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Wednesday (American band)
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
Wednesday is an American alternative rock band formed in Asheville, North Carolina, in 2017. The band consists of Karly Hartzman (vocals, guitar), MJ Lenderman (guitar, backing vocals), Xandy Chelmis (pedal steel, backing vocals), Alan Miller (drums), and Ethan Baechtold (bass). The band's style has been described as a mixture of shoegaze, noise rock and alternative country, while their lyrical content has been praised for its storytelling about life in the American south.
Key Information
Wednesday was formed in 2017 as a solo project of Karly Hartzman, with multi-instrumentalist Daniel Gorham joining shortly after the project's formation. The pair recorded the band's debut album, yep definitely (2018), as a duo. The band expanded to a five-piece with the addition of Miller, Chelmis and bass guitarist Margo Schultz. The band's second studio album, I Was Trying to Describe You to Someone, was released in 2020 to positive reviews, followed by Twin Plagues in 2021, which was the band's first album to feature Lenderman as a full contributing member. The band released a covers album titled Mowing the Leaves Instead of Piling 'em Up in 2022. Months after the album's release, the band left its label and signed with Dead Oceans.
In 2023, Wednesday released its fifth studio album, Rat Saw God, to widespread critical acclaim. It was the band's final album with Schultz, who painted the album's cover art. She was replaced by Baechtold ahead of extensive touring commitments. Their sixth album, Bleeds, was released on September 19, 2025,[6] with Lenderman taking a step back from touring ahead of the album's release. He was replaced by Jake "Spyder" Pugh for the album's accompanying tour.[7]
Career
[edit]
2017–2022: Formation and early work
[edit]Hartzman was inspired to start playing guitar after watching Mitski's NPR Tiny Desk concert. Wednesday initially began as a solo project of Hartzman's.[8] Hartzman attended college in Asheville, where she met Daniel Gorham. The two recorded an album together under the moniker Wednesday titled yep definitely.[9] The band's name was inspired by the British band The Sundays.[10] In 2017, Hartzman met Lenderman after he slept over at Hartzman's family home after a show. Lenderman would join Wednesday in 2018 for an EP called How Do You Let Love Into the Heart That Isn’t Split Wide Open.[11]
Hartzman formed another band called Diva Sweetly, alongside members of the band Pictures of Vernon, which released an album in 2019.[9] However, Hartzman was interested in making music that was closer to shoegaze, a departure from the style of Diva Sweetly. After Gorham left the band to work on other musical projects, Hartzman gathered new members from the local music scene in Asheville to join Wednesday. The group released their second album, titled I Was Trying to Describe You to Someone in 2020.[12][9] The group released their third record, Twin Plagues, on August 13, 2021. Twin Plagues is the first Wednesday album with Lenderman as a full member of the band.[13][14][11]
On March 11, 2022, the band released a covers album titled Mowing the Leaves Instead of Piling 'em Up, featuring cover versions of songs by Gary Stewart, Chris Bell, Roger Miller, Drive-By Truckers, Hotline TNT, Greg Sage, Vic Chesnutt, Medicine and The Smashing Pumpkins.[15][16]
2022–present: Rat Saw God and Bleeds
[edit]On September 8, 2022, the band left Orindal Records and signed to Dead Oceans, releasing the single "Bull Believer".[17] On January 18, 2023, the band released the single "Chosen to Deserve" and announced a fifth album, Rat Saw God, which was released on April 7, 2023.[18] It was the band's final album with bass guitarist Margo Schultz, who painted the album's artwork. She was replaced by Ethan Baechtold ahead of the album's tour.
The band performed at the Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona on June 4, 2023, where the band, playing on the Amazon Music stage, went on an anti-Amazon speech prior to "Bull Believer" and dedicated the song to "any warehouse workers who have ever been mistreated."[19]
In March 2024, while Wednesday was touring in Tokyo, Hartzman and Lenderman broke up after six years. The two kept this hidden from the other members of the band, but it was eventually publicized in a July 2024 interview that Lenderman did with The Guardian.[20][21]
In February 2025, Lenderman announced his departure from touring with the band. He remains a full contributing member of the band in the studio.[20] Reflecting on Lenderman's decision to take a step back from touring, Hartzman stated: "Because we care about each other, it wasn’t difficult for me to accept that that’s what he needed. I know he needs that rest. He was able to say, definitively, that he’s still going to be on these records and in the band creatively, because he’s a non-negotiable part of our identity. The confidence in knowing that we’ll continue to take care of each other and nourish the parts that aren’t killing us, it’s been really nice."[22]
In May 2025, Wednesday shared a new single, "Elderberry Wine", and performed it on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert with Lenderman performing as a member of the band.[23] The band's sixth studio album, Bleeds, was released on September 19, 2025 to widespread critical acclaim.
For the album's accompanying tour, the band added guitarist Jake "Spyder" Pugh to their line-up.[7] Reflecting on Pugh's arrival, Hartzman stated: "The chemistry of the band is obviously going to change, but he's playing the same parts, and [Lenderman's] still going to be recording with us. [...] I do sense change. The exciting part of it is that there will be new influences coming in, because Jake Pugh listens to very different music to MJ Lenderman. He makes avant garde, electronic, weirdo music, but is also a shredder on guitar. He was in this band called Nihilist Davis. [...] I'm mostly just excited about that - having a new element and knowing that MJ Lenderman will always be there to collaborate when we want to too."[24]
Musical style and influences
[edit]Wednesday's sound has been described as country, shoegaze, and indie or alternative rock.[11][25] Hartzman said her first formative record was Reading, Writing and Arithmetic by The Sundays. After discovering the shoegaze band Swirlies, she knew she wanted to "combine The Sundays’ vocals with [Swirlies'] music and country lyrics."[26]
The band's music contains semi-autobiographical details about Hartzman's past life experiences in Greensboro. Some songs mix minor details in the environment with darker tales of drug abuse. Hartzman credits the alt-country band Drive-By Truckers as a songwriting influence, mentioning the band in the song "Bath County". According to The Ringer, the band was also influenced by "country storytellers" like Lucinda Williams and Richard Buckner.[11][25] Hartzman cites Lenderman himself as an influence, having been a fan of his solo work under the name MJ Lenderman before the two met. The pair started dating around the time of Twin Plagues, and several Wednesday songs have since made reference to their relationship,[11] though they have since split.[21]
Band members
[edit]Current
[edit]- Karly Hartzman – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (2017–present)
- Alan Miller – drums (2017–present)
- Xandy Chelmis – pedal steel, lap steel, backing vocals (2020–present)
- MJ Lenderman – lead guitar, backing vocals (2020–present; touring hiatus 2025–present)[a]
- Ethan Baechtold – bass guitar (2023–present)
Current touring musicians
[edit]- Jake "Spyder" Pugh – lead guitar (2025–present; substitute for MJ Lenderman)[7]
Former
[edit]- Daniel Gorham – lead guitar, bass guitar, synthesizer, drums (2017–2019)
- Margo Schultz – bass guitar (2020–2022)[27]
Timeline
[edit]
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Yep Definitely |
|
| I Was Trying to Describe You to Someone |
|
| Twin Plagues |
|
| Mowing the Leaves Instead of Piling 'Em Up |
|
| Rat Saw God |
|
| Bleeds |
|
Live albums
[edit]| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Wednesday on Audiotree Live |
|
Extended plays
[edit]| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| How Do You Let the Love Into the Heart That Isn't Split Wide Open (with MJ Lenderman) |
|
| Wednesday |
|
| Guttering (with MJ Lenderman)[28] |
|
Singles
[edit]| Song | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US AAA[29] | |||
| "Fate Is" / "Billboard"[30] | 2019 | — | I Was Trying to Describe You to Someone |
| "November"[31] | 2020 | — | |
| "Handsome Man"[32] | 2021 | — | Twin Plagues |
| "Cody's Only"[33] | — | ||
| "One More Last One"[34] | — | ||
| "How Can You Live If You Can't Love How Can You If You Do"[35] | — | ||
| "She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles)"[36] | 2022 | — | Mowing the Leaves Instead of Piling 'em Up |
| "Feast of Snakes"[37] | — | Non-album single | |
| "Bull Believer"[38] | — | Rat Saw God | |
| "Chosen to Deserve"[39] | 2023 | — | |
| "Elderberry Wine"[40] | 2025 | 11 | Bleeds |
| "Wound Up Here (By Holdin On)" | — | ||
| "Pick Up That Knife" | — | ||
| "Townies" | 27 |
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Liu, Kelley. "Wednesday: Twin Plagues". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
- ^ Hughes, Mia (February 13, 2023). "Wednesday: fearless gang behind one of the year's defining rock albums". NME. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
- ^ a b Sodomsky, Sam. "Wednesday: Rat Saw God". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
- ^ Deville, Chris (August 10, 2021). "Album Of The Week: Wednesday Twin Plagues". Stereogum. Stereogum Media. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
If Wednesday initially scan as yet another band working in a well-traveled tradition, they quickly begin to stand out for the unique way they swirl disparate aesthetics into that old slacker-rock template.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew. "MJ Lenderman Will No Longer Tour With Wednesday". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
- ^ Hartzman, Karly (September 3, 2024). "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
- ^ a b c West, Tori (November 7, 2025). "Everyone is talking about Wednesday". Bricks. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
- ^ McDermott, Patrick D. (September 6, 2022). "Wednesday in Athens". Oxford American. No. 118. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- ^ a b c Manno, Lizzie. "Wednesday: The Best of What's Next". Paste. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
- ^ "Singles Club: March • Off Shelf". Off Shelf. April 7, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "Wednesday's Curdled Beauty". Pitchfork. January 25, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
- ^ Moura, Rob (February 19, 2020). "Wednesday - "I Was Trying To Describe You To Someone" Album Review". Post-Trash. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
- ^ Jones, Abby (August 13, 2021). "Wednesday Share New Album Twin Plagues: Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
- ^ Liu, Kelly. "Wednesday: Twin Plagues". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
- ^ DeVille, Chris (March 11, 2022). "Hear Wednesday Cover Smashing Pumpkins, Vic Chesnutt, Medicine, & More On Their Rad New Covers Album". Stereogum. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- ^ Curto, Justin (April 7, 2023). "Wednesday Can Find a Song Anywhere". Vulture. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ Moreland, Quinn (September 8, 2022). "Wednesday Sign to Dead Oceans, Share New Song "Bull Believer": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew (January 18, 2023). "Wednesday Announce Tour and New Album, Share "Chosen to Deserve" Video: Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- ^ Williams, Sophie (June 6, 2023). "Primavera Sound Barcelona 2023 review: a comeback worth shouting about". NME. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
- ^ a b Currin, Grayson Haver (February 21, 2025). "The MJ Lenderman Story You Haven't Heard". GQ. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
- ^ a b D'Souza, Shaad (July 9, 2024). "Pixar, Catholic shame, and urine-drinking podcast bros: the mixed-up rock of MJ Lenderman". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
- ^ Mitchell, Matt (September 17, 2025). "Wednesday Rejoice In Their Sicko Acrobatics". Paste. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
- ^ "Wednesday Make Their TV Debut, Playing "Elderberry Wine" On 'Colbert': Watch". Stereogum. May 22, 2025. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
- ^ Tupper, Dylan (August 7, 2025). "Music Person: Wednesday (Karly Hartzman)". Talkhouse. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
- ^ a b Cohen, Ian (April 5, 2023). "Wednesday's Teenage Dirtbag Hymnals". The Ringer. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
- ^ Smith, Maddy (March 27, 2023). "Wednesday: "The South is a disheartening place to live – but also invigorating"". The Forty-Five. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ "COVER STORY Wednesday's Year of the Rat". Pastemagazine.com. April 3, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ DeVille, Chris (January 22, 2021). "Stream MJ Lenderman & Wednesday's Collaborative EP Guttering". Stereogum. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- ^ "Adult Alternative Airplay: August 9, 2025 | Billboard chart archive". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ^ Rettig, James (December 12, 2019). "Wednesday – "Fate Is…" & "Billboard"". Stereogum. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- ^ Rettig, James (January 7, 2020). "Wednesday – "November"". Stereogum. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- ^ DeVille, Chris (May 19, 2021). "Wednesday – "Handsome Man"". Stereogum. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- ^ Rettig, James (June 9, 2021). "Band To Watch: Wednesday". Stereogum. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- ^ Rettig, James (July 7, 2021). "Wednesday – "One More Last One"". Stereogum. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- ^ Campbell, Caleb (July 20, 2021). "Premiere: Wednesday Shares New Single "How Can You Live If You Can't Love How Can You If You Do"". Under the Radar. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- ^ Cills, Hazel (February 23, 2022). "Wednesday, 'She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles)'". NPR. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- ^ DeVille, Chris (March 25, 2022). "Wednesday – "Feast Of Snakes"". Stereogum. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- ^ Russell, Scott (September 8, 2022). "Wednesday Share Towering New Single "Bull Believer," Sign to Dead Oceans". Paste. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- ^ Lorusso, Marissa (January 18, 2023). "Wednesday, 'Chosen to Deserve'". NPR. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- ^ Green, Walden. "Best New Track: "Elderberry Wine"". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
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Wednesday (American band)
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Wednesday is an American rock band formed in Asheville, North Carolina, in 2017 by singer-songwriter Karly Hartzman as a personal songwriting project that expanded into a collaborative ensemble.[1][2] The band's current lineup includes Hartzman on vocals and guitar, MJ Lenderman on guitar, Xandy Chelmis on pedal steel, Alan Miller on drums, and Ethan Baechtold on bass.[3] Their sound fuses indie rock, shoegaze, and country influences, often evoking the rural American South through Hartzman's evocative, narrative-driven lyrics and noisy, twang-infused instrumentation.[4][5] Wednesday gained prominence with their 2021 album Twin Plagues and achieved breakthrough critical acclaim with 2023's Rat Saw God, praised for its raw depiction of Southern life, dynamic guitar work, and Hartzman's unflinching songwriting, earning spots on numerous year-end best albums lists.[6][7] The band followed with a 2022 covers album Mowing the Leaves Instead of Piling 'em Up and released their latest studio album Bleeds in 2025, continuing their exploration of personal and regional themes.[8] Active on the touring circuit, Wednesday has supported these releases with extensive U.S. and international tours, solidifying their status in the indie rock scene without major commercial awards but through consistent artistic output and peer recognition.[9][10]
History
Formation and early career (2017–2020)
Wednesday was formed in 2017 in Asheville, North Carolina, initially as a solo songwriting project by Karly Hartzman, a student at the University of North Carolina at Asheville.[2] [11] Multi-instrumentalist Daniel Gorham joined shortly thereafter, marking the start of collaborative recordings during the winter of that year.[2] [11] The duo drew from Asheville's tight-knit DIY music scene, where members connected through shared punk and indie influences amid the city's rising cost of living displacing local artists.[12] [13] Hartzman's project released its debut recording, the album Yep, Definitely, on January 31, 2018, primarily featuring her vocals and guitar alongside Gorham's contributions.[14] [15] This self-released effort, distributed via Bandcamp, established the band's early lo-fi aesthetic rooted in personal, introspective songwriting.[1] Over the next two years, Wednesday expanded through informal performances and additional recruits from the Asheville underground, transitioning from a bedroom project to a live ensemble.[13] [16] By 2020, the band solidified as a group and issued the full-length album I Was Trying to Describe You to Someone, their first as a complete unit with input from emerging collaborators in the local scene.[15] [13] [17] This release, also self-produced and Bandcamp-distributed, captured noisy indie rock elements while showcasing Hartzman's evolving narratives of Southern life, earning initial notice within niche indie circles despite limited broader exposure.[12] Early career activities centered on regional gigs and grassroots dissemination, fostering a dedicated but modest following amid the challenges of Asheville's changing artistic landscape.[1] [16]Rise to prominence (2021–2022)
In 2021, Wednesday released their third studio album, Twin Plagues, on August 13 via Orindal Records, marking the first full-length effort featuring MJ Lenderman as an official band member alongside vocalist-guitarist Karly Hartzman and others.[18][19] The album, spanning 35 minutes across tracks blending frantic energy with introspective indie rock and shoegaze elements, drew acclaim for its raw emotional delivery and narrative depth, with reviewers noting its shift from the band's earlier solo-project roots toward a more cohesive ensemble sound.[20][21] Positive reception included praise for standout songs like "Twin Plagues" and "The Burned Down Dairy Queen," which highlighted Hartzman's confessional lyrics and the group's noisy, atmospheric instrumentation, earning an average user rating of 3.5 out of 5 on music aggregation sites based on nearly 1,800 ratings.[21][22] The album's promotion included sharing singles such as "Hot Rot" in advance and announcing live performances, including shows in Asheville and surrounding areas, which helped build grassroots momentum in indie circuits despite the band's modest scale at the time.[23] Twin Plagues positioned Wednesday as an emerging voice in Southern indie rock, with its DIY ethos and avoidance of polished production resonating amid a post-pandemic surge in demand for authentic, regionally rooted acts.[20] In early 2022, the band followed with the covers album Mowing the Leaves Instead of Piling 'em Up on March 11, again through Orindal, reinterpreting tracks from influences like Pavement and Guided by Voices to showcase their interpretive range and pay homage to slacker-rock forebears. This release, while less commercially oriented, sustained their visibility and experimented with pedal steel and extended jams, further honing the lineup's chemistry ahead of major-label transitions. By mid-2022, Wednesday had parted ways with Orindal, signaling a pivot toward broader opportunities as critical word-of-mouth from Twin Plagues amplified their profile in alternative music outlets.[24]Rat Saw God era and critical breakthrough (2023)
In January 2023, Wednesday announced their album Rat Saw God, scheduled for release on April 7 via Dead Oceans, marking their first project with the label.[25] The lead single "Chosen to Deserve" was released on January 18, followed by additional singles including "Bull Believer."[26] Recorded in Asheville, North Carolina, the album featured the band's core lineup and expanded their sound with layered guitars, twangy elements, and Karly Hartzman's introspective lyrics drawing from Southern rural life.[7] Upon release, Rat Saw God received widespread critical acclaim, earning Pitchfork's Best New Music designation for its "noisy, rangy sound" that captured "quiet, lonely corners of America."[6] Rolling Stone praised the band as "scary-good Southern indie-rock heroes," highlighting the album's huge guitar sound and Hartzman's songwriting.[7] It topped year-end lists from Stereogum and Paste Magazine, solidifying Wednesday's reputation in indie and alt-country circles.[27] Commercially, the album debuted at No. 50 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart in April 2023, marking the band's first entry on a major sales tally.[28] It also achieved prolonged success on college radio, holding the No. 1 spot on the NACC chart for an extended period, the second-longest of the year.[29] This acclaim propelled Wednesday to broader visibility, including a performance at Primavera Sound Barcelona on June 3, 2023, as part of the Rat Saw God Tour.[30] The era represented a pivotal breakthrough, transitioning the band from niche indie status to national recognition within the rock genre.[4]Bleeds and post-breakup developments (2024–2025)
In April 2024, Wednesday's lead singer Karly Hartzman and guitarist MJ Lenderman, who had been in a romantic relationship, ended their partnership amicably after six years together, citing emerging differences in adulthood.[5] The split occurred amid the band's recovery from extensive touring following their 2023 album Rat Saw God, but the couple withheld the news from other members to maintain focus on ongoing creative work.[31] One month after the breakup, in May 2024, the band entered the studio to record their sixth album, Bleeds, produced by frequent collaborator Alex Farrar at his North Carolina facility.[31] Hartzman and Lenderman performed together on tracks including love songs originally written pre-split, with the rest of the lineup—Xandy Chelmis, Ethan Baechtold, and Alan Miller—unaware of the personal turmoil until recording concluded.[32] Released on September 19, 2025, via Dead Oceans, Bleeds comprises 12 tracks blending Southern rock narratives, indie-pop hooks, country-inflected storytelling, and noisy sludge elements, often exploring themes of emotional limbo, curiosity, and relational fallout influenced by the breakup's immediacy.[33] [34] Following the album's completion, Lenderman pursued solo endeavors, including success with his 2024 project Manning Fireworks, and in February 2025 announced he would cease touring with Wednesday to prioritize his individual career.[35] Despite the changes, the band remained intact as a unit, with Hartzman emphasizing continuity and creative independence in interviews.[36] Wednesday proceeded with a tour supporting Bleeds into 2026, featuring Baechtold on bass and guest or replacement guitar support, while Hartzman described the post-split dynamic as enabling sharper focus on the group's core sound.[32] As of October 2025, no full disbandment has occurred, with the album's release marking a pivot toward Hartzman's strengthened songwriting voice amid personal and personnel shifts.[37]Musical style and influences
Defining characteristics
Wednesday's music is characterized by a raw fusion of indie rock, alternative country, and shoegaze, often described as blending heartfelt twang with walls of pummeling distortion and feedback. This sound emerges from the band's Asheville, North Carolina roots, incorporating elements of southern rock and noise, resulting in chaotic, grungy anthems that evoke suburban American grit and youthful debauchery. Tracks frequently feature swerving guitar lines and intentional rough edges, creating a "messy" yet intuitive aesthetic that prioritizes emotional immediacy over polished production.[38][39][5] Central to the band's identity is vocalist Karly Hartzman's delivery, which shifts from intimate, unassuming whispers to yodeling country cries, guttural screams, and spiraling howls, cutting through layers of instrumentation with a tearful, anguished edge reminiscent of Tammy Wynette or Lucinda Williams. Her yelping and hollering style conveys raw vulnerability, often layered over simple chord structures to emphasize narrative lyrics drawn from personal and regional lore. Instrumentation reinforces this intensity: dual guitars—handled by Hartzman and collaborators like MJ Lenderman—produce shrill, siren-like swells and feedback, complemented by Xandy Chelmis's lap steel for twangy, shoegaze-infused textures that collide country motifs with abrasive noise. Drums and bass provide a driving, punk-adjacent propulsion, as heard in extended pieces like the eight-minute "Bull Believer," where dynamic builds amplify themes of desperation.[39][38][40] Influences such as Drive-By Truckers' storytelling southern rock, Swirlies' shoegaze haze, and My Bloody Valentine's distortion shape this patchwork approach, yielding a distinctly "grimly American" vibe rooted in North Carolina's economic and social undercurrents. Hartzman has noted the style as an organic byproduct of band members' divergent tastes—hardcore, punk, and folk—refined through collaborative, circle-based songwriting that favors vivid, "gnarly" details over genre purity. This results in a sound that feels both regionally specific and universally chaotic, prioritizing truth in gritty portraits over conventional beauty.[5][40][38]Evolution and thematic elements
Wednesday's musical style originated as Karly Hartzman's solo project in 2017, characterized by lo-fi recordings released via Bandcamp, which evolved into a collaborative band effort following the 2020 debut album I Was Trying to Describe You to Someone.[41][13] By the 2021 album Twin Plagues, the band incorporated a fuller lineup including guitarist Jake Lenderman and bassist Ethan Baechtold, blending math rock precision, power pop hooks, and Bakersfield country twang with noisy feedback and punk energy.[41] This progression culminated in Rat Saw God (April 7, 2023), where the sound hardened into controlled chaos—gritty country-rock riffs augmented by Xandy Chelmis's pedal steel for honky-tonk flourishes, alongside shoegaze haze, post-punk drive, and metal-infused aggression—reflecting influences from Sonic Youth, Wipers, and regional country radio.[13][41] The 2025 album Bleeds extends this as a "spiritual successor," refining the "creek rock" template with deepened emotional layering while maintaining raw, therapeutic noise rooted in Appalachian folk-rock traditions like Drive-By Truckers.[42] Thematically, Hartzman's lyrics function as collages, assembling fragments from personal observations—such as neighbors' anecdotes, family histories, tour notes, and Southern landscapes—for evocative imagery over literal accuracy, drawing from media like Veronica Mars and authors like Lynda Barry.[43] Early works emphasized confessional reflections on rural Appalachian existence, infusing ordinary days with emotional gravity amid financial hardship and isolation.[41] In Rat Saw God, themes center on youthful turbulence—adolescence, substance use, partying, grief, and loss—in the American South's disheartening yet vivid terrain, prioritizing storytelling's catharsis.[13] Subsequent material in Bleeds intensifies these with Southern Gothic undertones inspired by writers Harry Crews and Larry Brown, exploring small-town nostalgia, relational heartbreak (including Hartzman's split from Lenderman), and visceral violence, such as tragic discoveries in local creeks, to evoke cultural and personal complexity without metropolitan detachment.[42] Across releases, motifs of identity—like Hartzman's Jewish roots in a conservative region—interweave with broader portraits of resilience in unloved Southern corners, evolving from vague introspection to direct, patchwork narratives.[43][41]Band members and personnel
Current lineup
Wednesday's current lineup consists of Karly Hartzman (lead vocals, guitar), MJ Lenderman (guitar, backing vocals), Alan Miller (drums), Ethan Baechtold (bass guitar), and Xandy Chelmis (lap steel, pedal steel guitar).[44][45][46] This configuration has been stable since the band's rise to prominence, contributing to their recordings including the 2025 album Bleeds.[5][34]Former members and changes
The band initially formed in 2017 as a solo project for vocalist and guitarist Karly Hartzman, with multi-instrumentalist Daniel Gorham joining shortly thereafter to contribute on lead guitar, bass, synthesizer, and drums until his departure in 2019. Bassist Margo Schultz joined in 2020 and performed on early releases, including the band's 2022 album Rat Saw God, before leaving around 2022; she was replaced by Ethan Baechtold, who has since anchored the rhythm section in the stable core lineup.[47] [48] [5] In a significant touring adjustment announced on February 21, 2025, guitarist MJ Lenderman stated he would cease live performances with the group to focus on solo endeavors, despite his contributions to the recording of their fifth album Bleeds earlier that year; the band has since employed guitarist Jake Pugh for subsequent tours, marking the first major onstage alteration since the post-Rat Saw God period.[49] [50] [51]Reception and legacy
Critical acclaim and reviews
Wednesday's breakthrough album Rat Saw God (2023) received widespread critical acclaim, earning a Metacritic score of 89 out of 100 based on 20 reviews, with critics praising its raw fusion of indie rock, country twang, and shoegaze distortion to evoke the desolation of rural American life.[52] Pitchfork described it as an outstanding work that positions the band among the best in indie rock, highlighting its noisy, rangy sound suited to "quiet, lonely corners of America."[6] NPR lauded its "fearlessly, chaotically, grimly American" lyricism and sonic builds, blending grotesque elements with twangy propulsion.[39] Earlier releases like Twin Plagues (2021) garnered strong notices for scaling up the band's shoegaze-indebted sound with explosive distortion and frontwoman Karly Hartzman's buried emotional undercurrents, earning Album of the Week honors from Stereogum, which called it a "dangerously volatile" scorcher.[53][54] Reviewers noted its humid blend of country, shoegaze, and suburban ennui, though it predated the band's major commercial traction.[22] The 2025 album Bleeds, recorded amid internal band tensions including a breakup between members, sustained and arguably elevated this acclaim, with NPR deeming it a potential rock album of the year for its masterful integration of punk noise, country sweetness, and everyday upheavals.[34] Pitchfork portrayed it as collage-like portraiture of archetypal American masculinity amid unscathed "golden boys," while Rolling Stone characterized its trap of "darkness and heartbreak in creek rock amber" as a Southern Gothic triumph.[37][55] Critics consistently commended Wednesday's evocative songwriting and sonic variety, solidifying their status as a defining indie act of the 2020s despite lineup flux.[56][57]Commercial performance and fanbase
Wednesday's breakthrough album Rat Saw God, released on April 7, 2023, via Dead Oceans, achieved modest commercial benchmarks indicative of indie rock viability. It debuted at No. 16 on Billboard's Heatseekers Albums chart, No. 31 on Top Current Album Sales, No. 50 on Top Album Sales with 3,000 copies sold, and entered the Top Rock Albums chart.[58] These positions reflect initial sales-driven performance amid critical praise rather than mass-market dominance. The band's subsequent album Bleeds, released in 2025, sustained visibility in indie circuits but lacked comparable chart data in early reports, aligning with the group's niche appeal.[59] Streaming metrics underscore growing digital traction. As of late 2025, Wednesday amassed approximately 828,500 monthly listeners on Spotify, bolstered by tracks from Rat Saw God accumulating millions of streams, such as "What's So Funny" exceeding 4 million plays.[60] This streaming footprint, combined with playlist inclusions in indie-focused editorial lists, contributed to sustained listener growth post-2023 breakthrough, though exact album-equivalent units remain unpublicized beyond initial sales. Live touring further evidenced commercial momentum, with expanded U.S. and international dates in 2023–2025 drawing increased attendance amid financial stabilization for the band.[1] The band's fanbase, rooted in Asheville's alternative scene, expanded rapidly following Rat Saw God's acclaim, attracting listeners drawn to its Southern gothic lyricism and raw indie-alt-country sound. Primarily comprising young adults in indie, shoegaze, and Americana communities, fans value the group's evocative storytelling of rural disillusionment and personal turmoil, often reframing shame into cathartic resonance.[61] This demographic's loyalty manifested in sold-out smaller venues and festival appearances, fostering a dedicated following that prioritizes emotional authenticity over mainstream polish, with growth attributed to word-of-mouth and critical endorsements rather than aggressive promotion.[62] By 2025, the fanbase's enthusiasm supported indefinite touring plans, underscoring a shift from local obscurity to a broader, cult-like indie constituency.[59]Criticisms and debates
Wednesday's music has occasionally drawn debate over its genre classification, with critics and observers applying labels such as "y'allternative," "alt-country," or a hybrid of indie rock, noise rock, and shoegaze, which the band has dismissed as reductive and unhelpful.[63] This stems from their incorporation of Southern twang, gritty distortion, and chaotic arrangements, which evoke both traditional Americana storytelling and abrasive alternative influences, leading to discussions on whether such categorizations dilute their distinct Asheville-rooted sound.[5] A more prominent point of contention arose from internal band dynamics following the 2024 breakup of lead singer Karly Hartzman and guitarist MJ Lenderman, who had been in a romantic relationship. The split occurred shortly before recording sessions for the 2025 album Bleeds, complicating the inclusion of a pre-written love song dedicated to Lenderman, which Hartzman described as emotionally challenging but necessary for artistic integrity.[32] Lenderman announced in February 2025 that he would cease touring with the band to focus on solo endeavors, while committing to studio contributions, prompting speculation about potential shifts in live energy and cohesion despite the group's assurances of stability.[35][36] Hartzman has emphasized the band's resilience, noting that personal fractures do not preclude professional collaboration, though the overlap of intimate lyrics and band roles has fueled external commentary on the sustainability of such arrangements in indie rock ensembles.[31] Broader criticisms remain sparse amid widespread acclaim, with Hartzman citing a deliberate avoidance of excessive media exposure to mitigate "nagging criticisms" and maintain focus.[1] Some reviewers have noted the band's resistance to sonic polish or experimentation beyond their established chaos, interpreting it as a strength in raw authenticity but potentially limiting broader appeal.[64] No major scandals or ethical controversies have emerged, aligning with their low-profile ethos amid rising prominence.Discography
Studio albums
Wednesday's studio albums consist of four full-length releases, each showcasing the band's evolution from lo-fi indie rock roots to more polished Southern-inflected narratives. The second full-length, I Was Trying to Describe You to Someone, was released on February 7, 2020, via Orindal Records, featuring raw, introspective tracks recorded as the band solidified its lineup.[65][66] Twin Plagues, issued on August 13, 2021, also by Orindal Records, marked the first album with MJ Lenderman as a full member and incorporated themes of personal turmoil amid noisy, shoegaze-influenced arrangements.[67][20]| Album | Release date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Rat Saw God | April 7, 2023 | Dead Oceans |
| Bleeds | September 19, 2025 | Dead Oceans |
Extended plays and singles
Wednesday's early extended plays were primarily collaborative efforts with guitarist MJ Lenderman, reflecting the band's formative lo-fi and indie rock sound before their full-band expansion. These releases, often self-released or issued via small independent labels, featured raw, intimate recordings that laid the groundwork for their later thematic explorations of Southern Americana and emotional vulnerability.[71][72] The debut EP, How Do You Let Love Into the Heart That Isn't Split Wide Open, credited to MJ Lenderman & Wednesday, was released on December 13, 2018. Consisting of five tracks, including the title song and "Luv," it captured the duo's initial songwriting partnership with minimal production, emphasizing Hartzman's vocals and Lenderman's guitar work.[72][73] Subsequently, Guttering, another collaborative EP with Lenderman, followed on January 20, 2021. This six-track release included songs like "Big Money," "Terminex," and "Phish Pepsi" (featuring Advance Base), blending country-inflected indie with noisy textures; it was reissued on vinyl by Julia's War Recordings in June 2025 amid renewed interest in the band's origins.[71][74]| Title | Type | Release date | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| How Do You Let Love Into the Heart That Isn't Split Wide Open | EP | December 13, 2018 | Self-released |
| Guttering | EP | January 20, 2021 (reissued June 2025) | Self-released (reissue: Julia's War Recordings) |
| Title | Type | Release date | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| "She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin Double)" | Single | February 23, 2022 | Orindal Records |
| "Feast of Snakes" | Single | March 25, 2022 | Secretly Canadian |