The Glasses: Ready to be Recognized on the Street
Interview – The Glasses
Q & A with Will Wagler
By Matt Ashworth
NadaMucho.com: Hi Will.
Will Wagler: Hey Matt.
NM: I’ve been working as a booker and publicist for your band, The Glasses. Do you think it’s unfair that I’m interviewing you for my rock magazine?
WW: No. Not really. There are worse bands to waste your words on. Plus, it’s your publication – write about what you want.
NM: Agreed. At least we’re telling people up front that we’ve got a personal relationship. And when Skip Tognetti’s lukewarm Sunbreaks review came out, you knew we weren’t just kissing your ass.
WW: Nobody’s negative critique has really surprised me. No one has yet tapped into what makes me the most insecure. I’m aware enough to see our faults. But that won’t stop us. The Sunbreaks EP is good. Besides, we rock.
Interview – The Glasses
Q & A with Will Wagler
By Matt Ashworth
NadaMucho.com: Hi Will.
Will Wagler: Hey Matt.
NM: I’ve been working as a booker and publicist for your band, The Glasses. Do you think it’s unfair that I’m interviewing you for my rock magazine?
WW: No. Not really. There are worse bands to waste your words on. Plus, it’s your publication – write about what you want.
NM: Agreed. At least we’re telling people up front that we’ve got a personal relationship. And when Skip Tognetti’s lukewarm Sunbreaks review came out, you knew we weren’t just kissing your ass.
WW: Nobody’s negative critique has really surprised me. No one has yet tapped into what makes me the most insecure. I’m aware enough to see our faults. But that won’t stop us. The Sunbreaks EP is good. Besides, we rock.
NM: Your live show certainly backs up that claim. Tell fans what to expect from your show Friday night at VERA.
WW: You know – a sexy onslaught of rock music. Some strobe light theatrics–interesting melodies. Our live shows are very streamlined. No filler.
NM: Give us the Reader’s Digest history of the band.
WW: The Glasses are the third band I’ve had since living in Seattle. Caleb Baker, my cosmic twin, was helping out my last band after our original bassist dumped us. He officially joined for The Glasses’ first recording, the Sunbreaks EP. He creates some of the most creative bass lines of anyone I’ve ever heard. Just the other day we were both scratching our heads wondering why nobody else plays like him.
I met Adrian Esquerra through some mutual friends. I recruited him for our record release show at Chop Suey last summer. He’s a fairly quiet guy who often showcases his brand of humor through the guitar. He can play almost everything and likes to crack everybody up with his shrilly, screaming butt-rock licks. Fortunately, when it comes to songwriting he’s able to get serious with mood and texture.
On the drums we have KII Kay. He and I met through the classifieds. Both of us were frustrated to high heaven with our previous projects and the flakes we’d worked with. He not only plays a mean drum set, but he’s exceptional as far as the business angle goes. He’s the workhorse and the backbone of the band. Collectively, we’re long-term music scene troopers who’ve trudged through all the crap to finally emerge as something special.
NM: Well, we’re certainly glad you’ve got such a good group of guys to make music with. Talk a little bit about the importance of community.
WW: After being in this city’s rock scene for over half a decade, I finally feel like I’ve got some band friends – people I can talk with at shows and not feel all awkward around. Bands like The Orphan Project, The Reluctants, Channel, Hex County – Erik Blood of The Turn-Ons has been really cool to us too.
NM: How competitive is the Seattle music scene?
The competitiveness is real. I’ve often seen where bands get really superior or condescending. At the same time, there are a lot of horrible bands out there. It’s not that they can’t play their instruments; it’s that they have no concept of current music or that their over-emotional pleas are just painful to listen to. It gives me a horrible feeling and makes me wonder if maybe my band is just like that one. Perhaps I have no idea how laughable we are to the world.
NM: If it’s any consolation, I think you guys are extremely talented and have a lot of potential and stuff. Is there a new album in the works?
WW: Yup. We just finished the recording and mixing portion of our first full length, Binary. It was produced by Zack Reinig who has recently recorded local faves like Hint Hint and The Mines. The album will be released this August on Double Dos Records.
NM: What are your long term dreams and goals with The Glasses?
WW: To tour relentlessly around the world and make people feel good through new music.
NM: That and get rich and famous, right?
WW: Naturally. I’m damn ready to be recognized on the street.
NM: What bands rock The Glasses tour bus? Or should I say, "Tour Geo Metro?"
WW: I finally got around to getting Film School’s AlwaysNever EP. It puts me in this cool trance that I like to drive around in. The band has been into Pattern as Movement, N.E.R.D., the latest Twilight Singers record and TV on the Radio. Being practically jobless has caused me to buy cheap vinyl. I’ve been getting a lot of older music like Peter Gabriel and The Police.
NM: Appropriately distinguished choices my friend. So you guys are all sexy and well dressed. Can you give me some pointers?
WW: I think you’re doing fine with the collared long sleeved shirt underneath the T-shirt.
NM: You like that look? I knew it. Anything else you wanna add?
WW: Our live show is in constant development. We believe when people go out to see music, they want more than just people playing instruments. We try to really put on a show. 