Rival Waves is a band from Austin, Texas, fusing elements of alternative, indie rock, & permanent wave to craft powerful anthems wrapped in a vibrant, driving, punk intensity. With a unique aesthetic marrying the musical snarl of early Foo Fighters, the earnest, politically-charged lyricism of The Clash, & the distortion-soaked, indie sensibilities of Cloud Nothings, the band’s cathartic energy & lyrical volition serve to bridge the emotional connection between art & audience.
Rival Waves was formed out of a studio project by singer/songwriter Joel De La Garza that yielded 2018’s Transducer EP. De La Garza soon joined forces with guitarists Marc Schulz & Erik Salinas to create a more collaborative & prolific band dynamic. The addition of Paul Piñon on drums & David McLeod on bass has seen Rival Waves continue to evolve their sound into a melodic, heartfelt, & dangerous sonic electricity that has become their trademark.
The band teamed up with Grammy-nominated producer Chris “Frenchie” Smith to record its debut LP, A Meaningless Chaos. It serves as an 11-track manifesto on dealing with the madness that has engulfed humanity in recent years. The album captures a live, raw immediacy that the times, and the album’s theme, reflect. The result is a powerfully purposeful collection of songs touching on the universal themes of love, loss, anger, fear, and release. “Meaningless Chaos” “Smile Empty Soul” & “100M” were all released in advance of the LP, slated for Summer 2023.