“Bennett Wales & The Relief are a 5 piece rock n’ roll band from Southeast Virginia. The energetic quintet introduces the new while carrying the torch of the old. BWTR released their freshman album, Flood Without Water in the fall of 2017. The band has shared the stage with a variety of notable acts including: Marcus King Band, Goo-Goo Dolls, All-American Rejects, Tim Reynolds, Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds, Vulfpeck, Greensky Bluegrass, among others. From playing the Blind of Back Bay Brewing in their hometown, to festival plays such as Sweetwater420 Festival, Summercamp, and Mountain Music Festival, BWTR has worked to spread their gospel of rock n’ roll across the nation. The group is currently slated to release their self titled, sophomore album in January 2020.
Today Glide is premiering3 new songs from the band’s forthcoming album: “Hey Otto”, “I Got Bills”, “Wolfstep”. Each of the songs showcase the band’s ability to craft high-energy rock and roll laced with blues and soul. In particular, the song “Hey Otto” was inspired by a political event that took place a coulple of years ago. Here is what the band has to say about it:
“Otto Warmbier was an American college student at the University of Virginia who was arrested and imprisoned in North Korea in January 2016 on charges of subversion. Footage of the incident allegedly shows Warmbier stealing a NK propaganda poster from his hotel. Warmbier was released in June of 2017 in a vegetative state after being in a coma for over a year due to a severe neurological injury of unknown origin. Six days after his return the United States his parents requested his feeding tube be removed.
In 2018, a U.S. Federal Court found the NK government guilty of Otto’s torture and death. This was quickly undermined by President Donald Trump who said he believed the word of Kim Jong Un when he claimed that NK was not responsible and that he had no knowledge of foul play.
‘Hey Otto’ not only represents the wrongful death of Warmbier and the absence of justice, but a continued embrace of vicious dictators by our current President.”
LISTEN:
