GRAVESEND

Let’s play a game called two truths and a lie: Today, Tuesday, April 29th, we’re premiering a brand new single from SoCal act Gravesend. Yes, Gravesend, the band formerly known as PVMNTS.

Did you catch the lie? C’mon, we know you’re stuck in quarantine but today is definitely not Tuesday, the 29th.

Okay, let’s try again: Gravesend’s new track is titled “All In The Eyes.” The post-hardcore song is all about the concept of trust. Trust is something that can never be broken by people on social media, in the news or living in the White House.

Alright, how’d you do? Let’s hope you caught that one because more than ever in this country, whether it’s online, on TV or face-to-face, it seems like we’re being lied to on a daily basis. Right now, the idea if of “trusting” people, be it our leaders and politicians or even our neighbors, is harder than ever.

That’s why, in a time of such uncertainty, it’s important to appreciate an honest and open song like “All In The Eyes.”

Detailing the new track from Gravesend, frontman Wilfredo Alexis Ramirez says, “‘All in the Eyes’ is about trust. Trust is probably one of the hardest things to gain back once lost. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world and people will disappoint and hurt you. It is up to you, though, to work through that and understand that not everyone is out to hurt you.”

As for the band’s eerie new video directed by Brad Davies, Ramirez adds, “The video represents being stuck behind walls of insecurity all while being tied up by lack of trust. All of this holds you back and keeps you in the same spot with no forward direction. It’s a look inside a time of my life where my head was a complete mess.”

To check out Gravesend’s infectious new song and video, be sure to look below. Afterward, for more from the band, head here. - The Noise

All photos by: Lizzy Gonzales

When up-and-coming pop-punk outfit PVMNTS lost two of its three members earlier this year, the future looked bleak for what was such a young and promising act.

Fast forward nearly six months later and the sole remaining member Wilfredo Alexis Ramirez is looking to land on his feet with a fresh new start.

Renaming his Los Angeles-based band as GRAVESEND, Ramirez is looking to keep the spirit of PVMNTS alive while also looking ahead at what’s in store next.

“GRAVESEND is the continuation of a chapter I refuse to close,” explains Ramirez. “It means that I can continue to express myself and my experiences with others. This, to me, is what it’s all about.”

Looking to reveal this new era of the band in the best way possible, today Ramirez is teaming up with The Noise to premiere his brand new single “Lights.”

Detailing the passionate new track, the talented multi-instrumentalist said, “‘Lights’ is a track that reminds me how far I’ve come this past year. From playing sold out shows in foreign countries, to meeting some very special people that live across the damn ocean, you never know what can happen and what can blossom in this crazy world we live in.”

To check out GRAVESEND’s debut single as well as our interview with Ramirez discussing the past, present and future of PVMNTS/GRAVESEND, be sure to look below.


After Tyler and Nick left PVMNTS, how quickly did you know you wanted to start GRAVESEND?

Wilfredo Alexis Ramirez: GRAVESEND is simply a continuation of PVMNTS. So to me, this is just a new chapter. At first, I was planning to continue using the same name but decided against it. I wanted something that I could stand behind; something that felt true and honest to myself.
How did your time in PVMNTS impact this new project musically and/or lyrically?

It gave me so much to talk about. So much to work off of. It shaped me into the musician and performer that I am today. Now, since I am currently the only member of GRAVESEND, I get to really build myself as a multi-instrumentalist by writing and recording everything myself. I’ll still have a live band with me though!

How would you describe GRAVESEND to someone who has never heard them before?

I would say GRAVESEND is like a perfectly ripened avocado that melts into your perfectly toasted slice of wheat bread on a Sunday morning.
Who or what influenced you to write your debut single “Lights”?

“Lights” is about living worlds apart from someone who unexpectedly became an important person in your life. Wow, never noticed how cheesy that sounded [laughs]! It’s alright though, this girl changed my life. Thanks for being my muse, Jess!

Would you say “Lights” is a good example of any future music from GRAVESEND?

Definitely. I can’t wait to show you all what’s in store next!

What are your goals for GRAVESEND and what can people expect from you guys soon?

I can say something generic like I want to tour, make music that’ll last forever or change the world or something. Trust me, I do. But I want people to know one thing: I want them to know that it’s never about what you are, it’s what you can be. This, to me, is the main goal for GRAVESEND. Expect more music, more announcements, more GRAVESEND. - The Noise

‘While everyone is slowing down my head is in the fast lane,’ yells bassist Freddy Ramirez during Another Monday. These words about anxiety attacks also apply well to the Los Angeles pop-punks’ own trajectory. Since forming in 2016, PVMNTS — pronounced ​‘Pavements — have already toured the UK, garnered fans around the world and landed coveted festival slots at Slam Dunk and Warped Tour. All on the back of one demo.

Hype? Perhaps, but this debut EP justifies the attention. While many first efforts from earnest young pop-punks merely emulate influences like blink-182 and New Found Glory, PVMNTS display a thorough understanding of the dynamic flourishes that make those bands great.

Case in point, the daydreaming guitars exiting Chemical Trails provide a soft landing to the crashing Travis Barker-like rhythms that precede them. Elsewhere, the vocal interplay between Freddy’s silken tones and guitarist Tyler Posey’s sneer injects sparky energy into Hit The Ground. So much so, that when the buzzsaw riffs twist sideways into a ​‘woah oh’ section, it somehow catches you off guard, even though this is a genre where you completely expect them.



Lyrically, Better Days is also impressively mature (no dick jokes here, sorry). While Standing (On My Own Two Feet) is propelled by earworm hooks, Tyler addresses the wave of confusion following his mother’s passing. ​‘I’m not sad, I’m not numb, I’m not anything at all,’ he confides, ​‘But I definitely feel a change.’ Meanwhile, the layered production by Kyle Black (State Champs, All Time Low) ensures that when this trio do jump into a legless chorus with both feet, they burst wide open like a Fourth of July firework display.


Better Days proves that, when done well, pop-punk can still be chock-full of thrills and spills, even in a genre where all the tricks seem to be known. And with this snappy EP, PVMNTS now have a solid foundation to build on that sounds anything but pedestrian.

Words: James Mackinnon

Better Days is out now and available to stream below. More info here. - Kerrang!

Gravesend entered the pop punk scene in early 2019 after making some changes within the band, formerly known as PVMNTS. They are a genre-fluid band led by Wilfredo “Freddy” Alexis Ramirez with Ben Lopez, Angel Lopez, and John Barry by his side. However, all of their music is written and completely recorded by Freddy himself.

“Candy Nicotine”, released on May 14th 2021, is Gravesend’s most recent single. If you are big into pop punk and the mindset behind punk in general, this song is one to listen to. At first listen it gives off early Paramore years, think Brand New Eyes, with the layered guitar intro. Freddy’s vocals are definitely backed by determination, they are strong and demanding to be heard. “Candy Nicotine” sounds like an underdog anthem to me. Especially with the lyrics “If only you knew what it took to get this far, I’ll never look back” it’s hard not to root for them. As someone who likes to dig into the lyrics and really submerge into the music fully, this song gives a push to remember why you are on the path you are on. No one else but you can decide how you live your life, what passions you have, or where you are going.

Gravesend has had to start from scratch as a band, to get their name out there again, and I think we all like a good “underdog that conquered all in the end” story.


Link to their Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5xEjmK2CQGRhP2naAGTvu6?si=JIG1ps2tSHme6hYSdGstMg&dl_branch=1


Link to Video: https://youtu.be/JSLgmAV1EOE - Nightfire Mag