The Wild

The Wild started in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2008 and built their sound within the city's DIY punk scene. Members have since scattered across the country, but the band keeps working under that name, writing songs that carry the same acoustic-scarred approach they started with.

Their folk punk draws on touchstones like Phil Ochs's topical songwriting, the loose sprawl of Bright Eyes, and the group shout-alongs of Titus Andronicus. Acoustic guitars sit alongside distortion, and the vocals lean toward group singing rather than a single lead voice, giving the songs a communal, sing-along feel.

The songs tend toward first-person accounts of work, money and community, delivered without much polish. That directness has kept the band tied to basements and DIY spaces rather than bigger stages, and their records have mostly come out through small, independent channels.

The Wild have released two full-length albums through Asian Man Records, plus a handful of split seven-inches for various DIY labels over the years. That steady, low-key output mirrors the band's approach: songs built for touring vans and living-room shows rather than radio.