The Wans

"Some folks thought The Wans were dead in the water. I like to think we were in hibernation,” says lead singer Simon Kerr of the Nashville based rock band, The Wans. Described as sounding “like The Stooges having a baby with Stone Temple Pilots” by Classic Rock Magazine, the group are welcoming their highly-anticipated fourth LP Magical Touch, which includes 11 songs that showcase a refreshing new approach that is sure to perk up your ears. Magical Touch will be released on July 26, 2023, which is exactly 11 years to the date of their first release.
The Wans’ new eleven-song LP, Magical Touch, was co-produced, recorded and mixed by Michael Fahey at Starbird Sound in Nashville using vintage recording equipment and recorded live with minimal overdubs. With two new additions to the band, Akshay Narang and Noah Denney, it was sure to add to the expansion of the sonic qualities. Noah Denney, formerly of Tyler Bryant and The Shakedown and who originally played bass in The Wans, now sits behind the drums. “The new sound is so exciting for me. We’ve known Akshay for over a decade and bonded over everything from Nine Inch Nails to Depeche Mode so it was only natural to ask him to play some synth and guitar with the band.”, says Kerr.

The hard-touring Wans have been on the rise for a while now, playing major festivals like Austin City Limits, Voodoo Fest, Forecastle and Hangout Fest, and sharing bills with Pearl Jam, Beck, and Queens of the Stone Age. They recorded their 2014 album He Said She Said, with Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb (Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton, Rival Sons), the acclaimed record landed them press at USA Today, NME, Consequence of Sound, The AV Club, and more. Not only that, the band's music has been featured everywhere from major motion picture Point Break and TV shows like Nashville, Longmire, and Necessary Roughness to a powerhouse commercial for BMW'S 4 Series Gran Coupe, which was soundtracked by the band's muscular riff rocker "Black Pony."

“This record feels like my novella, a journey similar to Steinbecks ‘East of Eden’. It took 4 years to write and a week to record.” says Kerr. There’s no doubt that The Wans wore their influences proudly on their sleeves, like Queens of the Stone Age and Nirvana, but this record feels more precise and like nothing we’ve heard before from the band. There are certainly hints of 80’s and 90’s Brit-Pop influences, but the songwriting has become more focused and that’s not an overthought.” Kerr continues, “My dad, Tony Kerr, has been my main songwriting partner since I was 16. Some Father-Son’s bond over fishing, but we bond over writing songs. It’s become effortless when we write together.”

Bassist Thomas Bragg states, “Simon and I have been so excited with what’s going on in the Irish/British music scene in the last few years. Bands like Idles and Fontaines D.C have made some of the best records of the last decade and I think that definitely had an effect on our music and this record.”

The Wans’ have always shared a brotherhood and love for making rock n’ roll, which is much needed in today’s overall climate and music scene. Lyrically, this record purposefully radiates self-awareness, love, and togetherness. “The Wans’ are everything to me. When it comes to the song’s they’re all we have.” says Kerr. The great Joe Strummer once said, “People have got to stop pretending they're not in the world. It's time to take that humanity back into the center of the ring and follow that for a time. Think on that. Without people you're nothing.”
2023 is set to be an exciting year for The Wans, so keep your eyes peeled for exciting announcements leading up to Magical Touch this summer.

"Steamroller guitar riffs and a vocal about, well, partying all night, every night." –NME Magazine “It's an energetic, guitar-heavy assault that demands to be played loudly.” –Consequence of Sound “Start getting into them now, before the rest of the country catches on...” –USA Today
“The Wans aesthetic, which mixes Zeppelin, Cream, and "newer" bands like Nirvana to come up with a sort of '60s meets '90s sound that should fly with modern listeners.” –A.V. Club
“The Wans brand of flailing garage rock that sounds uncannily like early aughts White Stripes.” –The Nerdist
“The Wans have kept with their heavy Nashville rock ethos, while mingling together the classic elements of 60’s, 70’s and 90’s rock.” –Glide Magazine