Zach Waters Band
The Zach Waters Band, named after its 19-year-old frontman and guitarist, also consists of drummer Steve Pires and bassist Alex Parker. Currently working on recording their first demo album, you can catch the trio rocking out at numerous local venues such as Harlow’s, Opera House Saloon, Swabbies on the River, and the Auburn Event Center. One of Waters’ favorite places to perform is Ace of Spades, where he played for his first large crowd and became hooked on the adrenaline rush live audiences bring. “What I enjoy most about the [local] music scene is that there are so many opportunities to get out there and play music,” he shares. “Whether that be in the form of festivals, venues, bars, or open mics—the demand for music in [our area] is very high.”
ZW: We play blues-rock that sounds both aggressive and soulful. The songs are reflective of things that happen in my life as well as in the world we live in. Some of my influences are Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Joe Satriani, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Billy Gibbons, and Eric Johnson.
HLB: What’s the story behind the current band?
ZW: In spring of 2018 I had a showcase with a management team down in Los Angeles who had success signing one of their acts to Atlantic Records. They had requested I play with younger bandmates, so I needed to find a band quickly. I called Steve Pires, who I’d known from a past encounter, and he brought along Alex Parker, since they’d previously played in a couple of bands together. We immediately had chemistry, and they picked up the material quickly. Long story short, they came along for my 2018 Spring Tour, and we went down to Pasadena to play the showcase. In the end, the management deal fell through, but I decided to keep the [band together]. We finished the year with 60 shows and a Sammie Award for “Best Blues Band” in Sacramento.
HLB: What overall message do you hope to convey to fans?
ZW: I want fans to be able to pick out pieces of my life that I put into the songs. Many times, I write songs to help cope with certain issues, or to express how I’m feeling about the times or circumstances we live in, whether it’s a personal experience or global issue.
HLB: What might we expect from your demo album?
ZW: Listeners can expect to hear both personal and worldwide trials and tribulations—and a whole lot of guitar, too.
HLB: What advice do you have for other young musicians wanting to break into the industry?
ZW: Put the music before your ego and learn how the business works. Rather than worrying about how you sound compared to everyone else, just focus on how you sound. Find what works and what gives you purpose. Instead of putting down other musicians or letting your ego get to your head, put in the work for building your foundation.
