The Wandas find growth in their pop evolution

By BARRY THOMPSON | September 7, 2011

In a local music landscape littered with urban cowboys, secret agents, and noir circus troupes (as awesome as those bands may be), the Wandas' lack of gimmickry makes for counterintuitive conspicuousness. But pop that's heavily influenced by the Beatles — the most popular pop band of all time — is hardly the riskiest stylistic choice. Perhaps the Wandas have learned to distinguish between necessary risks — like driving a mobile home blind on ice for hours to get to the next gig, with a good chance of falling off a cliff in the process — and unnecessary risks, like attempting to reinvent the wheel.

"We are not reinventing the wheel," admits Battey. "But the wheel works."

Says McEachern: "There was a time when people said the Beatles weren't reinventing the wheel. They were just re-creating Chuck Berry and Elvis and Buddy Holly. But it all starts with whatever you feel comfortable with, whatever your influences are. Hopefully, you grow from there."

And grow they have. "What should I be listening to create something new?" asks Battey rhetorically. "It's very simple: listen to whatever the fuck you want, play whatever you want, and everything else will line itself up."

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Topics: Music Features , Music, Berklee College of Music, rock, More

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