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Garage Gigs to Going Gold: A Conversation with the Voice of Vundabar at Shabang Music Festival

Updated: May 19


Vundabar is an American indie rock band that hails from Boston, Massachusetts. Comprised of Brandon Hagen on guitar and vocals, Drew McDonald on bass, and Zack Abramo on drums, this trio has perfected the art of crafting captivating tunes that exude infectious energy.


Their music is a potent concoction of energetic rhythms and unabashedly catchy lyrics. Vundabar explores the boundaries of musical expression, creating a sensory experience that’s both liberating and downright electrifying. They have a knack for blending dark humor, emotional depth, and a touch of devilish charm, resulting in a sound that is undeniably exhilarating.


We sat down with lead vocalist, Brandon Hagen, to explore the band’s journey from the DIY music scene to their single “Alien Blues” going gold this year!



 

Amber: “Your music has been described as a blend of indie rock, post-punk, and garage rock. How would you describe your sound in your own words? How has your sound evolved since you first started making music together?”


Brandon: “I just say rock and roll… I guess it’s evolved in the sense that when we started our sound was dictated by our limitations. We didn’t really know how to play or record so that became our sound and as we learned we were able to integrate the things we liked in music more and try different things.”


A: “I feel that. Everything we do at .wav is basically no budget, DIY, pulling strings here and there and working with what we have.”


B: “It’s a good way to learn, you know”


Yeah, learn by doing 😏


 

Let’s take a moment to revel in the lyrical prowess of Vundabar. Their songs are a feast of explicit poetry and vocal percussion. Weaving tales of seeming nonsense and unfiltered hedonism into something that just makes sense. They delve into the depths of human connection with a brazen honesty that is both refreshing and captivating.


Amber: “Your newest EP “Good Old” explores 10 years of the band from Gawk and Smell Smoke. Your music often features introspective and personal lyrics. How do you approach songwriting, and how do you translate your life experiences into inspiration?”


Brandon: “My writing typically reflects a period in my life and what’s going on around me.”


A: “Yeah it’s like retrospection throughout phases of your life. I feel like change is something that translates well into music.”


B: “Yeah definitely, and I don’t even think about it in the moment honestly. After I look at what I wrote, I see the way I was writing reflects whatever journey I was on at the time.”


 

But it’s not just the catchy lyrics that make Vundabar shows such bangers. Their stage presence is a spectacle in itself. Brandon effortlessly commands the stage, capturing the audience’s attention with mesmerizing vocals and an uninhibited performance style. Combined with the infectious rhythm section provided by Drew McDonald and Zack Abramo, Vundabar’s live shows are transcendental experiences that will leave you in a state of euphoria.


Amber: “I heard you have a history of playing in San Luis Obispo when you were first getting started as a band. Do you have a favorite memory in SLO or when you first started landing shows in general?”


Brandon: “We have a funny story, we did a KCPR pool party. It was very college. The stage was bizarre, it was out of someone’s house. Nick at night or something. We played on a stage that was facing the pool with the audience in the water. It was a very California thing to do.”


Say "Piss Punk Pool Party" five times over



Amber: “A French blog covered your debut album “Antics” back in 2013 and you went on a European tour after that. You guys just got back from another EU tour–UK, Amsterdam, Germany, France. How was this experience different from your first time around?”


Brandon: “We’re a lot less green. That tour in 2013 was our first really big gig, we were doing a lot of festivals.”


Amber: “Did you get the nerves back then more than you do now?”


B: “No, no, we were just kids. It was a lot of learning, like boot camp for the band. That tour in particular kicked things off for us so France has always had a soft spot for us and coming back felt like a full circle moment.”


A: “Is that where you broke your arm LOL”


B: “Yeah, I broke my arm in Bordeaux yeah.”


 

Sam: “I heard you guys played a DJ set instead of the gig you guys had planned. That sounds like a pretty great alternative! How was that?”


B: “It was great! I have been wanting to start doing that for a long time and then this was the impetus to just do it so we’ll take it! It was fun.”


S: “You guys have a great stage presence. I remember seeing you guys a couple years ago and you brought out a bunch of floaties and crowd surfed on them.”


B: “Oh yeah, was that at the Observatory?”


S: “Yeah! You remember! How do you guys bring the energy and keep the rage instead of burning out all the time? It’s pretty awesome.”


B: “How do I just stay awake? Try to sleep eight hours a night, try to be a good boy, stretch, drink enough water, breathe.”


Solid advice.



 

Sam: “It looks like you guys have a couple gigs before your next big festival, ‘All Things Go’ in October. Do you plan on taking that time to rest or do you plan to continue working?”


Brandon: “We’re gonna make a record and we have another tour that we’ll be announcing in September. Literally the day we play that festival we’re playing another show in Philly that night. So get to the festival, do the show, load up, drive to Philly, load out, soundcheck, play that show. It’ll be a little crazy but hey.”


S: “You guys are all gas, no brakes!”


Amber: “You guys dropped two songs today! Digital Forest and Sugar Pill. That’s super exciting! Is there anything you want to share about them?”


B: “Yeah, I’ve been kicking them around for a long time and we couldn’t really find a home for them so we released them as singles. We recorded them with Alex Garcías Rivera who has done a lot of our records. He’s our punk guru dad figure of the band, we follow in his footsteps.”



Amber: “You guys started off in the Boston DIY scene, there are quite a few local underground bands playing here this weekend including Couch Dog and Earthship. What’s your best advice for these up-and-coming bands?”


Brandon: “Well it’s all changed since we started making music. Just go with your gut I think just try to make good music. None of the other stuff can come or exist if people don’t like your sound. Just focus on the sound and make it happen.”  

Thank you Vundabar! Until next time…


 

Amber Gouley is a part of .wavzine’s Marketing and Events Team. She conducted the interview and wrote the article. Sam Vitug is a part of .wavzine’s Marketing and Events Team. She helped conduct the interview. Random Dochtermann is our friend from Free The Youth. He was in charge of audio and video. Abbott Swanson manages .wavzine’s art team. She made the graphic.

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