When North Carolina’s noise makers Wednesday first visited Aotearoa off the back of their album RAT SAW GOD, audiences were taken by surprise in the best possible way. A 95bFM review called the band’s Whammy show “a sold out countrygaze extravaganza”, and everyone who came left with big hearts and even bigger smiles.
Now, with the band’s unbelievable sixth album Bleeds out in the world, it’s high time that Banished Music and Strange News had their fun pals from Asheville down for a repeat visit, with three shows across Wellington, Lyttelton, and Auckland happening this May.
“the year’s best alt-rock album” – The Guardian
“another triumph” – Pitchfork (8.7 / Best New Music)
“an exorcism of sound” – The Times *****
“Rock records don’t come much better than this” – NME *****
Bleeds is the album the band are calling “not only the best Wednesday record—it’s also the most Wednesday record”, with all the elements that make the Southern rock magic of this rare group so special. NME put it beautifully in their five-star review of the album, heaping well deserved praise on Wednesday’s “blown-out distortion, weirdo-country slide guitar and serrated melodies”.
Fronted and founded by the fierce and fun Karly Hartzman, whose songs are at once confessional and crack-up, Wednesday have built a reputation for being one of the best – and most dynamic – live bands on the circuit. Joining Karly will be the inimitable and animated Xandy Chelmis on lap steel and pedal steel, beat-keeper extraordinaire Alan Miller on drums, brilliant bassist Ethan Baechtold, and the band’s scorching touring guitarist Jake Pugh.
If you caught them last time, there’s no way you’re missing this. If you missed them the first time, it’s not too late to join the cult. Good times guaranteed.
“There’s an ever-present joy, even during the most harrowing songs… this is catharsis personified” – Exclaim
Wednesday – ‘Elderberry Wine’ (Official Video)
