A Band Called Wanda

Formed in Galway in 2009, A Band Called Wanda have gradually gained a great rep on the live circuit through local residencies, regular touring of Ireland and the UK, and high-profile supports to the likes of David Gray, Stornoway and The Coronas. They’ve even earned the dubious blessing of Alabama 3’s inimitable Larry Love: “A band this fucking good should not have such a shit name!” Quite.
Just last month, having been handpicked from 8,000 entries by Michael Eavis and his daughter, the indie foursome were the only Irish finalists amongst the eight bands playing the prestigious Glastonbury Emerging Talent competition. Their impressiveness as a live act certainly comes across here. Recorded at Watercolour Studios near Fort William in the Scottish highlands, and produced by Nick Turner, this eponymous sophomore effort follows on from 2010’s well-received mini-album Roses Are Still Red.  Over 12 songs about life, love, heartbreak and gold-digging (literally), these four talented multi-instrumentalists conjure up an energetic, melodic and unpredictable mix of folk, trad, rock, blues and ska. There’s even a slight country vibe off a couple of tunes.
On ‘Shitty City’, vocalist Brendan Dolan laments, “Say goodbye to this city because this city’s got a disease/Everyone’s sitting pretty but they’re shadows of what they should be/I ain’t bitter, I just call it how I see/So goodbye shitty city, goodbye from me.”
Musically, they’re tight, honed and occasionally quirky. With The Sawdoctors currently on hiatus, and this impressive collection of songs as their calling card, A Band Called Wanda might just fill the Galway-sized gap in the festival market.

Key Track: 'The Pacifist'