wilt – nothing good to cry about
Introducing… wilt. While the rising alternative rock band may be new to you, the Los Angeles-based four piece – Chelsea Rifkin (vocals), Aaron Liebman (guitars), Andrew Vance (guitars), and Dan Bermudez (drummer) – have been making waves for several years including garnering a rabid social media following; touring across the U.S. and internationally with artists including Lovejoy, Taylor Acorn and The Warning; getting spins on influential radio stations including KROQ and KCRW; and more. Today, wilt return with new single “nothing good to cry about” via AWAL, a first taste of the raw, rock-forward sound the band captured with producer Carlos de la Garza (Paramore, The Linda Lindas).
The new track from wilt – whose band name was inspired by Hole’s iconic track “Celebrity Skin” – is the band at their most infectious. “nothing good to cry about” sees Rifkin’s lyrics go straight to the heart of what their upcoming debut album – due later this year – is about. The upbeat, catchy melody on the track is juxtaposed by the introspective lyrics. “How do we really feel behind the scenes, behind our care-free social media presence?,” ask the band. “The song is really for anyone who’s looked at their life and thought: ‘everything’s fine, so why am I still unhappy?’ They add, “The music just flowed — we felt this synergy we hadn’t had before. The punchy, interlocking guitar parts are Andrew and Aaron in constant conversation, Dan’s drum part locks right in, and Chelsea just bares everything. It brought us closer than we’d ever been, and we think you can hear that.”
Today, they also release the video for “nothing good to cry about,” directed by Jacqueline Justice.
“We just wanted something that reflected the energy of the song and our performances,” note the band. “There’s a deliberate contrast between shots of us playing to an empty room – which is how it’s sometimes felt being unrecognized on support tours – and a packed room of fans, which is where we’re going.” The bartender also represents the spirit of Chelsea’s record store-owning father, who passed from cancer several years ago, and who she cites as her main inspiration to create. The lone soul represents a lost generation that recognizes the band’s rock spirit, whether anyone else is listening.
With their early success via social media, wilt’s audience arrived before the band had a chance to but they’ve spent the years since earning it. Support slots touring taught them how to win over rooms that didn’t know their name, and a headline show at LA’s The Echo and sold out headline dates in Austin, Chicago, and New York proved the internet translated to real life. Their single “Bite My Tongue” from their debut 2024 self-titled EP caught fire, and the rooms they were playing kept getting bigger, sweaty and packed with people who already knew every word to their songs. They are excited for their new album and fall North American support tour with Jutes to introduce them to an even larger audience.
wilt Tour Dates
August 11: Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
August 13: Denver, CO @ Summit
August 15: Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
August 16: Detroit, MI @ The Majestic
August 20: Toronto, ON @ Opera House
August 23: Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
August 25: New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
August 27: New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
August 28: Philadelphia, PA @ TLA
August 30: Charlotte, NC @ The Underground
September 1: Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre
September 2: Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade – Heaven
September 5: Houston, TX @ House of Blues
September 8: Austin, TX @ Emo’s
September 10: Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
September 16: St Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live
September 17: Ft Lauderdale, FL @ Culture Room
September 19: Nashville, TN @ East Side Bowl
September 23: Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
October 1: San Diego, CA @ Music Box
**all shows supporting Jutes
#wiltband