One of the first things that Joyous Wolf front man, Nick Reese, wants to talk about besides his band’s exciting support gigs to iconic rockers, Deep Purple, is the Southern California band’s transportation upgrade. After years of cramming in a small van and living the life so many musical sojourners do day-in and day-out, Reese is stoked for him and his bandmates to have a proper tour bus. It might be the little things that stick out for a band like Joyous Wolf, a band the Roadrunner Record Label senior A&R director told the Los Angeles Times in March 2018 that “had fire in their fingers” after witnessing a watershed moment at the October 2017 Aftershock Festival in Sacramento. The little things do become big things. 

Fans across the globe have agreed. While some on the east coast might be focusing more on Greta Van Fleet, Joyous Wolf has been conquering Orange County and beyond, with pivotal wins opening for Buck Cherry across the states and a red hot cover of Mountain’s “Mississippi Queen” off of their debut EP Place In Time, Joyous Wolf is racking up attention for an unbelievably energetic stage performance and modern rock sound.  

Reese makes his case known that he’s not just a sweaty guy doing flips on stage. He’s a bit of everything that true rockers love about a lead singer – he’s got the moves like Jagger, the swagger of Robert Plant, the growling voice like John Fogerty or whiskey-laced chops Lemmy and the charm of someone like his contemporary, Luke Spiller of The Struts. Some might think Reese is on another planet, like ACDC’s Angus Young, but Reese is quick to point out the band is ever evolving and challenging itself. 

It’s especially true when it comes to songwriting. 

“In this group there are no limits,” Reese said. “We’ve always had this anything goes attitude to try new things.”

While sharing the excitement of the first time hearing the band on the radio, a “local’s only contest” on Los Angeles’ KLOS FM’s Frosty, Heidi & Frank morning program “stay or go’ segment, you can still hear the excitement in his voice about the legions of fans that willed Joyous Wolf into the rotation. That was in 2016 and they eventually got two songs: “Mountain Man” and “Stomp.”

“It was such a weird feeling, and people kept requesting us,” Reese said. “We ended up on the main program which was on prime time Friday morning when everyone’s driving to work. That was a big deal. Oh my God. That was a huge deal for us. We ended up getting to play a second song.”

His own personal songwriting influences vary – from Bob Dylan to Leonard Cohen to Neil Young.  Reese also mentions James Mercer of The Shins and 2012’s Port of Morrow as a life-changer. 

“Lyrically I like the way that he wrote with sort of a reckless abandonment but everything made sense,” Reese, who along with his bandmates is in his mid-20s, said. “It was a way of writing where, interpretation is a big factor, but there is a story there that means something. I enjoyed his lyrics a lot and I remember that being a game changer for me on how I wanted to move forward as a lyricist.”

Rounding out Joyous Wolf are guitarist Blake Allard (you might recognize Allard and his dad from the Verizon commercial), bassist Greg Braccio and drummer Robert Sodaro. Coming together in 2014, it was an instant, undeniable chemistry that has brewed up some killer tracks in the writing studio. 

“Writing just depends on what the music purveys,” Reese said. “And what the boys present to me. Sometimes I write a bit of music myself and throw it in there, I’m always adding things. But really, it’s about the mood of the song…there’s a track on the EP called ‘Feel The Low’ which is a very different song as opposed to the other songs. That was a song that was mostly written by Blake Allard, he had done everything already and he showed it to me the first time and we had written a song years ago and it partly became the bridge section for this new song…it’s really great how that came together. It’s really a highlight for me.”

Reese seems to have a fearless approach to songwriting, including the thematic “Mother Rebel.”

“It’s about the Civil War and Harriet Beecher Stowe,” Reese said. “I can also be on the opposite side and write about something that I feel. To me and in this group, there is no limit to what I can say, and what I will say. I see songs as pictures in my head. When I hear music I look to the pictures in my head and the little movie that plays as I’m listening to whatever it is. That’s usually where the idea comes from. I have books full of poetry, composition books and journals and the notepad function on my phone. I’m always recording melody and little bits that I like.”

Reese agrees there’s openness with his bandmates. 

“We’re all very supportive of each other musically,” he said. “If it doesn’t work, maybe it will show up later and become part of another song. That’s how we’ve cultivated a style for ourselves. It’s just the beginning of that but already the thing that I like the most is the response from most people about record is all positive reviews. Which makes me happy…I don’t think I’ve seen any negative reviews. Really, I kind of want a constructive criticism, but I already get enough from myself as it is.”

Being from California and navigating the ‘pay to play’ landscape prepared the band for its earned success, he said. 

“It was from the frustrations that were to come and a lot of things on the business side of things,” Reese said. “Being a good businessman is just as important as being a musician if you want to do well. You could be the best goddamn guitarist in the world but if you’re not willing to get up and knock on doors, you know preaching your craft, then don’t expect to do much. Nothing is given to you. You have to sweat it out. I played sports my whole life – it was all about working and working to get a little bit. Knowing you’re only going to get a little bit from all that work.”

It’s the little things that become big things. Like the new large Joyous Wolf backdrop – the big reminder that the stage is bigger and the audiences are larger. No doubt it’s the little things that still remain important to Reese and the gang. 

“I am going to finish the race first,” he said. “I am going to get the loudest crowd response. I am going to put on the best show. You ain’t seen nothing yet. I don’t need fireworks, I don’t need big screens – all I need is my body and my band. I also am not hard to reach and want to talk with our fans. I do participate in our social media. I like to be easy to reach…our fanbase has exploded and it’s wonderful. To hear from all these people from all walks of life and backgrounds – I love them.”