ALBUM RELEASE PARTY
WYATT WADDELL
In celebration of one month since the release of The Understudy by Wyatt Waddell, we’re looking back at the listening party we hosted with EMPIRE on March 18, just ahead of its official release on March 20. The shop filled up quick with friends and fans ready to hear it first, turning the FRET12 shop into a packed, one-night-only first listen.
ALBUM RELEASE PARTY
WYATT WADDELL
In celebration of one month since the release of The Understudy by Wyatt Waddell, we’re looking back at the listening party we hosted with EMPIRE on March 18, just ahead of its official release on March 20. The shop filled up quick with friends and fans ready to hear it first, turning the FRET12 shop into a packed, one-night-only first listen.
A NIGHT WITH WYATT WADDELL AT FRET12
About 60 guests settled in as the album played front to back, with visualizers lighting up the video wall. Wyatt guided the room through it, introducing each track and sharing the stories behind the music, giving context to a project shaped over the past decade.
The night stayed close and personal. Guests grabbed snacks from Do-Rite Donuts, connected with Wyatt throughout, and left with a limited 7-inch vinyl in hand, signed and stamped with the moment.
Earlier that day, Wyatt also recorded a session of The Sound and The Story for “Therapy,” along with a gear talk, capturing both the performance and the process behind the record. (more to come soon!)
A first listen that felt as personal as the album itself. The kind of night we’re always chasing at FRET12.
“It's like you have to put on a show every time. You can't just sit there and play. You got to give them something to look at."- Caden Shae
“It's like you have to put on a show every time. You can't just sit there and play. You got to give them something to look at."
- Parker James
"Obviously we love the big stage, but like, it really doesn't matter to us as long as there's a community there to be a part of. It's all about the love of the game and the people, you know, it's not about where you're playing."
– Caden Shae
"Obviously we love the big stage, but like, it really doesn't matter to us as long as there's a community there to be a part of. It's all about the love of the game and the people, you know, it's not about where you're playing."
– Caden Shae
HARD-WON TOUR TIPS
💥 “School also serves the purpose of being something to kind of come back to and a schedule to be on, which I know is very helpful for me.”
💥 “We brought DVDs on tour, we watched Star Wars.”
💥 “Develop some stable things you do every night that can take away that strange Groundhog’s Day thing from touring.”
💥 “Make yourself wake up early enough to feel like you're real. It's like it's better to not just wake up and immediately get in a car.”
💥 “Taking a walk, eating breakfast, maybe with a piece of lettuce or something, just [doing] little things. Self-care, it’s 2024.”
💥 “Try to fill your days with things that aren’t just driving and moving gear.”
“I grew up singing in front of six, 700 people a week. You know, every Sunday was a concert basically.”
— Brother Wallace
“I grew up singing in front of six, 700 people a week. You know, every Sunday was a concert basically.”— Brother Wallace
“This is my favorite pedal I've ever owned, the Reverberation Machine [by Death By Audio]. I started using it for guitar because I like this really cool, dusty kind of distorted reverb... there are a lot of songs in Ganser where I use distorted vocals. It’s just a sound I’ve always wanted for vocals and it’s much more fun to perform as well.”
— Sophie Sputnik
“This is my favorite pedal I've ever owned, the Reverberation Machine [by Death By Audio]. I started using it for guitar because I like this really cool, dusty kind of distorted reverb... there are a lot of songs in Ganser where I use distorted vocals. It’s just a sound I’ve always wanted for vocals and it’s much more fun to perform as well.”
— Sophie Sputnik
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FRET12 EVENTS – WYATT WADDELL
Follow their journey ➔ Web // Instagram // Spotify // Apple Music
All video and photos by FRET12.
Venue: FRET12 Shop, located in the main lobby of the Salt Shed - Chicago.
FRET12 SESSIONS – BROTHER WALLACE
Described as "a true force of nature" in modern soul, Brother Wallace is the next great in a long line of musical masters from his home state of Georgia, and we were lucky enough to have him at FRET12.
