Local band alert: Wussy

L-R: Mark Messerly, Chuck Cleaver, Lisa Walker, Joe Klug (photo: Anna Stockton)

One of the most remarkable things about Wussy might be that both Chuck Cleaver and Lisa Walker are competent singers on their own, but when they are vocally feeding off of each other is when the band is at its very best. They share similar battle-scarred voices, the kind that can only be gained by real life experiences. Wussy’s brand new self-titled album is their third full-length in four years; they also released an EP last year. The band was born with expectations on their back because of Cleaver’s success in his previous Cincinnati band Ass Ponys which lasted from 1988-2005. Throw in the mix a supposed relationship history between the two and you have the atmosphere for some very interesting music to be created.

On the new album opener “Little Paper Birds”, Cleaver and Walker share a gentle rapport as they sing “It’s alright. It’s alright. We’ve got all night.” An instance on the new album where the emotion overflows however is on the song “Death by Misadventure.” The duo is vocally on top of each other throughout most of the song, in one area they sing “The note you left me on the door said ‘go away, I’m sleeping’. And so I leave, but I believe that you’ve been entertaining someone else.” For the last 45 seconds of the song we hear them repeat over and over again, “You know it never ever lasts quite long enough, and that is just my luck.” Emotions run deep on this album whether it is happiness, sadness, and even funny; the thing that is so amazing though is how lyrically in sync with one another they are.

Most of the new album is pretty evenly divided up between songs that Cleaver and Walker sing/write. Luckily for us though they tend to show up somewhere on each other’s songs whether it be in the background vocals, chorus, and in a few cases for the whole songs.

Wussy is from Cincinnati and consists of Chuck Cleaver - guitar/vocals, Lisa Walker- guitar/vocals, Mark Messerly - bass/keys, and Joe Klug - drums. There new self-titled album is available through Cincinnati’s own Shake It Records.

Don’t miss Wussy this summer in Cincinnati!
Cincinnati area tour dates:
May 16: Mobo Fundraiser (Cleaver & Walker) – Northside
June 5: woxy.com Lounge Acts – 3pm
June 10: Northside Tavern
June 22: Southgate House (Cleaver & Walker)
July 3: Northside Rock & Roll Carnival
July 17: Fountain Square

*Contact Cincinnati Indie Music Examiner: cpscott513@gmail.com