Welshly Arms. Credit: Courtesy of Impulse Artists
Local rockers Welshly Arms became a national act in 2017 when their tune “Legendary” turned into a huge hit. Their 2018 album, No Place Is Home, then went on to receive more than 350 million total streams and the group played festivals such Lollapalooza, the Reading & Leeds Festival, Bottlerock, Rock am Ring, Hangout Music Fest and Shaky Knees.

Their full-length album, Wasted Words & Bad Decisions, is due out on April 6. The band recorded the album in an old farmhouse on the outskirts of Cleveland during the height of the pandemic.

“With a long pause in touring and live performances due to the pandemic, we took time to reflect and refocus on our music,” says singer-guitarist Sam Getz in a press release. “These songs speak to who we all are in this exact moment of our lives. Musically, we wanted this record to bring us back to the raw rock ‘n’ roll that we had built the band on when we were jamming in the basement together. But, of course, we’ve also matured and gelled as musicians after touring the world together, and I think that intersection is what made Wasted Words & Bad Decisions so fun and rewarding to create.”

Since songs such as “Learn To Let Go” and “Sanctuary” were both Top Ten Songs in Germany, the band has become an international sensation. Its tunes have appeared in popular media including The Hateful Eight, Underground 6 and Empire. Major brands such as Miller Lite, Jeep, ESPN, MLB, NFL and NASCAR have used their songs as well.

The local duo Bri and Jon Bryant, stars in their own right, add uplifting choral vocals to the album.

Next month, the group heads to Europe for a headlining tour.

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This article appears in Mar 8-21, 2023.

Jeff has been covering the Cleveland music scene for more than 25 years now. On a regular basis, he tries to talk to whatever big acts are coming through town. And if you're in a local band that he needs to hear, email him at jniesel@clevescene.com.