When Kristin Hersh wants to form a band she wants to do it now, not when some management company or record label says “OK” -- but now. So in 2003, after creating her brand-new band 50 Foot Wave, she created her own record company (ThrowingMusic, named for the seminal post-punk band she founded at age14, Throwing Muses) and set to recording, releasing and distributing 50 Foot Wave’s debut for herself. In April of 2004, 50 Foot Wave released a self-titled blistering 6-song mini album, which earned the band much critical notice. It’s been a DIY endeavor to say the least.
On March 8, 2005 50 Foot Wave will release Golden Ocean, their full-length debut. This is Hersh’s first new band since founding the influential Throwing Muses and is a harder, faster, more direct experience. After self-releasing the mini-album the band spent the balance of 2004 touring the U.S. and Europe, playing unbelievably loud shows and in-stores, visiting radio and otherwise getting the word out on 50 Foot Wave.
50 Foot Wave is comprised of Throwing Muses founder Kristin Hersh, joined by bassist Bernard Georges (Throwing Muses) and drummer Rob Ahlers.
Kristin is arguably one of the most important women in music today. Nine albums fronting Throwing Muses, six albums as a solo artist, countless Eps and singles spread across the span of her almost unbelievable 20 year career and now one 50 Foot Wave.
50 Foot Wave is propelled by the race-car engine of Kristin's guitar and her explosive, feral vocals. Bernard's bass, as always, is a muscle, undulating through Kristin's wall of sound. Ahlers drumming is ferocious and unbridled, at once supporting and keeping pace with Kristin's driving and relentless sound. The trio are tight and powerful, creating music that is precise, emotional and seemingly on the edge of control.
Built from the ground up to be an overwhelming live experience, 50 Foot Wave tours extensively, Hersh explains, "The current state of the music business leaves us with fewer choices. A band can't just release a record and wait for the fans to "show up". Independent radio has been all but wiped out and independent retail is in even bigger trouble, so it's pretty simple really. Without radio we have to be the broadcast, with diminished retail outlets we have to be the means of distribution. Both of those realities mean that comprehensive touring is no longer optional, but required for a band that wants to play an active rather than a passive role in their own business."
Relying on one-to-one relationships rather than marketing dollars to drive their music business, 50 Foot Wave continues to strengthen the bond between band and fan. The band will continue to build on the innovative work Kristin has been doing since the mid-nineties, finding new and exciting ways of involving fans in the music. They've provided early versions of songs as mp3s for download and opened the band's early rehearsals to interested fans -- 120 people, some from as far as 3,000 miles away traveled to a practice space where they were served pizza and beer in an atmosphere that was decidedly more "living room" than rock club. Hersh says, "We're very lucky to have these people who care so much about us. Since 1994 I've had a web community of involved fans (www.throwingmusic.com) centered around the Muses, my solo stuff and now 50 Foot Wave. It's been a great thing for us.”
50 Foot Wave has been called “a force of nature” by more than one music journalist and this full-length, full-strength collection of songs should only reinforce the band’s reputation. Kristin created this band for the sole purpose of being loud, fast and hard and when pressed, she sums up her vision for 50 Foot Wave, “What could be more fun that turning up to “10” and screaming your head off for an hour every night?” Nothing Kristin, nothing at all.