The Spits Talks Risks That Independent Bands Are Facing In the Middle of a Unrelentless Pandemic

Sean Wood, the Spits' guitarist and lead vocalist, discusses how the pandemic has affected bands that can't afford to take any more time off and how fans may best support their favorite artists at this time.

In order to put it mildly, The Spits are ready to rumble.

"So, these two tours of the West Coast and the Midwest, we've had these booked for two years," says Sean Wood, guitarist and vocalist for the long-running punk band. Band members Sean, his brother Erin and Lance will tour in support of the band's new album VI, which was published in 2020. Tonight, January 20, is the band's debut gig at Tacoma's Alma Mater, followed by a tour of the West Coast and then the East Coast.

Fans who have never heard the songs from VI performed live before will have a unique opportunity to do so at these performances. With this new album, The Spits return to their high-octane gonzo apocalyptic rock sound that was last heard on their 2012 album VOL. V.

Seventeen minutes of living in the red must have been stressful for both the band and the listeners who wanted to hear their outlaw rock heroes wreak havoc on their aural faculties. Vibrant and tense, VI never lets up, whether it's with "Up All Night," "Lose My Mind," or the poignant, final elegy, "Wurms." VI is a triumph.

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In October 2020, VI came. Asked whether there was a discussion of delaying its release until the situation had calmed down, the band said that there was, and they actually did so.

"We were, and we did - we pushed it a whole year," Sean shared to Hollywood Life. "People knew that there was this new record there. And so, if you don't release it, it'll leak out eventually - and when you do put it out, it's not a new record anymore. So, we decided, 'let's just put it out.' And then, hopefully, in like, six months, we can tour it. And that was the plan - and then the pandemic kept going on for another six months."

They detailed how unlik other bands who postponed their gigs to fall of 2021, they played safe and pushed for January 2022. But Omicron came and the dreaded pandemic is still not over.

"With the record out, the band started to book a tour while hoping for the best. "And we kept bumpin' it and bumpin' it," says Sean. "While other groups and musicians rescheduled their postponed dates for fall 2021, The Spits decided to do one better. "This last time, we said, 'f-ck it. Let's just go all the way to January 2022.' We're like, 'it's gotta be done by then!" And then what happens? As soon as we book these tours and are ready to head out, we get omicron, and it's like - f-ck!," he added.

After three gigs in Texas, "of course, we all got COVID," he continues. Because of this, we were forced to postpone San Antoni and Mexico City, which was a difficult decision.

He''s hopeful for a smooth February tour though.

"I think our numbers are already peaking," Sean said. "I'm hoping to God that by the time we get to the West Coast, [the numbers will] start coming down," adds the guitarist. "And then, by February, unless there's another goddamn variant, the New York shows, and Midwest shows - the numbers will be low, and we can continue that February tour," he added.

Hopeful as he is, he also said the reality is that most bands now, especially the ones who are independent, are taking insurmountable risks to stay afloat. "You know, talking to other band members and other bands, everybody knows right now, moving forward, we're all taking risks of canceling shows or - you know," he said.