Holy Wave Release New Single On Suicide Squeeze Records

Austin-based psych-rock group, Holy Wave are today sharing the beautifully patinated and soft focus-sounding new single, “Chapparal” which comes as another thrilling installment of the Pinks and Purples singles series from Suicide Squeeze which also features cumgirl8, The Shivas, Egg Drop Soup, Death Valley Girls and more. It’s both a wistful journey back through time and a perfect golden hour soundtrack for summer 2022.

“To have a complete story, we must not forget the prefaces and backgrounds that have developed our characters,” says Kyle Hager of the band when asked about their latest single “Chaparral”. And while it’s an apt summation of the song’s lyrical themes of exploring the past to better understand the present, it’s also a fitting testament to the band’s sonic template. Owing initially to the primal urgency of garage rock and the dizzying atmospherics of psych, Holy Wave evolved to encompass a broader swath of sounds, culling from sources like the kosmische-pop of Stereolab and the disciplined production style of Steely Dan. That said, Holy Wave have never been mired in nostalgia; they’ve merely aimed to be thorough students of their trade, learning from previous generations to move forward into the future. 

Fittingly, “Chaparral” explores the notion of growing into the next phase of life while retaining a bond to youth. The song title references a sweet-smelling herb from the creosote plant commonly found throughout Texas, a fragrance tied to the band’s upbringing, though it also translates to “place of the chaparros” in Spanish, with chaparro translating directly to scrub oak, but also serving as slang for “young people.” So the title becomes shorthand for “place of youth.” Inspired by Hager’s preparation for fatherhood by sorting through artifacts and trinkets of the past to make room for a new member of the family, “Chaparral” uses a foundation of analog-warbled guitars, mellotron choirs, and smoky vocals to create a dreamy rumination on both personal history and the trajectory of the band. The song is sprinkled with lyrical nods to Holy Wave’s early years—references to old clubs played in their original hometown of El Paso and old song titles—as well as private Easter eggs like the names of departed pets and early haunts.

Tour Dates
JUL 29 – Dallas, TX @ Tulips 
JUL 30 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Uptown Outside Block Party
JUL 31 – Des Moines, IA @ Lefty’s Live Music
AUG 1 – Sioux Falls, SD @ Total Drag ~
AUG 2 – Minneapolis, MN @ Mortimer’s ~
AUG 3 – Davenport, IA @ Raccoon Motel
AUG 4 – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Pyramid Scheme **
AUG 5 – Indianapolis, IN @ Back Alley Ballyhoo $
AUG 6 – Milwaukee, WI @The Back Room @ Colectivo **
AUG 7 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
AUG 9 – Ridgewood, NY @ TV Eye
AUG 10 – Rochester, NY @ The Bug Jar
AUG 11 – Troy, NY @ No Fun
AUG 12 – Lancaster, PA @ Tellus360
AUG 13 – Richmond, VA @ Fuzzy Cactus
AUG 14 – Charleston Heights, SC @ Charleston Pour House – Main Stage
AUG 15 – Knoxville, TN @ Barleys
AUG 16 – Chattanooga, TN @ JJ’s Bohemia
AUG 19 – Las Vegas, NV @ Psycho Las Vegas Festival 
AUG 25 – Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room #
AUG 26 – Tijuana, MX @ Moustache Bar #
AUG 27 – Santa Ana, CA @ La Santa
AUG 28 – Cayucos, CA @ Schooners
AUG 29 – Albany, CA @ Ivy Room
AUG 31 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza
SEP 1 – Spokane, WA @ Lucky You Lounge 
SEP 2 – Bellingham, WA @ The Shakedown ^
SEP 3 – Portland, OR @ Lose Yr Mind Fest
SEP 4 – Kuna, ID @ Hermit Music Festival 
SEP 5 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Quarters
SEP 8 – Denver, CO @ Lost Lake Lounge 
SEP 9 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sister Bar
SEP 10 – El Paso, TX @ Love Buzz 

~ w/ Death Valley Girls 
** w/ Sugar Candy Mountain 
$ w/ Night Beats
^ w/ Vinyl Williams 
# w/ Mint Field