Sometimes it seems that the music industry is clouded with autotune, electronic and computer-based tech and meaningless lyrics to the point that many listeners have forgotten what the simplicity of music can be: just a guitar and a lyricist. But acoustic bands like This Wild Life are working to change that narrative in the music scene.
This acoustic two piece— Kevin Jordan and Anthony Del Grosso— hail from Long Beach, CA and spent years playing shows and marketing themselves to record producers and fans. The band transformed during that time, switching from a mainly pop-punk sound to an acoustic one after realizing it fit better with the band’s vision. In 2013, their acoustic cover of “Sleepwalking” by Bring Me the Horizon, a popular metalcore band, put them on the map. Since then, Epitaph Records signed them, and in 2014, they released their first full-length record “Clouded.” In 2016 they came out with another album “Low Tides”. Fast forward to five months ago in June, This Wild Life released their third album “Petaluma.”
“Petaluma” incorporates the same sound and messages from previous albums but has a light and airy vibe that is perfect for a beach day or a nice, quiet drive. In the past, the band has made it a point to release singles that have strong messages such as “No More Bad Days” which is dedicated to Kevin Jordan’s mother and all women who are battling breast cancer. “Petaluma” is no different with its single “Westside” focusing on supporting the victims of sexual assault, reassuring them that “you can never be a burden” through the chorus.
Each song on this album features unique melodies and meaningful, sometimes somber lyrics which have a resounding sound of peace and relaxation. This album feels like a love letter to summer: love, memories and hardships are all bring a sense of realism to the album and connect on an intensely personal level with listeners. Two stand out songs on this album are “Positively Negative” and “Come Back Down.”
In the music video for “Positively Negative,” the duo are on the open-road skateboarding, driving, stopping at a gas station and playing various instruments in the car during what seems like a sunny summer road trip. This perfectly embodies the summer wanderlust feelings in the lyrics of the song like “is it time to get away” and “I’m breaking out… I’m catching my breath now”.
“Come Back Down” has an upbeat take on what it is like to lose a loved one. The music video features the relationship between an owner and his dog, but it can apply to a family member or friend. In the song, they recognize the feelings of missing the individual during the more somber parts but focus on an upbeat chorus section that forces listeners to think of the beautiful and fun memories they’ve shared instead of focusing on the bad. The song stresses not to forget or repress the connection with this individual but memorialize them properly in a healthy way, something all listeners can relate to.
For listeners who want to learn how to play some of these songs, the band features a guitar tab section on their website thiswildlifeband.com with video tutorials and pdf versions of songs. This really shows how the band is willing to bridge with the fans not only to share their music but to give their fans a chance to connect to the creators in learning how to play these songs.
This Wild Life is currently on tour and will be playing at Revolution Live on Nov. 24 in Ft. Lauderdale.
