Band: Wept
From: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Their formation story:
(Mike Fravel, vocals): "In the spring of 2022, Patrick Lyoya, a black man, was killed by a cop at a traffic stop. He was shot in the back of the head. The GRPD released the footage to the internet and the moment I watched Patrick’s body go limp and immediately stop moving I was filled with rage and pain. I thought about how often people are brutalized and murdered unjustly because of biased and awful ideologies and knew I had to and wanted to immediately respond.
"So, I reached out to a friend, Jeremy Davis, who would later become a guitarist for this band. Jeremy had a home studio and I asked him to write me three power violence songs. He sent me a song the same day! That song would later become 'Fuck Feeling Afraid.'
"Around the same time, our good buddy Alex VanRavenswaay (Novice) reached out to me about a first show. The only problem was there wasn’t a band! Jeremy was always down so I knew he was in. I reached out to Greg Shoemaker and Nick Wylie and they were both pretty excited about the idea! Last but definitely not least, Brad Berrios reached out to me at a show about playing second guitar. It’s been the same solid lineup since!"
Their sound in their own words:
"It’s always pretty fun and yet hard to pin down questions when you get asked about your sound and style. Everyone wants to say something unique or really special. But that makes sense when you really care about your sound. And we do! I don’t want to speak for the other dudes in the band but for me, vocally? For this project?
"My biggest influences are early Trash Talk, Know the Score, and Ceremony. As far as musically, I feel like we are somewhere between Weekend Nachos and Mind Eraser."
Latest release info:
"The newest release? I think my favorite thing about it is every song was very literally built by a different member of the band. The release is meant to be an abrasive response for anyone who is fucking through with experiencing bullshit and brutality. Whether it be emotional or physical."
Future plans:
"I think our immediate plans as a band are still kind of being figured out. We had some really humbling responses for our first few shows and that meant a lot. I think because some of the members play in multiple bands and one dude is a literal scientist, we must be strategic in making moves. But I think we are all in agreement, wanting to play some more out of state shows and build a full length."
What other bands from the region should we check out?
"There are so many great bands in West Michigan right now that it’s impossible to include all that we think deserve it, but we wanted to shout out Levity, M.D.O.P, Tunnel of Love, Novice, Maze, and we have to mention our boys in Bitter Truth."
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Wept on social media: Instagram
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Tagged: wept
