White label analog
WLA from left to right: Chal Boudreaux, Chris Didear, Joel Sutton, Heath Macintosh Photo: Ismael Quintanilla III
White Label Analog isn’t quite what you would expect from an Austin band. A lack of acoustic instrumentation or 12-bar blues progressions reinforces an alternative identity which sets them apart from many of the bands across the ATX music scene. Their sound is approachable yet mature. Honest, while teasing deeper complexity. There is always something new to discover in the music of White Label Analog. Beneath the layers of well-crafted alt-rock and crisp production, behind a punchy rhythm section and some really slick guitar work, there’s something rare yet rewarding hiding from most casual listeners, but well worth listening for: Optimism.
It’s carried by the creative and honest lyrics as much as the major-keyed upbeat arrangements. This music is about survival, renewal, second chances, and tenacity. And for anyone that knows the story of the band, it’s clear they know what they are talking about.
White Label Analog was born in 2013 as a songwriting collaboration between drummer turned singer Chris Didear, and former guitarist James Millican. Chris’ influences stemmed from a diet of Foo Fighters, Stevie Wonder, the Beatles, Queen, Van Halen, and Muse, and were yearning to explore a much broader sound than the hard rock he had been playing for years. “I wanted to form a band outside my comfort zone, playing a style I’ve never played before. And it had to be fun,” says Chris about the new project. As the catalog of mature and hooky indie-alt rock songs grew, they realized the potential they were tapping into so Chris contacted longtime friends to complete the act. Drummer Heath Macintosh brought influences from punk and Afro-Cuban music, citing his earliest desires to create the sound of his favorite hand percussionists playing in unison with another drummer with a single drum set. The band’s roster was complete when bassist Aaron Herbster joined, and the four wrote, recorded their debut EP “A Little More Time” in 2015 followed by their first full-length album “In Case You Just Tuned In” in 2016 which included a national tour to promote it.
Together, their releases have received airplay on terrestrial radio stations like KROQ (LA), WRFF (Philly), KTCL (Denver), WLKK (Buffalo), WWCD (Columbus), KFMA (Tucson), KRXP (Colorado Springs), and both KLBJ and KGSR (Austin City Limits Radio) in their hometown of Austin. Their self-produced efforts were highlighted from collaborations with 11-time Grammy nominated mixing engineer Mark Needham (The Killers, Imagine Dragons) as well as Dwight Baker (Kelly Clarkson, Missio), and Chris “Frenchie” Smith (Gary Clark Jr. , Jet). White Label Analog or “WLA” was named as one of Austin Monthly Magazine’s “10 Bands to Watch” in the March 2017 issue, followed by an official SXSW showcase, and Canadian Music Week performances in Toronto, CA. 3 tracks from “In Case You Just Tuned In” were featured in 4 episodes of MTV’s Teen Mom 2, and they’ve had song placements in award winning feature films “Trippin’ to the Altar,” (2016) and “My Ranger” (2017).
Just as the band was hitting their stride, the momentum was halted by James’ early departure in 2017 to explore other musical endeavors. Without a guitar player, the remaining band mates faced the question of whether or not to continue without one of their founding members and songwriters. It is here that one of the linchpins of White Label Analog’s personality was uncovered. This is a band about friendship. When WLA needed a new musician, Chris and Heath contacted their longtime friend, Chal Boudreaux, to bring his axe and pedalboard to bear. A longtime fan of classic rock, Chal fondly remembers listening to Hendrix on vinyl with his dad and his brothers and brings vintage tones and licks to the decidedly indie genre. The new musical chemistry has yielded some of WLA’s most adventurous sounds yet, including the newest single, Everybody Knows.
With a new guitar player, the band was able to build momentum in the studio and on the road, until early in 2019, when once again, progress stalled with the departure of the original bassist Aaron Herbster. Six years in, with treasured songs and a supportive fan base in Austin, the band new they couldn’t leave the project behind and cast a net to find a new bassist. In February, they brought on Berklee-trained bassist and songwriter and a longtime fan and writer of indie-alternative rock, Joel Sutton. The newest addition enabled WLA to once again complete the ensemble in time to play during SXSW and several other shows at some of Austin’s legacy venues, including Hole in the Wall and Stubb’s BBQ.
It is a special and rare thing to know who you are, and the members of this tenacious band have learned it through facing years of challenges together. But ever optimistic, they have embraced each new hurdle as an opportunity to stretch and re-dedicate to the music that holds them together. The resulting mix of influences, the patience learned along the way, and the enduring support of the fans and the city of Austin TX signal a bright future. Summer of 2019 finds White Label Analog appearing in a scene for the upcoming feature film “Empty Nester’s Handbook,” and then back in the studio, using their eclectic blend of influences to craft a new batch of songs to tell a story of growth, optimism, and hope - a message we all need when times get tough, and WLA’s is a story worth listening to.
White Label Analog isn’t quite what you would expect from an Austin band. A lack of acoustic instrumentation or 12-bar blues progressions reinforces an alternative identity which sets them apart from many of the bands across the ATX music scene. Their sound is approachable yet mature. Honest, while teasing deeper complexity. There is always something new to discover in the music of White Label Analog. Beneath the layers of well-crafted alt-rock and crisp production, behind a punchy rhythm section and some really slick guitar work, there’s something rare yet rewarding hiding from most casual listeners, but well worth listening for: Optimism.
It’s carried by the creative and honest lyrics as much as the major-keyed upbeat arrangements. This music is about survival, renewal, second chances, and tenacity. And for anyone that knows the story of the band, it’s clear they know what they are talking about.
White Label Analog was born in 2013 as a songwriting collaboration between drummer turned singer Chris Didear, and former guitarist James Millican. Chris’ influences stemmed from a diet of Foo Fighters, Stevie Wonder, the Beatles, Queen, Van Halen, and Muse, and were yearning to explore a much broader sound than the hard rock he had been playing for years. “I wanted to form a band outside my comfort zone, playing a style I’ve never played before. And it had to be fun,” says Chris about the new project. As the catalog of mature and hooky indie-alt rock songs grew, they realized the potential they were tapping into so Chris contacted longtime friends to complete the act. Drummer Heath Macintosh brought influences from punk and Afro-Cuban music, citing his earliest desires to create the sound of his favorite hand percussionists playing in unison with another drummer with a single drum set. The band’s roster was complete when bassist Aaron Herbster joined, and the four wrote, recorded their debut EP “A Little More Time” in 2015 followed by their first full-length album “In Case You Just Tuned In” in 2016 which included a national tour to promote it.
Together, their releases have received airplay on terrestrial radio stations like KROQ (LA), WRFF (Philly), KTCL (Denver), WLKK (Buffalo), WWCD (Columbus), KFMA (Tucson), KRXP (Colorado Springs), and both KLBJ and KGSR (Austin City Limits Radio) in their hometown of Austin. Their self-produced efforts were highlighted from collaborations with 11-time Grammy nominated mixing engineer Mark Needham (The Killers, Imagine Dragons) as well as Dwight Baker (Kelly Clarkson, Missio), and Chris “Frenchie” Smith (Gary Clark Jr. , Jet). White Label Analog or “WLA” was named as one of Austin Monthly Magazine’s “10 Bands to Watch” in the March 2017 issue, followed by an official SXSW showcase, and Canadian Music Week performances in Toronto, CA. 3 tracks from “In Case You Just Tuned In” were featured in 4 episodes of MTV’s Teen Mom 2, and they’ve had song placements in award winning feature films “Trippin’ to the Altar,” (2016) and “My Ranger” (2017).
Just as the band was hitting their stride, the momentum was halted by James’ early departure in 2017 to explore other musical endeavors. Without a guitar player, the remaining band mates faced the question of whether or not to continue without one of their founding members and songwriters. It is here that one of the linchpins of White Label Analog’s personality was uncovered. This is a band about friendship. When WLA needed a new musician, Chris and Heath contacted their longtime friend, Chal Boudreaux, to bring his axe and pedalboard to bear. A longtime fan of classic rock, Chal fondly remembers listening to Hendrix on vinyl with his dad and his brothers and brings vintage tones and licks to the decidedly indie genre. The new musical chemistry has yielded some of WLA’s most adventurous sounds yet, including the newest single, Everybody Knows.
With a new guitar player, the band was able to build momentum in the studio and on the road, until early in 2019, when once again, progress stalled with the departure of the original bassist Aaron Herbster. Six years in, with treasured songs and a supportive fan base in Austin, the band new they couldn’t leave the project behind and cast a net to find a new bassist. In February, they brought on Berklee-trained bassist and songwriter and a longtime fan and writer of indie-alternative rock, Joel Sutton. The newest addition enabled WLA to once again complete the ensemble in time to play during SXSW and several other shows at some of Austin’s legacy venues, including Hole in the Wall and Stubb’s BBQ.
It is a special and rare thing to know who you are, and the members of this tenacious band have learned it through facing years of challenges together. But ever optimistic, they have embraced each new hurdle as an opportunity to stretch and re-dedicate to the music that holds them together. The resulting mix of influences, the patience learned along the way, and the enduring support of the fans and the city of Austin TX signal a bright future. Summer of 2019 finds White Label Analog appearing in a scene for the upcoming feature film “Empty Nester’s Handbook,” and then back in the studio, using their eclectic blend of influences to craft a new batch of songs to tell a story of growth, optimism, and hope - a message we all need when times get tough, and WLA’s is a story worth listening to.
CHRIS DIDEAR - Lead Vocals
CHAL BOUDREAUX - Guitar/Vocals
JOEL SUTTON - Bass/Vocals
HEATH MACINTOSH - Drums/Vocals
CHAL BOUDREAUX - Guitar/Vocals
JOEL SUTTON - Bass/Vocals
HEATH MACINTOSH - Drums/Vocals