like it was still 2008. We have nothing against garage rock bands, I just don't want the garage rock thing to be an excuse for poor musicianship."

With the spark that acts such as Thee Oh Sees, Ty Segall, Mikal Cronin and Shannon and the Clams, as well as garage rock focused record labels, Burger Records and Castleface Records, the San Francisco music scene has been flooded with artists eager to latch on to some of the success.

Photo by Skyler Warren

Strong compared it to hair metal of the 80s or electronic dance music, saying that people are starting to play music for just the "drugs and girls" again and that there isn't any meaning behind it.

"There has to be a culture for their to be a counterculture," Strong said. Garage rock may not be it anymore.

Though, WAG won't deny the influence that San Francisco has has had on their music. Each member agrees that the scene welcomes new artists, no matter what their reason for playing or style of expression is, with open arms.

"In the rural Northeast being an artist or a musician is not a socially accepted way of life," Strong said.

"Being out here, there is a scene that supports you. San Francisco lets you do what you want, people out here are pretty down to hear new things and give new things a chance," added Darula  who sings and plays guitar, and was the first to move to the Bay Area from the east coast.

"When I first moved out here, I had no idea. I never listened to anything (from) out here. Then people started pushing Ty (Segall) on me and I was like, 'I don't get it'," Darula said.

Big Fish, Little Pond

Darula met drummer and vocalist, Mario Garcia, during their first week at the University of San Francisco, which is, ironically, where Ty Segall was when he broke onto the scene in the early 2000s. Shortly after Darula started calling the Bay Area home, Lucas Nevrla, also on guitar and vocal duty, made the trek out west. A couple of jam sessions later, WAG was born.

Photo by Skyler Warren

"When Jordon moved out here (to San Francisco), he started playing with Mario," Nevrla said. "They started jamming about a year ago this month."

This month also marks the anniversary of Hayden Strong's arrival and the band's first show as a four-piece.

Darula, Nevrla and Strong grew up together in New Hampshire, starting bands and playing shows together throughout middle and high school. In the small town where they grew up, "all people had to do was go to shows," they said.

The Bay Area offers a much larger, and more competitive scene. When it comes to pinpointing their sound, anyone's guess is as good as theirs. One thing is for certain; WAG is doing all that they can to create a unique musical identity in a music scene that has become somewhat homogenous in sound.

"Here, since there are more bands, you have to stand out," Strong said, with Nevrla adding that coming from a small town with a small music scene, to a larger, more competitive market is like "going from being a big fish in a little pond, to a big pond with little fish."

DIY Done Right

After having a stable lineup for a year and a self-recorded EP online, WAG decided it was time to put together a proper, full length album. For that task, they turned to San Francisco's Tiny Telephone recording studio and Northwest music producer, Brandon Eggleston.

"We wanted to write as many songs as possible by a certain deadline, Thanksgiving, and then pick out nine songs to put on the album," Darula said. "Thanksgiving came around and I think we had two songs."

With their deadline having come and gone, and studio time already booked, the band finished writing enough songs to fill their studio time and fill an album. After four days of recording instrument tracks, earlier this year, the band is currently finishing up the vocals and mixing process.

Titled "No Worries" and set to be released this spring, WAG's debut record will aim to add something
new to San Francisco's music landscape.

"It's like punk, indie, grunge alt, and surf rock," Strong said.

What better place to take a little from every counter culture than San Francisco?

WAG is playing at Bottom of the Hill on March 25. with Babes and Sea Knight.

Be sure to download their EP, "Das Haus" here.