Saturday night special

Asheville-based indie-rock group Wages remains a little bit under the radar, though they’ve been steadily putting out new music and playing shows in the mere year that they’ve been a band.

In a way, Wages is lucky — they formed out of the demise of musch-hyped indie band Arizona, which meant they didn’t have to start in complete obscurity. Already-forged connections with Echo Mountain (Arizona was one of the three acts on Echo Mountain’s label before it folded) surely helped with the glossy, atmospheric, lush rock records they’re making.

On the other hand, even though Wages is a very different band than Arizona (more focused, tighter, crisper) and yet Wages is still working its way out of Arizona’s shadow. (They’ll succeed.) You can listen to and download their latest EP, Drowning, here.

An interesting development: The band started as a trio with Nick Campbell, James DeDakis and Alex Hornbake; Hornbake’s name is no longer on the group’s Myspace or Facebook. Wondering what that means for Wages’ sound? Find out this weekend at a LAB show.

Wages plays an early show (so as not to conflict with PROM!! at the Grey Eagle). “Show starts at 8 sharp… seriously sharp,” says the Facebook invite. Also on the bill: Chapel Hill’s Schooner and Parlour from Louisville.

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About Alli Marshall
Alli Marshall has lived in Asheville for more than 20 years and loves live music, visual art, fiction and friendly dogs. She is the winner of the 2016 Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize and the author of the novel "How to Talk to Rockstars," published by Logosophia Books. Follow me @alli_marshall

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