Like Wild

After spending several years as a member of the pop-rock outfit The Right Coast, Patrick Hatt took his talents to folk-town and started anew as Like Wild. In June 2010, Like Wild released their debut, self-titled four-song EP. Attempting his best Bob Dylan meets Nick Drake, Hatt croons and plucks through four country-infused tracks that will leave the listener tapping along to every beat.

Clocking in at a mere eleven-minutes, Like Wild is most certainly a departure from the cavity-inducing pop-rock tunes Hatt’s former band was releasing. Instead, Hatt tackles such subjects as love, politics, and growing older— heavy subjects for a musician of only twenty-two years of age. The EP kicks off with the quick ditty “Somthin’ Kinda Strange” where Hatt sings “I would be the tallest tree / Just so you could look at me / Whenever you’re feeling down,” over a simple acoustic guitar. “Somethin’ Kinda Strange” would not be found out of place as a The Tallest Man On Earth b-side. Hatt’s folksy vocals compliment the acoustic guitars perfectly throughout the EP.

“Truth Resides” follows with a distinctly Nashville-feel where Hatt employs a slide guitar and Dylan-esque, politically-inspired lyrics; “We’re a nation of slaves / While the wealthy get paid” Hatt condemns passionately. “For Yourself,” which follows “Truth Resides”, is a laid-back, slow-paced track which would perfectly accompany a cup of coffee on a warm, summer morning while sitting on your porch watching the dew on the grass dry up. Hatt’s youthful innocence keeps the song grounded while an impeccably placed electric guitar-solo accents the song seamlessly.

Like Wild concludes with the impressive “Can You Hear?,” by far the catchiest song on the EP. Once again Hatt proves that one does not need to be in a pop-rock band to craft catchy songs. “Can You Hear?” is an intelligent and sophisticated closer that bounces along peacefully. Residing in Amish country, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Hatt is only a two-hour drive from Philadelphia but still firmly in the grasps of rural America. Like Wild handles complicated social issues, often heard discussed in urban cafes, with a simple country style. With a debut like this, one will be sure to hear from Hatt again soon. He still has a lot to say.

***/***** - PropertyOfZack

Like Wild’s debut album has been an idea inside of Patrick Hatt’s head for a while now. After playing in the pop/punk band The Right Coast, Hatt realized that having 14-year-old girls as fans was not the direction he wanted to take his music. It was not until recently that Hatt got to finally see his folk outfit come to fruition. One would think that a guitarist for a teenybopper band would have little substance to create a solo record full of something worth listening to. Oh, how wrong you would be.

The self-titled release from Like Wild really shows the maturity of Hatt’s musical influences. Pat, like most of us, grew up on Blink-182 and has changed pace to enjoy bands like Tom Waits and other American folk acts. Certain bands that directly influence his writing would be The Avett Brothers, Conor Oberst, and Good Old War to name a few.

The record is filled with catchy hooks, infectious guitar leads and vocals so soft and subtle that you won’t wake the baby’s afternoon nap. “Something Kinda Strange” kicks off the four-song EP with Hatt telling the listener that “I would be…” various inanimate objects to get closer to the subject of the song. “Truth Resides” is a country song complete with guitar twang and political banter.

“For Yourself” is the perfect Sunday morning wake-up. The slide guitar that pans in and out in the background adds great depth to the track, leaving the sense of waking up in a daze. However, this upbeat and bright music contrasts beautifully to the lyrics that speak of the end of the world.

Finally, the moneymaker “Can You Hear?” rounds out the album and just makes you want to sing along with the memorable chorus of “Lai-da.” The simplicity of this song is what makes it so beautiful. It is written Verse/Chorus/Verse/Chorus and is perfect the way it is.

Some bands strive for complexity and lightning fast guitar lines. Like Wild are great for not being one of those bands. This band is perfect to put on when driving around late at night, when makin’ love or even just walking to class. For you folk lovers out there, this record and whatever Patrick Hatt decides to write next is the perfect solution to your worn out Bob Dylan records.

8.5 Golden Eggs - Buzzlegoose

You used to be in The Right Coast. Why did you leave and was this sound something you were always interested in?
I had a great time while being in The Right Coast. The dudes were my best friends and touring was a blast. However after a while the disconnection between the music and I started to really take a toll on me. I’m not really into that brand of pop music and I really hated a lot of the things I saw going on in the industry. Meanwhile I started toying around with the idea of writing songs. I had always been into a huge variety of music and folk and alt-country were my favorite. So naturally my songs took that turn. After completing a few songs and recording some demos in my bedroom, I guess I realized this was what I wanted to do. I could finally be honest with myself and write music I actually enjoyed. It was liberating. Leaving the guys was a tough decision though… especially since the band was doing well at the time and they were all my good friends. But now it’s over a year later and things with Like Wild are going great and I couldn’t be any happier.

What do you have to offer that other bands or artists don’t? What sets you apart from a lot of the other newer bands out there today?
Honestly, I’m not trying to re-invent something or start a revolution with my music. I’m not a very good guitar player so my songs tend to be very simple. I just try to write songs that I like and mean something to me. That might sounds corny, but it’s true. I guess that could be something different than a lot of artists. My music is very honest. I don’t just try to write a hook… or sell records… or whatever. I just try to put out the best music I can while staying true to myself. If people dig that then that’s awesome. If not… well that sucks… but I’ll still be playing till my fingers fall off.

How is the live show compared to the general sound of material that’s been released?
It depends really. Sometimes I’ll play with friends as my backing band and it will be very similar to the recordings. When we play loud, bar settings we might play fully electric and distorted which obviously gives the live show more intensity. Other times I’ll play all by my lonesome… and it will be a super intimate atmosphere. I think that’s the beauty of being a singer-songwriter. Flexibility.

More times than not, influences tend to bleed through. What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
Well I’d say this next record is heavily influenced by some of the older guys like Townes Van Zandt and John Prine. I’ve also always loved a lot of the 90’s alt-country bands. Oh and anything that Ryan Adams has touched is great. There are also some great new guys in the scene that I’ve been jammin’ lately including Joshua James, Justin Townes Earle, Deer Tick, etc. I guess those are my obvious influences. But like I said I like a wide variety of music so there might be parts in my music that I came up with while listening to a Saves the Day record or something.

What would you say you have already accomplished and what do you have your eyes set on next?
Thus far I’ve put out my debut EP and a two-song single, played a bunch of shows in the northeast, and met some amazing friends and fans along the way. It’s really neat to see all of this take shape and even more exciting that it’s still just getting started.
Right now I’m writing a new record, which I hope to have out this spring/summer. I’m also hoping to do some touring in the New Year as well. Good things are coming out of this. I promise.

Thus far, what’s a favorite memory or something quirky that’s taken place for you with this project (in-studio, onstage, or elsewhere)?
I wish I had something funny to say here but I don’t. I guess my favorite memory so far is going out to California for my first time this summer. That’s where I recorded the “San Diego Sessions” single. Cali is beautiful and almost like a new world. I think that vibe kind of came out on the tracks too. It was a great time. I probably ate too much Mexican food though.

Is there anything in particular that you’d like people to take away from listening to your music?
All my songs are personal to me in some way (or a lot of ways). However, I try to write them universally so that the listener can take what they want from a song. I think it’s really rad to see what others get out of my songs. It could be a totally different thought or feeling than I had while writing the song but it remains powerful for the both of us nonetheless.
I guess if I had one message to get out… I’d want it to be this:
Don’t believe everything you’re told. Don’t live your life for others. Think for yourself and live for yourself… and ultimately… love your life. - PropertyOfZack

Your debut Self-Titled EP was recently released, what are some themes we can expect to find throughout the songs?
Well since it was the first few songs I wrote for Like Wild, which was the first band or musical endeavor I've ever done alone, there is definitely a positive and excited tone to the EP. I've been in and out of bands the past couple of years and I've finally found what I've been looking for. So sure there are some political and love themes, but overall I would say that it is a positive representation of how I was feeling at the time.

You have a distinct acoustic sound; who are some of your influences?
I listen to a great deal of music ranging from country to punk rock. However there are definitely genres and bands that influence the music I write. I really like anything that Ryan Adams has done. The man can write anything from beautiful, raw acoustic songs to rockin' Americana songs. I also really like the honesty that many of the classic folk/country artists had including Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, Townes Van Zandt, etc. As far as newer bands go I've been jammin' a lot of The Avett Brothers, Elliot Smith, Bon Iver, Dave Rawlings Machine, and more.

Like Wild is composed solely of you; were you ever in any bands or played with other people in the past?
I've been in a lot of bands in that past. Most notably the pop band The Right Coast. However now I am the sole member of Like Wild and I have some very talented friends who play with me live. Maybe someday I will have permanent members.

According to your twitter page, you were stoked to realize that Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza was still a band, definitely a much heavier sound than the music you play. Are there any other bands or genres that you are into that may surprise your fans?
Haha. I grew up listening to punk and hardcore/metal music. Tony Danza was one of the bands I really dug in high school. So I was surprised to see them still kickin'. My friends This Or The Apocalypse are actually on tour with them right now. TOTA just released a new album and it rules. Buy it.

As far as genres that I surprisingly like? I really enjoy anything that's not ICP or top 40 pop music. I'd say I certainly favor independent music, but I like a little of everything.

Now that your EP has been released, what can we look forward to seeing you do next?
Well, Like Wild is still in the very early stages. So I guess I'll just keep playing a bunch of shows regionally and nationally and keep cranking out new tunes. Good things are coming out of this, I promise. - Scene Trash

Like Wild

www.myspace.com/likewild
www.facebook.com/likewild
www.twitter.com/likewild

1. How did you get your band name?
I wish I had a really good story for this, but I don't. One day when trying to figure out what I wanted to call my music, my friend Josey suggested Like Wild. I dug it and it stuck.

2. How did this band get started?
I used to play in a pop band called The Right Coast. I was never really into the music that we played so I started writing songs on the side that meant something to me. Once I kind of figured out that I could play music I was passionate about and do it kind of well, I quit TRC and took on Like Wild full time.

3. What bands are you influenced by?
Too many. haha. Um to name a few I would have to say Ryan Adams, Elliot Smith, The Avett Brothers, and early country/folk singer-songwriters.

4. If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would it be and why?
Owen because he seems like a funny asshole who likes to drink beer... Queen because they're epic... and Alison Krauss so she could sing with me every night.

5. If you were a furry, what animal would you be? Why that animal?
I'll have to be boring with this one. A dog. Dogs eat, sleep, and get petted. That my friend, rules.

6. Why should people listen to your band?
I just write honest music that I personally enjoy. If that appeals to you, give it a jam.

7. If you were chosen to be in Guitar Hero/Rock Band, what song would you want in the game? How hard do you think it would be to five-star on expert?
Probably "Can You Hear?" just because it's a fun song to play. However my grandma could get five stars on expert. My music is terribly simple.

8. If you won a Grammy, who would you thank?
Mom and Pop, friends and family, girlfriend, my guitar, good food, good beer, and good times.

9. If you could change something about the music industry, what would it be?
Bands: Stop writing music that doesn't mean anything to you. I freed myself from that and I've never felt better!
Labels: Get fucking real.

10. Memorable tour experience?
Getting drunk and going into the warm ocean at 5am to watch the sunrise with my best friends.

11. What does AP.net mean to you?
A great, close-knit website where I can get news about a variety of bands. I love it.

12. What is your favorite song to play?
A new song called "Finds You Well".

13. What is your vacation spot of choice?
Anywhere down south. Especially Florida and the Carolinas. I'm sure tropical Islands, Europe, California, and Australia would all be fantastic choices as well.

14. What music reminds you of your childhood?
The Beatles, Meatloaf (Seriously), and all the hippy shit my older brothers used to jam (The Grateful Dead, Fleetwood Mac, etc)

15. If you could have any super power, what would it be? Why?
Definitely flying. I know that's a mediocre answer... but come on. You can't really top that.

16. Do you feel that your band has "made it"?
I'm just getting started! But I am thankful and proud of where it has been heading so far!

17. What is something that most fans don't know about you?
All of the bad bands I have been apart of in the past. And they'll never know! hahaha

18. What's your favorite holiday?
Christmas.

19. What do you like to do in your spare time?
Eat ethnic food, drink good beer, hang with friends, watch Lost, and compute.

20. What kind of hidden talents do you have?
I can control the movement of my facial features pretty well? Eyebrows, lips, ears, and nostrils. Sad, I know. - Absolute Punk

Despite the fact that his fledgling musical project, Like Wild, is a pop-infused folk outfit, it was fitting that Patrick Hatt showed up to a Halloween party he hosted last Friday dressed as punk rock legend, Sid Vicious, of Sex Pistols fame.

“When I was young I was really into punk rock, and that’s what got me into indie music realm,” said the 20-year-old Lancaster resident. “Me and my girlfriend were looking to do a couples outfit and originally the party was gonna be a punk rock Halloween, so she was Nancy (Spungen) and I was Sid.”

But listeners shouldn’t expect too much ‘70s punk-era filth and fury in the music of Like Wild. Hatt’s project, which he began last summer after parting ways with former band, Right Coast, features catchy melodies, themes of Americana and self-determination (but without blatant political statements), and the occasionally sunny “oooh oooh ooohs” and “la-di-das.” But while his music is playful, Hatt says his newer songs are coming out just a bit darker and more intense.

With that as the general framework, Hatt shoots from the hip and makes heartfelt attempts at honesty in both his music and his life.

“I feel like a lot of artists in every genre write about places they haven’t seen, or make music for the sake of just being catchy,” Hatt said. “That’s fine for some people, but I want to talk about things I personally believe in or have truly done. I feel like if you write personal songs it’s a lot more believable when you play them live.”

Like Wild has performed live in the Lancaster area, most recently, an electric set at the Chameleon Club’s Lizard Lounge on October, 16, which Hatt said got nice and rowdy. He’s switching things up on December 6 with a gig at the Ephrata Main Theater.

“Playing solo at the theater and having a great sound system is gonna be great,” he said. “I’m planning on having a blast and a couple drinks.”

Hatt says he is hopeful for wild success for Like Wild, something that is budding in Lancaster and surrounding areas.

“I think Lancaster is great. Some people complain about it, but I mean, everyone complains about their hometown – it’s a pretty rad place whether you like metal or pop,” he said. “It’s good especially for the scene or style of singer/songwriter. There’s a lot of little bars and venues that support that.”

But as far as making his presence known, Hatt isn’t just hitting the pavement downtown, as important as that may be. He says he’s a true believer in the utility of online social media outlets like Facebook that have sprung into prominence in recent years.

And that, he says, is where un-signed musicians can make themselves known.

“I’m not anti-record label, but you should really only sign if it’s the right time and right situation,” Hatt said. “I see a lot of bands jumping to major labels and getting screwed over. The labels put money into them and then they don’t do what they originally wanted to do, get dropped, and are in debt.

“Nowadays there’s so much you can do to help yourself out. My EP I put out, the 2 song San Diego Sessions, since it was free, had triple the amount of people download it than I had people who bought anything. People love free music.”

Hatt says this is at least part his game plan for the time being.

“There are advantages to being unsigned,” he says. “With social networking there’s so much you can do for yourself. You don’t really need a record label. It’s not something I’m really worried about right now.”

Fans should keep an eye out for either a 7-or-so song EP or a full length, as well potential regional tours within the next several months, Hatt says. Such endeavors will spring forth from the singer/songwriter going about his musical life and daily life (he’s also an employee at Rachel’s Creperie on Queen Street in downtown Lancaster) the way he always has.

“I work on the music side and the business side every day, whenever I get some time, and it’s always different,” he said. “Right now it’s 6:15 p.m. and I haven’t done anything at all today; other days it’s not like that at all.

“I’m almost always on my computer or working on the music whenever I get some inspiration. And sometimes I just don’t feel it, and so I stop. But when I feel like it, I run with it.”

He runs like wild, one might say. - Bennett Campbell - Tri-State Indie