Wild Cub have certainly begun 2014 on a high note. The band’s high-energy sound features the talent of 5 Nashville-based musicians, led by vocalist Keegan Dewitt and followed with clever precision by Jeremy Bullock (guitar/synths), Dabney Morris (drums), Harry West (bass), and Eric Wilson (keys/synths). The band recently put out their debut album, Youth, through Mom+ Pop Records, a release filled with sincere lyrics about marked moments and the experience of growing up, and simultaneously performed their song “Thunder Clatter” on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
Recently, I was lucky enough to catch the band’s live show, featuring an emotionally driven performance of sophisticated storytelling and strong musicianship. It wasn’t surprising that the crowd of devoted fans and loyal friends remained attentive and excited throughout the entire show. Songs like “Summer Fires/Hidden Spells”, with its hint of “Billie Jean” and “Caribbean Queen” in the opening bass line, built up the crowd with amazing synth heavy/electro-pop dance elements. Repeated loops, clever sampling, and a pop pulse infused many of the songs in their performance, while the organic blend of the musicians’ talent enabled them to deliver an enchanting, meticulously organized group of sounds.
As playful as the songs are, though, the lyrics define the album’s overall theme of the hardships faced while growing up and the rawness those experiences have on today’s youth. This creates a very delicate balance on the album and during the band’s live performance. The more positive, uplifting, dance-provoking songs (“Wild Light”, “Jonti” and “Thunder Clatter”) echo the “growing up” theme, but in a playful way. For the intense songs, DeWitt delivers his lines with a grittier voice, and the band compliments with a more electronic, airy sound and heavier drums.
The band recently wrapped up a handful of sold out shows in cities like Austin, Chicago, Philadelphia and New York, including the Los Angeles show I attended at The Bootleg. If you catch them during the next few months, you’ll likely be seeing them on stage in Austin amongst the SXSW excitement or on the road in March with American Authors and late April with Vampire Weekend. It’s also confirmed that Wild Cub will be on the bill for some stellar festivals this upcoming season, including Firefly, Hangout and Sasquatch.