In Conversation with Meat Wave

As we nearly approach a year without concerts and live shows the way we’re accustomed to, it is to our benefit that our friends at Lincoln Hall and Audiotree continue to do their damnedest to keep local artists like punk band Meat Wave active via live-streamed shows.

Ahead of their STAGED performance, we caught up with Meat Wave to talk about their upcoming Audiotree live-stream, local bands they’re keeping up with and their upcoming plans for 2021.

Check out the Q&A from our hometown boys below, and grab tickets to rock out to their show, live from Lincoln Hall, later tonight.

It's been 5 years since your last Audiotree session. What's new in the world of Meat Wave?

Wow, that’s wild. We’ve basically spent the last couple of years making new music. Otherwise, we’re just working and hunkering down, waiting for this thing to end.

Will your performance be any different, in reference to playing an empty room?

We are no strangers to being on tour and ever so often playing to an empty room. This time will obviously be different. We don’t really know what to expect. Hoping that the three of us can zone in on the music and more or less ignore the fact that no one is there. It will be comforting knowing friends are watching. I watched the FACS performance at Lincoln Hall a few months ago, and it was so well done. We’re looking forward to it.

Have you all been practicing together regularly during the advisory?

Thankfully we have. Safely of course. I feel really thankful to have this outlet and feel bad for all the bands and artists who aren’t able to get together and play.

Which Chicago Venues do you miss the most?

I worked at the Empty Bottle for the past few years, so that place is definitely missed. All those folks are my family and I miss them a lot. Always have a lot of fun at the Hideout and Sleeping Village too. There are so many great venues here that might not be able to survive. It’s bullshit that they’re received absolutely no help other than from the good people donating and buying merchandise. Or watching live streams, wink wink.

Can we expect to see a follow up to The Incessant in the near future?

Yes. Can’t say exactly when at this point, but we have quite a bit of music coming out next year. You should expect to hear something really soon. Like really, really soon.

Working with Steve Albini must have been a trip. Any more work from MW & SA in the future?

Working with Steve was great. And we love his studio. We’re really lucky because Joe is also a fantastic engineer, and other than The Incessant has recorded every other thing we’ve done. We tracked and mixed The Incessant in four days with Steve. I would have really loved more time. And also would love to work with him again. The nice thing about recording with Joe is we have unlimited time and very little pressure while recording. And that’s proven to be very beneficial and important for us.

If you could book a show today, who would be on the bill with you?

It’s the usual suspects for me: Melkbelly, FACS, Oozing Wound... we don’t even need to play, I would just like to see that show. Paper Mice too.

Have you been bumping any local groups this year? Who do you see on the come-up?

It’s been admittedly harder to find out about new bands, I feel like I used to see so many all the time. The ones that come to mind now: Stuck, Floatie, Ganser and Deeper, all on the come-up. And anything coming out on Born Yesterday or Sooper Records.

What can fans expect from MeatWave in 2021?

I erroneously had said that we would have a new record in 2020. So I am once again putting it out into the universe: new record in 2021. Touring seems to be slightly more hopeful for next year, so that would be really amazing. Not going to hold our breath though. Lots of new music for sure though. Thanks!