The glory days of piano rock when people like Billy Joel, Elton John and Michael McDonald were cranking out hits have long since passed. Sure, all three of those artists still draw huge crowds, but mostly nostalgic baby boomers who yearn for the days when the piano men topped the charts. Even though putting the piano front and center may not be hip or sexy to the kids today, there are some acts out there who could care less. One such band is Pittsburgh’s Wreck Loose. The quartet has been making waves in the watering holes of Pittsburgh and beyond since releasing their 2013 EP Well, and on June 16th they will release their debut full-length OK, Wreck Loose.
The group takes the piano-driven pop sensibility and a fondness for the bar-dwelling workingman of Billy Joel and adds in a heavier rock and roll sound that is most evident in soaring, arena-ready guitar solos. Perhaps the best example of this is “Long Time Listener, First Time Caller”, which we are excited to premiere on Glide Magazine. The opening track off their new album announces Wreck Loose as worthy heirs to the tradition of loud, thoughtful pop rock that dominated AM radio in the 1970s. Songwriter Max Somerville never takes himself too seriously, weaving colorful lyrical stories about boozehounds, taking hard drugs, popping placebo pills and Phil Spector.
Reflecting on the inspiration behind “Long Time Listener, First Time Caller” Max Somerville says:
“I wanted to write big, but it’s difficult to do that alone in your bedroom. My inspiration always comes from a phrase, a couple words or an idiom. And I knew I would need something over the top if I was going to write something epic. I saw someone post a #TBT of themselves as a kid, bad haircut and all. They captioned it with ‘Long Time Listener, First Time Caller.’ I barely knew this guy, but through talking to mutual friends and creeping on recent posts (this is common in social media right?) I knew he was going through a hard time. It was like, ‘Hey, I’ve seen these #TBT’s, I’ve never tried it, but here we go!’ If you’re the first time caller, you’re going out on a limb. Exposing yourself. I immediately identified that in my own music. I love to write and perform, but I also have a ton of insecurities that get in the way of that. In the song, I’m telling people that I’m the best and meanest musician out there. That I’m fully aware of it. But when it all boils down, I’m just praying that the next song I write gives me the high of the last one, and that I don’t ever want to lose this beautiful gift I’m so lucky to have. That arrogance and bravado comes easy: I’m the pro wrestler and the big bad wolf. Admitting that I’m actually afraid is tough. But there’s a first time for everything.”
LISTEN:
Wreck Loose release OK, Wreck Loose on June 16th. For more music and info visit wrecklooseband.com.
Tour Dates:
June 16 – Pittsburgh, PA – James Street Ballroom
June 27 – Baltimore, MD – Joe Squared
June 28 – Washington, DC – Smith Public Trust
June 29 – Philadelphia, PA – Bourbon & Branch
July 1 – New York City – Bar Matchless
July 3 – Mansfield, OH – Relax, It’s Just Coffee
July 7 – Canton, OH – Buzzbin
July 13 – Nashville, TN – The Cobra
