Wand (band)

Wand is an American psychedelic rock band from Los Angeles, California, United States, formed in 2013. The band consists of Cory Hanson (vocals, guitar), Sofia Arreguin (synth, vocals), Robert Cody (guitar), Lee Landey (bass) and Evan Burrows (drums).

Wand
Wand at Haldern Pop Festival 2019
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California, United States
GenresPsychedelic rock, garage rock, noise rock, shoegazing, stoner rock
Years active2013–present
LabelsDrag City, In The Red Records, God? Records
Associated actsTy Segall & the Muggers, Mikal Cronin, together PANGEA, Meatbodies, Behavior
WebsiteOfficial Website
MembersCory Hanson
Robert Cody
Sofia Arreguin
Lee Landey
Evan Burrows
Past membersDaniel Martens

Since their formation, the band has released five albums in five years: Ganglion Reef (2014), Golem (2015), 1000 Days (2015), Plum (2017) and Laughing Matter (2019).

History

Formation and Ganglion Reef (2013–2014)

Prior to forming Wand, vocalist and guitarist Cory Hanson performed under the moniker W.H.I.T.E.[1][2] Hanson also played guitar with Mikal Cronin, and in the bands together PANGEA, and Meatbodies.[3] Working on the songs that would become the band's debut album, Ganglion Reef, Hanson subsequently re-recorded his material after forming Wand with former art school classmates Lee Landey and Evan Burrows: "[I] found a band, and we re-recorded everything and then just started playing... really intensely.”[4] Regarding the band's name, Hanson noted: "We wanted a name that was kind of empty, like a wand is more of an idea, like a magical tool; it’s a means, a vessel to execute a superhuman thing."[5]

Wand released the album on fellow-garage rock act Ty Segall's Drag City imprint, God? Records, and subsequently supported him on tour.[6] Regarding the experience, Hanson stated: "[The tour] was great, it was a little bit crazy for us because we’ve never toured before. And the turnout—it was just a lot of people, and we were all surprised by how warmly received, how receptive everyone was to hearing us play because no one had ever heard us before. And Ty’s super fun to tour with."[5]

Golem and 1000 Days (2015–2016)

The band quickly recorded its second studio album, Golem, with producer and engineer Chris Woodhouse, best known for his work with the garage rock act, Thee Oh Sees. The album was recorded in twelve days, with Hanson stating: "I went in thinking, 'Oh, this is going to be a really grimy, disgusting record with these really fucked-up guitars.' And then Chris sort of took a different turn, because he just kind of gave it a Big Star treatment. So the production is, like, bizarrely pristine and all of the performances are really fucked and weird."[3]

Six months later, the band released its self-produced follow-up, 1000 Days, on Drag City. Prior to the album's recording and release, guitarist Daniel Martens temporarily stepped down from the band, with bass guitarist Lee Landey stating: "He's not touring with us this time because he's just had a baby."[7] The band was subsequently referred to as a three-piece, with Martens remaining absent from press photographs.

Regarding a potential fourth album, Hanson noted: "I think we’re a little more interested in having some more creative elbow room to push out something that feels like the right next step, rather than having this consistent output of record, tour, record, tour. Having a little bit more time to work could only benefit the way that we think about making records at this point."[8] In 2016, the band added guitarist Robert Cody and keyboardist Sofia Arreguin to their core line-up.

Plum and Perfume (2017–2018)

On June 27, 2017, a video for the song "Plum" was released on the Drag City YouTube channel.[9] A music video for the track "Bee Karma" was also released on August 10, 2017,[10] directed by Hanson, utilising Super 8 film and starring his brother Casey.[11]

The album Plum was subsequently released on September 22, 2017.[12][13]

On February 27, 2018, a day after the band concluded their Plum tour, Cory Hanson announced on his Instagram that Wand would be releasing a thirty-minute EP entitled Perfume on May 25, 2018.[14] A single song, "The Gift", was released on the day of the announcement.[15]

Laughing Matter (2019-present)

Wand released their fifth album, Laughing Matter, on April 19, 2019.[16] The album received positive reviews from both Pitchfork and Stereogum.[17][18]

Side projects
Ty Segall and The Muggers

In 2016, both Cory Hanson and Evan Burrows were members of Ty Segall's backing band The Muggers, touring in support of Segall's eighth studio album, Emotional Mugger.

Solo work

In November 2016, Cory Hanson released his debut solo album, The Unborn Capitalist from Limbo.

Band members

Current members

  • Cory Hanson – vocals, guitar (2013–present)
  • Lee Landey – bass (2013–present)
  • Evan Burrows – drums (2013–present)
  • Robert Cody – guitar (2016–present)
  • Sofia Arreguin – vocals, synth (2016–present)

Former members

  • Daniel Martens – guitar (2013-2015)

Discography

Studio albums

Other releases

  • From a Capsule Underground (2017, demos and studio outtakes)
  • Perfume (2018, EP)

Singles

  • "Machine Man" (2015)
gollark: I wonder if being zapped would still trigger the smiting.
gollark: You die as psi runs out...
gollark: Oh, Simply Jetpacks too, better add that.
gollark: I prefer actual psi armor for psi, but that seems very cool.
gollark: Um. Wow.

References
  1. "Music | WHITE". W-h-i-t-e.bandcamp.com. 2011-02-08. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  2. "WHITE III CD/LP/Mp3 — Aagoo Records". Aagoo.com. 2013-05-28. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  3. Salmon, Ben. "Meat and Veg - Wand's Heavy, Hooky Sound". portlandmercury.com. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  4. Milo, Jeff. "Wand: The Best of What's Next". pastemagazine.com. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  5. Tenney, Justin. "20 Questions With Wand". thewildmagazine.com. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  6. Pearis, Bill. "Wand released debut album, tour with Ty Segall starts next week". brooklynvegan.com. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  7. Blackmarquis, Phil. "Interview: Wand - 2015". reflectionsofdarkness.com. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  8. Koons, Christian. "Breaking: Wand". floodmagazine.com. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  9. "Plum Official Music Video". YouTube. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  10. "Wand "Bee Karma" (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 2017-08-10. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
  11. "News » GET STUNG BY WAND'S NEW SINGLE, BEE KARMA! UK DATES ANNOUNCED | Drag City". Dragcity.com. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
  12. "Plum - Wand | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
  13. "Wand Official Website". wandband.info. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  14. "Wand Announce New EP Perfume, Share New Track "The Gift"". Pastemagazine.com. Retrieved 2018-02-27.
  15. "The Gift, by Wand". Wand. Retrieved 2018-02-27.
  16. Blais-Billie, Braudie (February 5, 2019), Wand Announce New Album Laughing Matter, Share New Song: Listen, Pitchfork
  17. "Wand: Laughing Matter". Pitchfork. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  18. "Album Of The Week: Wand 'Laughing Matter'". Stereogum. 16 April 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
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