After national attention, local band heads back to San Diego to support latest album, ‘Let Them All Talk’

By Logan Broyles | SDUN Reporter

Brian Karscig has already had a successful run in the San Diego music scene, after a stint in the band Louis XIV and owning his own production company for several years. However, his is latest project, the band Nervous Wreckords, may go down as his best work.

The band features Karscig singing lead as well as playing acoustic guitar and piano. Daniel Schraer is on the keyboard, Cindy Cate is on bass and Lindsay Matheson rocks the electric guitar.

Karscig founded the band in 2009 with the help of Anthony Saffery, a producer and member of the U.K. band Cornershop. The idea for the band came out of necessity, after the opportunity of a lifetime fell on their laps.

At the time, Karscig was in a different band but had been making mixes with Saffery during his down time. They decided to record their own EP, and enlisted the help of Karscig’s friend Mark Stoermer, who also happens to be the bassist for the popular band the Killers.

“He ended up playing our EP for the rest of the Killers, and they loved it,” Karscig said. “They called me three weeks before their ‘Day and Age’ tour and asked if I had a band because they wanted us to open thirteen shows. I lied and said I did so I wouldn’t miss the opportunity, and then spent the next week calling all my friends.”

Karscig said he and the friends who answered his call rehearsed for approximately two weeks. “Our first show ever was supporting the Killers at Red Rocks amphitheater in Colorado, in front of a sold-out, 11,000-person crowd,” he said. “It was pretty crazy and monumental.”

Over the years, Karscig said that the Nervous Wreckords band members have gotten to know each others’ styles and habits better, and have become more “in sync” with each other while playing live shows. Being a relatively new band, he said there is always room for more growing.

“I think a great song is one that blows me away, excites the band and says something,” Karscig said. ”We set out to be our favorite band, so if we like it, we’re usually satisfied. When we put it out there and it’s received well, it’s an added bonus.”

They appear to be on the right track, as it was recently announced the band was nominated for Best Rock Group at this year’s San Diego Music Awards. This year’s awards ceremony is Aug. 13 at Humphreys By the Bay.

“We’re very excited to be nominated. It’s always a good feeling to be noticed for something you’re passionate about,” Karscig said. “We are in really good company in that category, with a lot of great bands. Win or lose, it’s a nice compliment to be recognized.”

Karscig, too, said he is happy with what the band has accomplished, and was thankful for the recognition. “Validation from our peers and our home town would be a nice surprise,” he said.

The next step for the Nervous Wreckords is a tour for their new record, “Let Them All Talk.” The band will be swinging through town on June 30 to play at the Casbah, located at 2501 Kettner Blvd. The Casbah, Karscig said, is one of his favorite parts of playing at home, in San Diego.

“Our biggest goal this year is just to be heard. I think we have great songs and a great band,” Karscig said with pride. “We’re still pretty unknown in the big scheme of things, and I’d love to have people hear this record.”