Bare Wires

Bare Wires was founded by Matthew Melton in 2008 in Oakland CA. Bare Wires first album Artificial Clouds was released in 2009. The album was self-produced by Melton, and recorded using a Tascam 388 analog multitrack which he purchased after using one to record the Snake Flower 2 album. It was mastered by the late Jay Reatard in exchange for writing, recording, and producing a single to be released on Shattered Records. Melton originally described the band's sound as "smooth punk". By the second album the band featured drummer Nathan Price and bassist Fletcher Johnson. They went on to release a further 3 albums, Seeking Love in 2010, Cheap Perfume in 2011 and Idle Dreams in 2012 and went through several line-up changes. The band toured relentlessly until the band imploded in 2012, after drummer Omar Hernandez was hospitalized following a drug overdose (which Melton originally referred to as being a "self-induced health-related concern") The band struggled through their sets with Tony Leal of the band Part Time a replacement drummer for their shows at SXSW 2012 festival in Austin, Texas who they were teaching the songs "on the fly". At the Panache Showcase the group got into a physical altercation with a sound engineer and promoter Annie Southworth live on stage and immediately disbanded, cancelling the remainder of their tour following the festival. Immediately upon returning to Oakland, Melton announced the formation of the group Warm Soda.