by Jack O’Rourke
What started as a fun, little project between lifelong friends, Chase Bader (vocals, acoustic guitar) and Conor Kelly (electric guitar), has grown into one of the hottest bands coming out of Nashville. Formerly known under the name Koa, Waker has garnered quite the following for their high octane and jam session filled live shows. With a similar sound to Dave Mathews Band, Waker is known for their eclectic blend of soul, funk, and rock & roll. Fresh off the release of their 2015 EP, Waker hit the festival circuit playing shows at ACL, Hangout, Bonnaroo, SXSW and Firefly and have been on the road touring ever since.
While balancing touring and working on an album, last year Waker released their most recent single, “Pike.” My personal favorite from their repertoire; the single marks the culmination of Waker’s evolution as songwriters and musicians. The up-tempo and dance inducing song got its name after the U.S. general and explorer, Zebulon Pike. With their sights set on a Guinness World Record, all seven members piled into their van and hit the road, heading for Pikes Peak with the goal of reaching the summit and “playing the hell out of this song.” The music video for “Pike” shows the bands journey to the top of the mountain.
As we patiently await the release of Waker’s new album, in the meantime be sure to catch Waker at WCL – Upstairs on Saturday, April 7th. Tickets are available here.
