RIVAL WAVES
The Band:
Marc Schulz: Guitar
Erik Salinas: Guitar
Paul Pinon: Drums
Dave McLeod: Bass
Joel De La Garza: Vocals, Guitar
Band Bio:
Rival Waves is a rock band from Austin, Texas. The band fuses anthemic choruses with a relentlessly frenetic punk rock intensity. Its unique aesthetic marries the musical snarl of The Police’s early years, the politically-charged lyricism of Pearl Jam and REM, and the distortion-soaked, indie sensibilities of Best Coast and Cloud Nothings. The group’s cathartically-intense sound combines with topical lyrics to bridge the emotional connection between art and audience.
Rival Waves was formed out of a studio project by singer/songwriter Joel De La Garza that yielded 2018’s TRANSDUCER. De La Garza soon joined forces with guitarist duo Marc Schulz and Erik Salinas to create a more collaborative and prolific band dynamic. The addition of Paul Pinon on drums and David McLeod on bass saw Rival Waves continue to evolve their sound into the electric, unhinged, sonic beauty that has become their trademark.
The band has been organically refining its sound and making its mark on the live music scene playing at notable Austin venues, including Stubb’s, Mohawk, Empire Control Room, The Parish, and 3TEN at ACL. They’ve performed alongside international touring acts like Blue October, Bush, and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, as well as many of Austin’s top local artists.
In December 2019, the band teamed up with Grammy-nominated producer Chris “Frenchie” Smith (Jet, Trail of Dead, Gary Clark Jr.) to record its debut LP, A Meaningless Chaos. Over a six-day marathon recording session at The Bubble Recording Studios in Austin, the band brought forth a true democracy of ideas to make a fiery, significant record that takes aim at the bigger, world-wide chaos around us, as well as the everyday personal traumas we all seem to experience. The resulting album fuses a pure sound with all the electricity and unhinged beauty of their live experience.
Nearly a year after its completion, A Meaningless Chaos is slated for a 2021 release, with pre-orders now available. The standard digital album will feature 11 songs, with three additional tracks exclusively available on the 2LP Deluxe Vinyl Edition.
The album’s first two singles, the inward-looking “Meaningless Chaos” and the clairvoyant protest rager “Smile Empty Soul,” are currently available for download and streaming on all digital platforms.
