Calling all gamer nerds! If you’re looking for new geek rock music that combines a love for both video games and ska, then look no further than Vancouver’s The Wavebirds, and their new album, “In All Their 2.4GHz Glory”. Featuring 11 songs, this album serves as a tribute to the 90s era, emphasized with the album’s heavy influence on the 3rd wave ska sound.
Much like many ska songs from the era, the album blends both horn lines and catchy ska rhythms with lyrics that pertain to the realities of the world. The concept of video game inspired songs actually fits this cliché perfectly, as they take advantage of escaping to the virtual world; most especially with the second song “I Wanna Live My Life in a Video Game”.
What makes this album stand out is that video games only serve to symbolize a broader message, rather than just songs that talk about how cool video games are (which isn’t to say this would make for a terrible song). Their first released song “P.L.I.” is featured on this album and, at first listen, is about wanting to beat someone’s high score on Donkey Kong. The song actually goes beyond that, being a feminist anthem that argues women are just as capable as men in a patriarchal system.
The rest of their album follows this formula in songs such as “Blue Shell Breakup” and “The Raid Boss Killed All My Friends”. The only song that might be the exception is “Youngster Joey’s Song”, which might literally be a song about the Pokemon Rattata.
On top of its successful use of allegory, “In All Their 2.4GHz Glory” has an exceptional sound. Trombonist Mike Dorval adds horn lines only to fill in empty sounds and adds some enjoyable horn lines (“Come Home, Dizzy”). Guitarist Adam Thomas and drummer Will Navarro are exceptional and really understand the beats and sound that make for great ska punk music.
Callyn Dorval joins the list of female vocalists that tie the songs together and doesn’t go above and beyond to outshine the rest of the band. John Kneeshaw has some pretty amazing basslines that put him near the same tier list as Matt Freeman, Roger Lima, and Pete McCullough. I think a bass solo in the next project will prove I’m not exaggerating.
Hidden within songs about fighting bosses and robot beaches is ultimately an emotional album about unity, hardships, and friendship. With clean production and tunes easy to sing along to, The Wavebirds have a strong debut that rejuvenates geek rock. In that spirit, I encourage all to invite their friends over, order a few pizzas, and set their consoles aside to not only listen to some Wavebirds, but to bask in all their 2.4GHz glory.
Also, the CD comes in a GameCube case!
“In All Their 2.4GHz Glory” by The Wavebirds is available now on Bandcamp.