Artist description "Big sound from a three-piece...", "Catchy pop songs with supercharged guitars and powerful drumming...", "There is strength in their songs, and their performances are intense...", "Wade is ten times better than most of the corporate alternative tripe being played on the radio...", "A post-punk power trio in the time-honored tradition of the late, great Husker Du, Wade, lays on the heavy guitars and teenage rage with an occasional nod to the old-school Replacements, Wade captures the Cheap Trick power-pop vibe..." This is just some of the critical praise Wade has received as a result of three albums and five plus years of sweating it out in the clubs and slogging it out in the recording studio. All this and never a bad review. The year 2000 began with Wade playing the semi-finals of the Ernie Ball MusicMan Battle of the Bands in Dallas, Texas, competing against the top 16 bands of over 90 markets in North America. Wade has continued to build a strong fan base by gigging regionally, and venturing to NYC to play such venues as CBGB's and Brownies. This summer Wade played shows with Marvelous Three, Jimmy's Chicken Shack, Reel Big Fish, Sponge and the Violent Femmes, among others. Wade has also played two years running at the much-envied "Surge Fest at Star Lake", an amphitheater showcase spotlighting regional talent and drawing in excess of 17,000 fans. "Goes Like This" a single featured on both Wade's latest release, "Nicotine EP", and major alternative station WXDX 105.9's "X-files 99" compilation, has been added to regular rotation, while "Trampoline", a song included on the "X-files 98" compilation, spent two months in special rotation at the end of '98. Wade has also made the playlists of college an independent stations from W.V. to Ohio to N.Y. to Virginia. Wade is regularly featured at Pittsburgh's most prestigious venues like Nicks Fat City and Graffiti and popular, radio sponsored festivals like Market Squared, the Pittsburgh Regatta and the X-fest at I.C. Light Amphitheater. Even with this full schedule Wade continues to appear at benefit shows supporting various local and national charities. Wade is currently anticipating the release of their latest effort, their fifth independent, and fourth full length effort in the winter of 2000. "Brutal, insightful, humorous and concise-sometimes all at the same time...", "Wade's melodies can get into your cranium, f**k around for a while and return to your inner monologue when you least expect them..." Wade's popcraft, harmonies and hyperkinetic live shows continue to gather critical praise and incite audience frenzy. Wade is recording their next release at Studio L, with local rock superproducer Rick Witkowski. Check out the press section for reviews on all of our releases.

Music Style Rock

Musical Influences Husker Du, Cheap Trick, Beatles, Van Halen

Group Members Doug Gilleylen - Drums, Vocals; Andy St. John - Guitar, Vocals; Mark Spaeder - Bass, Lead Vocal

Albums Jimmy Mang's Baden Bowl, Slackaster, Nicotine (EP)

Press Reviews ROCKERS WADE INTO 'NICOTINE'Let's see: The Clarks sing about cigarettes. Norman Nardini had a hit about lighting up another kind of vegetable matter. Wade cut to the chase, ignoring the cloud and going for the chemical: Their seven-songer is loaded with 'Nicotine.' You'd expect a CD with a title like that to be smokin', and you're not disappointed. More to the point, in addition to jumping up and down on the PC banner, the band is rather fun.Singer/bassist Mark Spaeder, guitarist Andy St. John and drummer Doug Gilleylen rock with a Pittsburgh accent, or at least the trio feels at home including Pittsburghese within their lyrics. Check out "Hero" - it begins with what might be construed as southern rock harmonies before rolling their own in a Steel City way. The locally linked lyric (we won't give it away, but it should cause you to chuckle, too) helps the collection open on a sturdy note. "Hero" is about drawing strength from relationships, a strong performance strongly fashioned. Pittsburghism also infuses a live track, "Blister," which you might call "Chiller Theatre rock." Final line is clever. Falsetto is enjoyable in the radio-friendly "Nothing," favorite track on the EP. We seem to be hearing a bit of an English accent on this one, or maybe not.Now, don't think the guys are a trio of Weird Als. "Caffeine" is straightforward, with catchy guitar work that suggest a substance-induced pinball bounding between bumpers. Good, ragged-throated hook, as well, though some of the delivery in a tad indistinct. "Don't Get Me Started" offers a haunted sense of loss before breaking into an industrial rhythm. Energetic support suggests the depressed vocalist's clashing mental state. Songwriting boosts "O.K.," as does it's electronic-pulse opening moments, but again we'd like the vocals to be a little more distinct.Wrapping up the collection is another of the favorites, "Goes Like This." which strikes the listener as Arabian flavored with a mid-sixties aspect. Even if that's not what it's supposed to be, it works. And it should come as no surprise to anyone keeping score that this is another Ric Witkowski production. What might be surprising is that the disc is an enhanced CD-ROM, full of data and visuals (don't watch while driving).It's the kind of album that makes the transition from antique CDs into the new technological era a little less traumatic than it might have been. (Remember when we went from cylinder to platter? You don't? Oh, well...)Dave Sallinger, Daily News Entertainment EditorThe Daily NewsMcKeesport, PATuesday, December 21, 1999

Location Pittsburgh, PA - USA

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