Around the middle part of the last decade, Wow, Owls! were one of the best bands in Richmond. They were often pigeonholed as “screamo,” which made sense in light of the revival of that particular Saetia-derived late 90s sound that was going on when they were together. However, Wow, Owls! always had a lot more going on than any old run-of-the-mill screamo band. Their songs mixed carefully constructed, slightly off-kilter melodies with heavy, propulsive riffing, and always used plenty of dynamics, leaving the listener wanting more rather than pounding riffs into the ground. Of course, this also meant that some of the songs in their sets would keep an entire audience on tenterhooks for minutes at a time, before finally unleashing the killer riff that made the whole song great. Their performances were full of a nervous energy, crystallized in the person of frontman Jeff Byers, who’d move around the stage constantly and unpredictably, sometimes with chaotic results (I think he collided with at least one other member of the band every time I saw them play). Wow, Owls! had talent that no one could ignore, and as a result, they did quite a bit during their three-year existence: a full-length LP, Pick Your Patterns, a split EP with The Setup, and a compilation of demos and unreleased recordings called Pee Sout. It seemed like things were only getting started for them, but after their 2006 European tour with Ultra Dolphins, Byers quit the band to pursue a college degree, which brought a swift end to their career.
Around the middle part of the last decade, Wow, Owls! were one of the best bands in Richmond. They were often pigeonholed as “screamo,” which made sense in light of the revival of that particular Saetia-derived late 90s sound that was going on when they were together. However, Wow, Owls! always had a lot more going on than any old run-of-the-mill screamo band. Their songs mixed carefully constructed, slightly off-kilter melodies with heavy, propulsive riffing, and always used plenty of dynamics, leaving the listener wanting more rather than pounding riffs into the ground. Of course, this also meant that some of the songs in their sets would keep an entire audience on tenterhooks for minutes at a time, before finally unleashing the killer riff that made the whole song great. Their performances were full of a nervous energy, crystallized in the person of frontman Jeff Byers, who’d move around the stage constantly and unpredictably, sometimes with chaotic results (I think he collided with at least one other member of the band every time I saw them play). Wow, Owls! had talent that no one could ignore, and as a result, they did quite a bit during their three-year existence: a full-length LP, Pick Your Patterns, a split EP with The Setup, and a compilation of demos and unreleased recordings called Pee Sout. It seemed like things were only getting started for them, but after their 2006 European tour with Ultra Dolphins, Byers quit the band to pursue a college degree, which brought a swift end to their career.
However, in recent years, Wow, Owls! have begun performing again, on occasion. This is maybe not as odd as it seems–three of the four remaining band members continued to play music together after the breakup, combining with members of their tourmates The Setup, who’d also recently broken up, to form Mouthbreather. So with three-fifths of the band still playing together regularly, it isn’t that hard to get the other two guys involved for an occasional reunion show. This is what led to Wow, Owls! appearing at The Fest in Gainesville, FL last year, and it’s also got a lot to do with the reunion show taking place at Strange Matter. Jeff Byers is a resident of Providence, RI these days, but his new band, Best Practices, is going on their first tour, which will bring them and tourmates Weak Teeth to Richmond next week. So why not play a Wow, Owls! show while he’s here, right?
Best Practices are a bit different from Wow, Owls!, but fans of Byers’ old band should find something to appreciate in their sound. They crank out speedy hardcore tunes that are also surprisingly melodic, making them reminiscent of bands like Kid Dynamite and Assfactor 4, with maybe a little early Jawbreaker mixed in there. Providence natives Weak Teeth are somewhat similar to Best Practices, though their music has a bit more of an emotional hardcore feel, similar to recent scene favorites like Touche Amore and La Dispute. Unlike those bands, though, Weak Teeth keep things fast, and aren’t afraid to introduce the occasional surprisingly poppy riff into their sound. They’re not all that easy to categorize, frankly, but if anything, that should just lead them to have an even wider appeal.
Virginia’s Equestrians are also performing, and while I’m not familiar with their live performance, their recordings lead me to expect good things. They balance melody with power nicely, and have an energetic sound that should get the show going in fine fashion. The bill is rounded out by Mouthbreather, who mix the most intense parts of Wow, Owls! songs into a more driving energy that results in a musical force to be reckoned with, akin to the best work of At The Drive-In or Fugazi. One can only hope that 4/5 of the members of Wow, Owls! having to play multiple sets will not affect the energy level of their set. Regardless, though, this show will be special; who knows when any of us will get a chance to see Wow, Owls! again? Better to grab the opportunity while we can.
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Wow, Owls! is performing along with Weak Teeth, Best Practices, Mouthbreather and Equestrians at Strange Matter (929 W. Grace St.) on Tuesday, July 19. Doors open at 8 PM, music starts at 9. Admission is $5.
