The Anniversary's Josh Berwanger preps new solo LP (stream "Bad Vibrations")

The Anniversary’s Josh Berwanger has been having a busy year. He already released the debut album by his band Radar State (a supergroup with both singers of The Get Up Kids) and a split with Casey James Prestwood (of Hot Rod Circuit), and now he’s gearing up for a new Berwanger album, Watching A Garden Die, due June 28 via Wiretap Records. “It’s definitely one of the most, if not the most, personal albums I have written. There were a few times I didn’t even want to release it. But if some of the subject matter can reach another person and help them deal with something they’re going through, that’s what music and art is for,” Josh says.

We’re premiering “Bad Vibrations,” along with its video, and here’s what Josh tells us about this one: “On this new record, I often use the word ‘you,’ but I’m actually referring to ‘me.’ In other words, I’m talking to myself. This song is about my social anxieties because I usually feel awkward in public. Which makes me think I sometimes give off bad vibrations when most likely I’m just spaced out, off on another planet. Or maybe a better example is how Garth feels when Wayne ditches him on set in Wayne’s World.” You can feel that anxiety coming through in Josh’s somber delivery, but musically this song is actually rooted in jangly, hip-shakin’ rock n’ roll. Check it out below.

Josh also has a few upcoming shows in and around his hometown of Lawrence, KS. Those are listed below.

Berwanger — 2019 Tour Dates
June 27th – The Rino, KC
June 28th – Ellis St. Motto, Wichita, KS
June 29th – Replay Lounge, Lawrence, KS
July 1st, Henry’s, Lawrence, KS (Josh solo)