Beginning to formulate back in August of 2007, Castevet started as a few songs written by members Nick Wakim and Will McEvilly, the months following added drummer Josh Snader and bassist Ron Petzke to complete the quartet. Previously each of the musicians had been part of other bands, such as Guaime, Oceans, and Tower of Rome, and currently Petzke, and McEvilly are doing double duty, simultaneously playing in Castevet, as well as Bongripper and Leroy Tidd respectively. 
Castevet in this incarnation began playing the music scene around 2008, and since then has released their well received record Summer Fences in 2009. The band is on the cusp of releasing their second album, The Echo & the Light and for the moment will be releasing a self-pressed cd version of the EP this coming Saturday, with an official label release TBA.“With this record, we wanted to take everything that we were happy with in regards to summer fences and concentrate it. Echo & the Light is more upbeat than summer fences, and also treads a bit into some heavier territory while still retaining a lot of the elements that comprise our sound.” (Nick Wakim)
Citing influences such as Appleseed Cast, American Football, and Braid, it’s not wonder that Castevet so perfectly embodies the slightly gritty sound of 90’s Emo/Indie. Their loose and grated vocals are balanced by more effervescent instrumentals, putting their rasping shouts shoulder to shoulder with a genre they wouldn’t fall into on their own. Listeners can look forward to more of this contrast in The Echo & the Light, as the band states that, “This record has more vocals than Summer Fences, and the passages are mostly shorter. We even got to experiment with some ambient interludes and are very pleased with how those turned out.” (Nick Wakim)
The album is due out at the end of the month, with a corresponding record release show at Subterranean alongside Native, Bob Nanna/Lauren Lo, and Into it. Over it.- of which the latter two will be celebrating the release of their Split 7”.
Castevet online:
Count Your Lucky Stars
Myspace
Tune into Jstreet Radio 98.3fm FM this Thursday, January 28th to hear a song from Castevet alongside the station’s interview with Telegram Sam. Listen online at www.wrlr.fm
Check out Castevet at Subterranean this Saturday, January 30th
NATIVE
BOB NANNA & LAUREN LO
INTO IT. OVER IT.
Doors at 9:30/Show at 10pm 17+
$8 Advanced/$10 at the door
Castevet’s Nick Wakim took some time out to talk to us about the band’s music, plans post-release, and what is sure to be a blockbuster hit- Castevet: The Movie.
Telegram Sam: Who are your top three musical influences?
Nick of Castevet: Personally, I would say Small Brown Bike, American Football, and Envy.
T.S: What will 2010 bring for Castevet?
Nick of Castevet: We’re planning to play a bunch around Chicago, do weekends around the Midwest, 6 days from June 29 - July 4th, a couple of splits, and start writing for our second full length. We will also be meticulously maintaining our beards throughout the year.
T.S: Comparing yourselves as musicians at the release of your first album to yourselves at the release of this one, what do you think has changed?
Nick of Castevet: We’ve become much better at working together to achieve a complete song, rather than everyone kind of tossing their parts into the ring and seeing what comes out. As such, our more recent output is more unified and cohesive than our early tracks.
T.S: What is the most memorable show you’ve ever played?
Nick of Castevet: The most memorable show we’ve played was the release show for Lautrec’s split 7″ with Ghost Towns. It was at the Phrat Pharm in Chicago, and everything was just so rad. Everyone was having so much fun, all the bands were awesome, and it was a perfect reminder that bands are meant to play music in basements surrounded by their friends.
T.S: If Hollywood ever made a movie of your band, who would you cast and what would the plot be?
Nick of Castevet: Will would be played by Bill Murray, Ron played by Shaq, I would be played by Zach Galifianakis, and Josh would be played by Henry Rollins. The plot would be about how we must face off against a scumbag villain (played by Nicolas Cage) who is trying to sabotage our pursuit of snacks while on tour. The final showdown occurs when we cross paths at the Tastykake factory in Philadelphia. Castevet is successful in our snack quest as we defeat the villain by pushing him into an industrial sized flour mixer using the sound waves from several dozen full stacks.
