The Wandas

The WandasBRIGHTON, Mass. — Just three years ago, The Wandas completed their band with the addition of a permanent bassist. Two albums and countless shows later, the guys have managed to become a local success in both the Boston and Worcester areas. With a new music video under their belt, they see it only as the beginning.

It all began five years ago when high school buddies Keith McEachern and Pete McElholm met Brent Battery at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. There, the three music buffs joined forces to create the beginning of The Wandas band.

Each of the guys had been playing music for as long as they can remember, but the three musicians joined together really seemed to work. A few other bassists had been a part of the band; one even came up with the bands name from a girl he dated.

“First it was the Drunken Wandas, but we didn’t think it would work out,” said drummer McElholm. “The Beatles, The Strokes, The Wandas; it just sounded right and clearly it stuck.”

But it wasn’t until McEachern’s cousin Ross Lucivero joined the band that The Wandas truly came together. The two had been playing music together since they were kids, and it only seemed fit that Lucivero join The Wandas. They’ve now been together for the past two years, and have grown together as a band.

“I’ve known these guys for a really long time,” McElholm said. “We’re all really tight.”

The guys currently live together in a house, where they can easily come to each other with new ideas for songs. Becoming so close over the years has only added to their musical creativity.

“When someone is going through a rough time, we’ll all work through it together,” bassist Lucivero said. “Which in turn probably helps us create more cohesive songs.”

Now, The Wanda’s are having as much fun as ever writing and playing the music they love.

“We love it and we’re very passionate about it,” said Battery, on lead guitar. “It’s always been about friends and having a good time.”

With most of the band being from Worcester, they have a fan base of friends and family from the area in addition to followers of the band at local clubs. Typical venues The Wanda’s play at in Worcester includes Tammany Hall, the Lucky Dog, and Ralph’s Diner. Long time friend Joe Romeo has seen the band grow over the years.

“I went to their very first show,” Romeo said. “I don’t go to shows just because I know them, they play really good music.”

The band also plays around Boston at well known clubs like the Paradise Rock Club, the Avalon, Bills Bar, and the Embassy. They have many followers in both Boston and Worcester, but they love when new people come to their shows. Lead singer McEachern looks at a new audience as an exciting challenge for the band.

“The more the crowd gets into it, the more we get into it,” he said. “How can I get them to watch us and like us and leave with a CD and tell their friends about us? That’s where that natural high comes into play.”

One thing the band does promise at their live shows is that fans will never see the same set twice. With a mix of their own tunes, The Wandas promise to throw in a different cover at every single show.

Behind the scenes the guys work just as hard to create the perfect blend of music. Though many songs start off with an idea from one of the band mates, in the end each member contributes to the song.

“I would say our musical choices are pretty eclectic and we may not fit into one specific genre,” Luvicero says.

They have been influenced by bands like the Beatles, Coldplay, Radiohead, Weezer, and the Foo Fighers. Their different and similar taste in music creates a perfect blend for new ideas for songs.

After an arrangement is created, the lyrics are worked out the band pairs off to complete the song. That way when the song is finished, everyone has contributed a part to the whole. They try to bring everyone’s ideas together to make it a true collaboration. But it’s not always easy.

“When we’re writing and recording we take it very seriously,” McEachern says. “Critiquing every note, trying all sorts of things, sometimes to the point where we can’t even be in the same room as each other without getting heated.”

But in the end, it’s all worth it.

“We always work it out and make it our own,” Battery says. “We all feel like it’s our music since we all give our input on the songs.”

After five years of rocking out, the creative group sees no end to their music writing and playing in the near future.

“As long as it’s something I love to do, I don’t envision stopping ever,” Lucivero said.

One thought on “The Wandas

  1. Your article made me want to Myspace the band and hear their music. It is also cool to hear about local bands around our own age. It is easier to connect with bands that are younger, because you realize that they are just regular people too. I felt that you really got to know the band, and you were able to describe their message and sound perfectly.

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