Nathan Williams’s beer-soaked non-performance at Barcelona’s Primavera Sound Festival was more of a mess than Psychedelic Horseshit’s anti-Wavves rant, if you can believe it. Pitchfork recounts the final minutes of the crappy late night set and directionless, off-key musicianship:
Finally, fed up with Nathan’s petulant behavior, Ryan ran out from behind his drumkit and poured a full cup of beer over Nathan’s head. The act would be met with their most enthusiastic applause of the evening.
At 3:00 a.m. sharp, having dodged their share of bottles and even a shoe (neither Nathan nor Ryan was hit, although Nathan likely made impact with some unlucky attendee upon forcefully returning the latter object back to the crowd), the show mercifully came to a screeching halt: Ryan ran offstage, throwing his drumsticks at Nathan. Infuriated, Nathan screamed into the mic, “Come back here, motherfucker, we’re not done yet!” Immediately, stage crew appeared, breaking down Ryan’s kit. “Fuck!” Nathan shouted, “Stop doing that!” They didn’t, so Nathan decided the show must go on. Helplessly, he strummed his guitar again, clearly intent on playing another song. But as he stepped back to the mic, he realized it had been cut. As the crowd booed, the house lights came up, and a defeated Nathan Williams threw his hands up and left, along with the few remaining attendees.
It was the band’s second date on a European tour.
UPDATE: Nathan explains his behavior on the band’s blog:
I think in the back of my head I knew I wasn’t exactly mentally healthy enough to continue to tour the way I have been since February. Honest truth is this has all happened so fast and I feel like the weight of it has been building for months now with what seems like a never ending touring and press schedule which includes absolutely zero time to myself. I’m sorry to everyone who has put effort into this and to everyone who supported me. Mixing ecstasy valium and xanax before having to play in front of thousands of people was one of the more poor decisions I’ve made(duh) and I realize my drinking has been a problem now for a good period of time. Nothing else I can do but apologize to everyone that has been affected by my poor decision making. I made a mistake. Not the first mistake I’ve made and it for sure wont be the last. I’m human. Don’t know why I chose the biggest platform I could imagine to lose my shit, but that’s life. You live and you learn.
[Photo of Wavves @ SXSW by Linda Flores.]
UPDATE: Video…
UPDATE 2: According to Wavves’ MySpace, the European tour is now canceled. Dates at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom (7/15) and P4K Fest (7/18) are still on.
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LULZ, I can’t defend Wavves because he sucks, but does anyone remember The Replacements? (I mean, I don’t because I’m 19, but you get the point, or if you don’t you just lost indie cred points)
i agree with Patrik. Most of the people who commented on this are totally pathetic. The young generation of today are the most uncreative and lame ever. just look at art and music of today and compare it to the 90s, 80s, 70s and on and on. Wavves is actually pretty good and as much as the internet gave them/him his fame, the internet also allows total moronic losers who have no clue about music or what being cool is about write trash and it’s just really sad. really sad.
omgz, this statement is something i can hold onto. thanks! someone saying that the current art scene (in all mediums) is not as good as all previous art scenes (individually or combined). if only the sad art of today was as bold and fresh as this statement that was never used lets say… in the 20′s, 30′s, 40′s, 50′s 60′s, 70′s, 80′s, and 90′s.
This is amazing! I normally don’t read the comments on stereogum… but you guys are hilarious. I do know Nathan and he is a jerk but who cares?! Seriously you guys need lives. Either you like the music or you don’t, but fighting on the internet is just plain sad any way you go about it. At least he had a breakdown playing a major music festival. What did you do this past month? Sit and stare at your computer screens? Go out and do something with yourselves. At least have breakdowns and make mistakes doing something with yourselves other than sitting in a chair on the internet.
…says the guy sitting in a chair on the internet
saw waves at sxsw. lasted two minutes before their music began to make me wretch. worst band ever. but that’s hip these days, so they are twice as shitty as any other band.
Wavves is by far one of the worst bands. They are just another lazy garage band playing the same old chords, same old tuning. Nothing new or exciting at all. I was excited to see them in chicago, but was totally disappointed.KK Rampage opened up and totally blew them out of the water. Even Zach Hills brillant drumming can’t save this band.
Wavves Play music to play. Not please. They dont care. Many other famous musicians have had meltdowns too. And its hardly rememborale. I know i am disagreeing with half the people on here. But Just because you dont like the band doesnt mean you have to trash them. Im not defending them. Im just stating facts that are obviously not clear to others. People like these guys because they arent materialistic. They are different and actually are people. They make music they would listen to. they make music they like. And Thats what its supposed to be about.