Formed in 2015, the band signed with No Sleep Records and released their debut single, "Graveyard Shift", in March, of which the music video included cameos from members of Neck Deep. Following this, they played the Pinky Swear Records Fest in Manchester on May 2nd, headlined by Man Overboard, and Furyfest in Liverpool on May 3rd, also playing Empire Festival in Sheffield on May 17th. They played the Jump On Demand Records Festival, also in Liverpool, later that June, as well as the Hevy Fest in Port Lympne, Kent and the Make A Scene Festival in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire in August.
Their debut EP, SKRWD, was released on September 4, 2015. The EP was produced and recorded by Seb Barlow, of Neck Deep, at Celestial Recordings. They then played the Hype Fest in Birmingham on November 28th. In December, WSTR was nominated for Best British Newcomer by Rock Sound, with Boston Manor winning the category.
In early 2016, the band was included in Kerrang!'s Class of 2016 list. They played the Less Than Three Festival in Derby and opened for Neck Deep on the European leg of their World Tour, along with fellow openers Creeper. Later in July, they played the 2000Trees Festival at Upcote Farm in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. They then released a new single, "Lonely Smiles", off their upcoming album in September.
In support of their first album, 'Red, Green Or Inbetween' the band went on their first headlining tour, “The Inbetween Tour”, from October to November 2016, with support from Milestones, also playing the Slam Dunk Festival. During this time, the band recorded an acoustic version of the album's second single, "Footprints", which was made available on a "name your price" basis on their Bandcamp page. They additionally opened for ROAM on their UK/Ireland tour in support of their album, Backbone, and released a third single, "Featherweight".
On January 20th, 2017 the band released their first full-length album, 'Red, Green or Inbetween'. They then supported Seaway on a UK tour, alongside The Gospel Youth, and returned to Slam Dunk later that summer. They also played the Truck Festival at Hill Farm in Oxfordshire, the Reading and Leeds Festivals, the Deadbolt Festival in Manchester and the 2Q Festival in Lincoln, as well as opened for With Confidence on an Australian tour.
On June 4th, 2018 the band announced that they were signing with Hopeless Records, and followed their signing up by a playing a set at Download Festival in the UK. They then opened for As It Is on multiple legs of their okay. tour, first in Europe with Courage My Love and then in the UK with Like Pacific and Grayscale. On August 31st they released their second LP, 'Identity Crisis', which was led by the singles "Bad To The Bone", "Crisis" and "Silly Me". To support its release, they joined Neck Deep on the second North American leg of The Peace and the Panic Tour with fellow openers, Trophy Eyes and Stand Atlantic, and went on a headlining UK tour with Between You & Me and Hey Charlie.
In early 2019, WSTR went on tour again as the supporting act for The Faim on their UK tour. They later released a cover EP titled Give Yourself a Hell, featuring covers of "Give Yourself a Try" by The 1975 and "Gives You Hell" by The All-American Rejects, and played their third Slam Dunk Festival that summer. In the fall, they embarked on the full run of The Noise & Ones to Watch Presents Stand Atlantic and The Faim Co-Headline U.S. Tour, with fellow openers Hold Close and Point North playing on select dates. While on tour, they released a new song, "Filthy".
On November 25th WSTR set out on a headlining UK tour, starting in Brighton and ended in Nottingham on December 8th. In early 2020 the band along with Hot Mulligan & LURK opened up for Grayscale on the Nella Vita North American Tour: Part II. The tour concluded on February 27th right before the global pandemic of COVID-19 struck and canceled touring for the remainder of the year.
On August 14th they put up a limited re-release of their first EP ‘SKRWD' on Vinyl. Along with Re-imagined versions of 'Ain't Great' & 'South Drive' on their bandcamp and streaming platforms.
https://www.wstrband.com/
Punchline
WSTR Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Quiet streets of this ghost town?
Tainted by this movie scene you paved
The way for in between
I miss being a kid
How I long for blissful ignorance
All the fucks that I didn't give
This holiday never went to plan
So incase I never see you again I said
Maybe I'm a fucking joke
The punchline to a thousand TV episodes
So tell me is this movie really set in stone?
Or can I improvise the lines
And take you home?
Colour me cautious when I'd call
You 20 times again it's getting out of hand
Your voicemail never understands
Laying down this old red carpet
Just to watch you leave
From on set reality is never what it seems
I can't breathe it's hard to inhale
Through the smoke from your gun
Cut me deep remove my insides
‘cause I won't need them
Maybe I'm a fucking joke
The punchline to a thousand TV episodes
So tell me is this movie really set in stone?
Or can I improvise the lines
And take you home?
This holiday never went to plan
So in case I never see you again I said
Maybe I'm a fucking joke
The punchline to a thousand TV episodes
So tell me is this movie really set in stone?
I thought you should know
I thought you should know
Maybe I'm a fucking joke
The punchline to a thousand TV episodes
So tell me is this movie really set in stone?
Or can I improvise the lines
And take you home?
In the lyrics of WSTR's song "Punchline," the singer reflects on feelings of being abandoned and left behind by someone who played a significant role in their life. The first verse sets the scene of a deserted town, suggesting the emptiness and loneliness the singer feels. They acknowledge that this person paved the way for a movie scene, metaphorically representing the scripted nature of their relationship.
The chorus reveals the singer's longing for the carefree innocence of childhood. They express regret for not appreciating their freedom and not caring about certain things when the person was still part of their life. The singer questions their own worth, wondering if they are just a joke or the punchline to a countless number of television episodes. They contemplate if the future with this person is predetermined, represented by questioning whether the movie is set in stone or if there is room for improvisation.
The second verse highlights the desperation the singer feels, continuously trying to reach out to this person but only encountering their voicemail. The metaphor of laying down a red carpet to watch them leave suggests that they have invested so much in this relationship, only to experience disappointment and rejection. The line about on-set reality not being what it seems implies that the image projected by this person is not the reality of who they truly are.
The bridge emphasizes the suffocating nature of the situation, comparing it to inhaling smoke from a gun. The singer questions the need for their own emotions and vulnerabilities, suggesting that they are willing to let go of those aspects of themselves.
Overall, "Punchline" by WSTR is a song that delves into the feelings of abandonment, regret, and questioning one's self-worth in a broken relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
How many times will I walk down the
Reflecting on the repetitive nature of my own actions and experiences
Quiet streets of this ghost town?
Navigating through a seemingly lifeless and desolate environment
Tainted by this movie scene you paved
Affected and influenced by the scripted and artificial nature of our relationship
The way for in between
Creating a space of uncertainty and confusion
I miss being a kid
Longing for the simplicity and innocence of childhood
How I long for blissful ignorance
Yearning for a state of unawareness and carefree mindset
All the fucks that I didn't give
Regretting not expressing my true emotions and concerns
Got called back up in your absence
Realizing the impact and significance of your absence in my life
This holiday never went to plan
Acknowledging the disappointment and failure of our time together
So incase I never see you again I said
Leaving behind a final message in case we never cross paths again
Maybe I'm a fucking joke
Considering the possibility of being a source of amusement or mockery
The punchline to a thousand TV episodes
Viewing my life as a recurring comedic element in countless television shows
So tell me is this movie really set in stone?
Questioning the permanence and predetermined nature of our relationship
Or can I improvise the lines
Contemplating the possibility of altering the course of our narrative
And take you home?
Wanting to bring you close and create a genuine connection
Colour me cautious when I'd call
Feeling hesitant and wary when reaching out to you
You 20 times again it's getting out of hand
Expressing the excessive and desperate nature of my attempts to reach you
Your voicemail never understands
Feeling unheard and unrecognized by your automated voice message
Laying down this old red carpet
Creating a welcoming and luxurious atmosphere for you
Just to watch you leave
Witnessing your departure despite the efforts I put in
From on set reality is never what it seems
Recognizing that the staged and artificial world of our relationship differs from actual reality
I can't breathe it's hard to inhale
Feeling suffocated and overwhelmed by the situation
Through the smoke from your gun
Enduring the consequences and aftermath of your actions
Cut me deep remove my insides
Causing emotional pain and dismantling my inner being
‘cause I won't need them
Realizing that certain aspects of myself are no longer necessary or beneficial
I thought you should know
Believing it is important for you to be aware of my feelings and thoughts
Maybe I'm a fucking joke
Considering the possibility of being seen as a source of amusement or ridicule
The punchline to a thousand TV episodes
Viewing my life as a recurring comedic element in countless television shows
So tell me is this movie really set in stone?
Questioning the permanence and predetermined nature of our relationship
Or can I improvise the lines
Contemplating the possibility of altering the course of our narrative
And take you home?
Wanting to bring you close and create a genuine connection
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
01UofMfan
This turned out to be an amazing album. A great way to start the year with a banger. I was so stoked when the album was announced and they did not disappoint. Reminds me a lot of Neck Deep, which is not a bad thing. It's good to see another great pop punk band. My favorites were Lonely Smiles and Eastbound & Down. Keep up the great work WSTR! 😎😃
David Ezequiel
I love WSTR, and I wish to know more people that feels the same uwu
Scott Carpenter
Already a major contender for record of the year 2017. These boys killed it.
IamTheWillrus
God dammit this was such an amazing album, completely surpassed all my expectations from start to finish. Well done lads, be fucking proud of yourselves. I'll be seeing you a few times this year!
Charlie Österlund // Drums
Alright your move Neck Deep. The bar has been fucking set.
pineapple pizza
sick album lads. 2017 is starting strong
BeepDuck
1:22 holy shit that’s gotta be the highlight of the whole album
Ephrem Molina
WHAT A FUCKING BANGER!
Michael Whitaker
The song uses the same chords as neck-deep a part of me it's only tuned half a step down. The bridges have the same chord progression so I actually enjoy singing a part of me over the woah sections lol
TLMidnight81 Shorts
Only 26,000 view's? So Underrated.