Los Angeles-based “California rock band, the Wes Coast, was born in 2011 when then-first-year ethnomusicology student Wes Miller met then-fourth-year history student and guitarist David Han. Over the course of that quarter, and those to follow, the two began writing music together and assembling the components of what would become their band. With the combined talent and efforts of Miller, Han, fourth-year drummer and jazz studies student Brandon Bridges and bassist Aroyn Davis, the Wes Coast has now successfully recorded its debut EP, “Destroy and Create,” which will be released in February of 2014. Lead singer Miller sat down with the Daily Bruin’s Nick LaRosa to talk about what it means to be “California rock” and the band’s upcoming show at the House of Blues Los Angeles on Friday, Nov. 29th.
Daily Bruin: So over the last year, your band has begun playing more notable venues, including the El Rey Theatre and The Roxy, and this will be your second time playing the L.A. House of Blues. Do you feel as if The Wes Coast is starting to get some momentum behind it?
Wes Miller: There’s definitely a sense of momentum. We approached it at the beginning with the mentality of playing as often as we could. We thought of it as kind of building a resume. The House of Blues will be a good stop for us since this is the first time we’re playing in the Foundation Room. It’s going to be cool. We’re not playing the main stage, but it’s definitely going to be a stepping stone and it’s always fun to play there.
DB: You mentioned to me earlier that you are releasing a new EP early next year. Have you wrapped up recording on that yet?
WM: Yeah, we’ve finished recording that. We recorded at Sunset Sound in North Hollywood with this Grammy-nominated engineer named Morgan Stratton and it was executively produced by my buddy Madison Voulez. It was only like my second time in a real recording studio, and I felt like a kid in a candy store, running around, looking at all these 50-year-old mics. I eventually ended up picking up an internship there, and it was cool being able to feel at home in the studio. It felt good.
DB: For your first three-track release, which consisted of songs “Lady,” “Delusional,” and “Damn,” you guys said that your intent was to write songs like good books, in the sense that you could glean something new from the songs after every new listening. Is this something you’ve decided to continue with this new album?
WM: One thing that I think is notable about our band is that we try to have variety, or a variety of sounds. You’ll hear some tracks with cello and some tracks with acoustic guitar and some tracks with ukulele. I think it’s really important to have that variety; it’s a pretty classic element in rock ‘n’ roll, at least from the golden years.
DB: You’ve labeled yourselves as being “California rock.” What are some other bands that you would describe as being “California rock,” whether it’s in their sound or spirit?
WM: Theres a band called Delta Spirit that I’m really fond of, I think they really encapsulate what “California rock ‘n’ roll” is. Also, there’s a band called the Kings of Leon, which was huge for me – I didn’t really think I could sing until I heard (Caleb Followill’s) voice. And then as far as California bands go, there’s the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who I view as a pretty gnarly “California rock” band, them being based in Los Angeles. Think of rappers on the West Coast – west side rappers are like night and day to east side rappers. It’s that same concept.
DB: Tell us more about your show on Friday.
WM: This is a really cool one. It’s like a party, essentially. Three rooms at the House of Blues are going to be open and it’s masquerade-themed so everyone will be dressing the part. It’s just a rare opportunity to go out and party with friends but also be around new people and music. That’s not something people get to do that often so it’s a chance to step up your game and experience something new.
DB: Will you guys be playing any of your new songs off the upcoming EP?
WM: Definitely. We have seven songs on the EP that will be coming along to the show. We have a 30-minute set and that’ll get set in stone the day of the show. But the whole night is geared more toward experiencing the whole thing. It’s not like a “come and see your buddies play and then leave” type thing. It’s more geared toward the night as a whole. I think it’ll be pretty fun.