Last Night Saved My Life bring a well-honed balance of pop and alternative rock; emotive, hook-laden and unabashedly catchy, the quintet achieve a heart-on-sleeve honesty without delving into the angstier, rawer realms of the genre.
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
Wilson Shaner – Vocals
Justin Burns – Guitar
Riley Hupfer – Guitar
Ryne Weber – Bass
Eric Cousins – Drums
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Last Night Saved My Life? How long has the band been around?
Interestingly enough, none of us were ever really in any other bands! We have been a band since 2010, so we are coming up on a decade of being together, which is crazy to think about.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
We have never changed the name, but we have considered it because it’s a really long band name. We do love that it is unique and it stands for something, so that’s why we have kept it for all these years. Last Night Saved My Life is pretty much a realization that everything will be okay. Even when you go through a really difficult season of life, there’s always something to keep striving towards. Our name signifies finding that “something” that keeps you going.
Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?
We all play a hand at writing the songs. Our album “Cherry” was written mostly in Wilson’s basement. We spent a lot of time writing together and demoing these songs simultaneously, which was a big key for us. Having polished demos really helped us decide which songs to choose for the album. It also helped us determine what pieces of songs we needed to spend more time thinking about and constructing. The main themes really vary from song to song. We have songs that are introspective like “Undone”, which looks at topics like “am I where I want to be in life?” and “if not, how can I get there”. However, we also have songs like “On the Ropes”, which is pretty much just a banger about spending time with friends and doing crazy stuff.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
We will probably always be inspired by early 2000s pop punk bands like Blink 182, Fall Out Boy, and Yellowcard. More recently though we have been inspired by a variety of artists. Everything from bands like The Maine and State Champs to pop artists like Jon Bellion and Lauv.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
For me (Wilson), I think I was actually motivated just by going to local shows when I was around 13. No band in particular was the direct inspiration, but going to see local bands just made me feel like it was something that I could do too. When you are a young teenager and you go to the neighbourhood roller rink and see a band playing for 25 people you can’t help but think, “wow that’s so cool, I want to do that!”
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, etc …
We pretty much just print out setlists, make sure our instruments are ready and tuned up, and usually have a few beers for good measure.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
We have had some really cool opportunities to play shows with bands like Neck Deep, Knuckle Puck, State Champs, and many more. However, the biggest highlight has to be going to the studio for a month to record our debut full-length album that is about to come out on June 28th. It was such an awesome time of being together and creating something that will always be special to us.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Great question! Here is an ideal tour line-up for us
Blink 182 (around 2005)
Jonas Brothers
Taking Back Sunday
The Maine
Last Night Saved My Life
Is there anything else you would like to add?
One of our favorite things about being a band is that we get to connect with so many awesome people in person and through social media. We would love it if you would find us on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook and shoot us a message!
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