Willie Herath

For those of you looking for the perfect CD to take to the beach, the search is over. Willie Herath (pronounced like Harris with a lisp) sounds like a mix between Jack Johnson & Weezer, with a twist of the Beach Boys. The sound is truly, as Willie put it, “Nod your Head Beach Rock.” And that is an amazing sound.

He was born and raised in Milan, Illinois. His journey to becoming a musician was an interesting one. “As a child, his parents wouldn’t allow him to listen to the radio or purchase music of his own. Then one day Willie found a box of his father’s old Beach Boys records which filled an enormous musical void. This was when he started playing the guitar along with the piano lessons his parents had him taking. Around the age of fourteen, Willie realized the guitar was going to be his instrument of choice. So, he told his mother that the piano lessons had to stop and started writing songs on the guitar.”

There have been many musicians who have influenced Herath. In the beginning it was Adam Sandler and The Presidents of the United States. It wasn’t until the Smashing Pumpkins’ album “Siamese Dream” that he realized that was the music that would change his musical style the most. Then came Stone Temple Pilots, Radiohead and Beck among others.

His largest influence however came from Weezer’s “Blue Album” and Jack Johnson’s “Brushfire Fairytales.” Other influences to his music style are Muse, U2 and Coldplay.

The band members are Willie Herath (Vocals and Rhythm Guitar), Rob Heskin (Lead Guitar), Jordan Hill (Drums), Gregor Halmay (Congas and SFX), and Jeremiah James (Bass). “I was really lucky to find great guys here in Los Angeles who were looking to be in a band too. I was in a band in Illinois called Fov. I was the only one (from that band) to move to LA.”

Willie Herath recorded their demo album in May 2005. “It was low budge, only 5 songs. We only printed 1000 copies and basically just gave them away to get the music out there.”

Then in January 2006, they began to record their debut album, “Cohgie Never Landed.” Willie Herath designed and produced all the graphics for the album as well. There was a slight delay when Willie was down with a sinus infection. “I sounded like I had a bucket of water on my head.” By May 2006, the final mixes were sent off to be mastered. Finally in July 2006 the CD was officially for sale. www.CDbaby.com

Willie Herath decided to choose “Sticky Flip-Flop” as the first single from the debut album. The CD is full of great beach songs such as, “Electric Sun,” “Drive,” “Come Home,” and “Wake Up June.”

On www.Indie911.com “Sticky Flip-Flop” is climbing the Top 100 countdown very fast. As of September 22 it was at number 8 with 47,139 plays and “Electric Sun” was at number 16 with 23,280 plays. “The rest of the album is doing really well, with a couple more songs in the Top 20 and five more in the Top 100!!! Combined plays for the entire album totaling 161,106.”

There is no manager holding this band back. Willie decided to take his career in his own hands and does the work as the manager, promoter and writer. After looking for a label to sign to he decided to just concentrate on selling copies of his CSD’s.

He is a talented actor who has a long list of commercials under his belt. Including the new Apple computer commercial you can see here: http://www.willieherath.com/tv.html. Be sure that while you are on his website to get your free download of “Electric Sun” which happens to be my favorite song of theirs.

He is a dedicated husband to wife Andrea and father of two, Hudson 2 ½ years and Noe who is a sweet 11 months old. “Eat together! No seriously if you have a family or friend in your life and I hope you do, just eat at a table together all at the same time. I know this is really random, but I think it’ll impact you.”

It’s nice to know that this Illinois boy didn’t leave his Midwest values when he moved to Los Angeles.

Be sure to check out Willie Herath every Monday in October at Molly Malone’s, 575 S. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036.

Reported by Edee Blevins
- USA Voice

Willie Herath Band live at Molly Malones, October 30, 2006, Reviewed by June Caldwell. Molly Malones is the quintessential LA staple, the Irish Pub. There is one of these Irish pubs for every 5 blocks in LA. There isn't much Irish identity in LA, as apparently we honor the Irish primarily for their ability to provide us with beer, which is no little honor here. How is it an Irish pub? You can tell by the giant clovers on the wall, the Irish sounding name, and lots of beer…which makes it like every other pub except the name and the clovers. Willie Herath is the other LA staple, the local guy with a band that does 'beach rock', that is music that makes you feel like it is always summer and you are always at the beach. Since we were in the holds of an October heat wave, we didn't have to admit quite yet that summer was over, so Willie Herath was the perfect backdrop to our eternal sense of denial that there is any reality other than the endless summer LA Utopia. Laced with some squealing guitars the set builds from ballads to spiky rockers. The band hit the stage and filled the club with their healthy following. They definitely win the 'best band with a member playing his neck like an instrument award'! They connected best when the band hits their rock side in songs like 'Dig it On'. They started with Willie's heart throbber radio hit, 'Come Home'. 'Something's Broken' grabbed the room like a 311 level ballad with tension and highlighted by sparkling bright harmonies. 'Electric Sun' started out with silky slide guitar as relaxed and happy as a summer day, then gets kind of slap rap happy. A whimsical lullaby to jumpstart any beach picnic, 'Sticky Flip Flop' might be their messiest rocker, about toe blood oozing over sandy sandals from a beach fight, and their first rock radio hit. The jam rock hooks compliment a clever chorus. A slight sense of psychedelia kicks in while the bongos bang with a boasting beat. With vocals reminiscent of surf jam giant Jack Johnson, this playful ditty sulks with a charm infectious enough to tenderize even the 'Goreist' global warmed year. 'Dig it On' rocked with guitar that will not let your feets stand still! Strong vocals with some Elvis Costello playfulness, one of the best tracks. My only disappointment was them not playing 'Wake Up June' since I just don't hear enough songs written about Junes!






-Rodger Caldwell






LA guitarist Rodger Caldwell

has been shooting the action ever since a resourceful high school teacher offered a photo class to him as a last-ditch attempt to keep him from dropping out. Jerry’s pit pix grace such sites as hip-hop and world music's Fly Global Music Culture in the UK.

- The Underground Mine