Wrong Crowd
Based in Southern California, three-piece band Wrong Crowd became the band they always wanted to see on stage. Inspired by surf-rock acts like Sunroom and Skegss, best friends Gavin and Nazareth started the project after countless nights spent at local shows. What began as two friends learning guitar together in a garage quickly evolved into songwriting, recording, and building a sound of their own.
As Gavin, the band's vocalist and guitarist, and Nazareth, guitarist, continued dedicating more of their time to music, they began writing original songs and taking Wrong Crowd seriously. While recording early demos, they invited Isaiah to track drums on a few songs. After several recording sessions, his talent and chemistry with the group made him a natural fit. Although Isaiah's musical tastes leaned more toward hardcore than surf rock, the connection between the three musicians was undeniable. Soon after, Wrong Crowd's debut EP, Waste Some Time, was underway.
The band's favorite tracks from the EP are "Waiting" and "Dazed," which also happen to be their favorite songs to perform live. Most of Waste Some Time was written by Gavin, while Nazareth and Isaiah added their own styles and ideas through their instrumental contributions. As the band has grown, however, the songwriting process has become far more collaborative, allowing each member to leave a stronger imprint on the music they are creating.
Drawing inspiration from bands such as Sunroom, Skegss, Arcy Drive, and Mexican Slum Rats, Wrong Crowd has developed a unique identity within the garage surf-rock scene. While the genre is known for its recognizable sound, the band separates itself by experimenting with song structures and finding fresh ways to build and break down a track. It's this approach that continues to shape their evolving sound.
Like many artists, the band views it’s first release as a time capsule of where they started. Looking back, there are always things they wish they could tweak or improve, but those imperfections serve as reminders of their growth. Recorded in a bedroom using GarageBand, Waste Some Time represents the band's earliest ambitions and DIY spirit. While future releases may explore elements of indie rock, Wrong Crowd remains rooted in garage surf rock, the genre that first inspired them back in 2020.
Unlike many bands whose first performance takes place in a backyard or garage, Wrong Crowd jumped straight into playing a real venue. It was nerve-racking, to say the least. There was no soundcheck, instruments had to be tuned on stage, and Nazareth was still recovering from appendicitis. Despite the chaos, the band experienced an overwhelming rush of excitement as they finished their first set. The performance gave them a clear vision of the atmosphere they wanted to create at future shows.
For Wrong Crowd, live music is about more than standing still and recording videos on a phone. The band wants audiences to move, connect, and lose themselves in the music. In an era where many concertgoers seem more focused on capturing content than experiencing the moment, Wrong Crowd hopes to create shows that bring people together and make every performance feel alive.
When discussing the future, the band remains humble. Five years from now, they hope to have built a community around their music, a group of people who genuinely enjoy coming to their shows and sharing the experience with others. Their goals aren't centered on fame or money. More than anything, they want people to connect with their art and remember them as a band that made them feel something.
What started as a post-concert thought of, "I want to do that," has grown into something real. Wrong Crowd has released its debut EP, Waste Some Time, and with new music already on the way, this is only the beginning.