Animal Waves makes its local debut Saturday, Sept. 15 at the Copper Dragon.
Hailing from California, the group includes Carbondale native Robert Davis and his writing partner, Nathaniel Cox. The self-described "fuzzed out, straight ahead" rock group is releasing an EP album at the end of the month.
Davis said he was last in Carbondale last year after his grandmother passed. Coming back home, Davis explained that he suddenly found himself in a creative space, which paved the way for his something new. He even used the Copper Dragon for rehearsal.
"It was wonderful and hard at the same time," Davis said. "I was spending time there and thought it's time for a new start. It was really fun to do that."
Animal Waves is set to drop its inaugural release, "EP1," which is set to be released Sept. 28. There have been two singles, including the in-your-face "WTF," with its gnarly guitar riff and a devil-may-care chorus that sucks the listener in from the opening lick. The group also put together a crossover mashup of Tom Petty's "You Don't Know How It Feels" and Led Zepplin's "When the Levee Breaks."
Davis moved to California in 2001 with Revis, which was born out of Ewing as Orco and even found national success with the 2003 album "Places for Breathing" debuting at the top spot on the Billboard's Heatseekers chart. In May 2003, the band was honored in Carbondale with a "Revis Day" proclamation. The group disbanded for a second and final time in 2012.
After Revis, Davis has found success recording with Slash and working a three-year stint with Lauryn Hill.
Davis described Animal Waves as blues and no-apologies rock.
"It's definitely raw and fuzzy, nothing short of rock n' roll," he said.
The group also includes Charles Salvaggio on bass and drummer Matt Zavorski. Davis said he is looking forward to showing his bandmates some of his old stomping grounds, a place he promises he will always return. Southern Illinois is his home, he said; it always has been, and it always will be.
"This is going to be our third show together ever," he said. "It's a blessing and I'm honored. I've been gone a long time, and I feel honored just to be able to be welcomed back. I will never stop coming back to show love and to get some love right back."
For more information or to listen to music, check out the official website at www.animalwaves.com.
