Acceptable Losses

Acceptable Losses is a funk punk band from Albuquerque looking to dominate their shows with live energy, and with a dose of sweat and fur coats.

“You will be entertained,” said Wake Gardner, who is the lead singer and guitarist. His brother Aidan Gardner does the bass and the backing vocals, Josh Galloway is on the lead guitarist and Trey Baker is on the drums.

“We pride ourselves in playing; if we didn’t sweat, we’re not doing our jobs. My brother on the bass, he gets in with the crowd, he jumps off stages,” he said.

Gardner likes the reputation they’ve established so far, where hear it said they’re the band who. “take[s] our shirts off and wear fur coats.”

“Best purchase I ever made: I spent 15 bucks at Savers and bought a fur coat in the women’s section,” Gardner said.

What type of fur coat?

“It is,” a moment of pause, “leopard-colored...well, print,” he laughed.

Gardner met the other members in the band in a high school play where he heard Josh, the guitarist play his guitar during rehearsals. They used the opportunity of the Garner’s mom selling her house in 2012, to come together in the empty house for a month to solidify their sound for a battle of the bands competition. After they won third place, they figured they might as well keep going.

Acceptable Losses write their own music, but also does covers, like Tennessee Ernie Ford’s “16 Tons” which instead of a slow, working man’s anthem becomes more of growling disdain for the plight of the working man. It’s a simple, straightforward rock piece that has guitar solos and the guitar piped around the lyrics for emphasis.

Citing Rage Against the Machine and Red Hot Chili Peppers as musical and stage performance influences, Gardner said that their chief mission is to show people a good time.

It’s also their drummer who serves as inspiration. Trey Baker only has one arm and uses a wristband with a special type of heavier drumstick on his stump.

“People come up after the show and after seeing and say to him, ‘Well, I don’t have any more excuses any more, I’m picking up the guitar,’” Gardner said.

Gardner says he’s trying to book a show in the next month in Las Cruces or El Paso, which will become home base for the next few months at least for Gardner. He has one more year left at New Mexico State University where he’s studying government and history, after which the band hopes to move to Atlanta or Nashville.

“Might as well try it while we’re young,” he said.

But youth is what has stopped them from growing in all the venue in Albuquerque right now. While Wake and Josh are 21, Aidan is 18 and Trey is 17.

“It’s hard for us. The big venues won’t let us play because we’re too young,” Gardner said. “We’re a touring group because places will say, you’ve come so far, go ahead and play.” - The Pulse

Acceptable Losses front man Wake Gardner joins us today in the studio to talk about the bands plans, future and their new single "Switch." Also in this segment we discuss their big hit "16 Tons" and how they're hoping this momentum will help push them forward. Wake Gardner, always a good interview and a good time, stay tuned. - KRUX Radio