Same Boy by Wayne Mason: A Kiwi Indie Rock Gem That’s Hard to Forget
Let’s cut to the chase—Wayne Mason’s Same Boy isn’t your run-of-the-mill indie rock album. Released in 2001 under Jayrem Records (props to New Zealand for keeping it real), this record feels like a scrappy, heartfelt love letter to raw emotion and DIY grit. And yeah, before you ask, Steve Garden and Clinton Brown basically pulled double duty on everything from drums to bass to production. Talk about wearing multiple hats—or should I say, multiple instruments?
The whole thing is packed with tracks that are equal parts moody and melodic, but two songs stand out like a sore thumb: “This Fire” and “Mercy Of The Moon.”
“This Fire” kicks things off with an energy that hits you like a caffeine jolt at 7 AM. It’s got this driving rhythm that makes you wanna stomp around your living room like nobody’s watching. The lyrics? Not gonna lie, they’re kinda cryptic, but there’s something about the urgency in Wayne Mason’s voice that sticks with you. Maybe it’s the way he belts out lines like he’s trying to convince himself more than anyone else. Either way, it’s catchy as hell.
Then there’s “Mercy Of The Moon,” which flips the vibe entirely. This one slows things down and gets all introspective on us. Picture yourself sitting by a beach somewhere cold—yeah, maybe Cold Wind Bay?—staring at the waves while Mason croons about life’s big mysteries. The guitar work here is subtle yet haunting, almost like it's whispering secrets into your ear. By the end of the track, you're left wondering if the moon really does have mercy or if it’s just messing with us.
What’s wild is how much personality bleeds through every note. You can tell these guys weren’t phoning it in—they poured their souls into this thing. Sure, some tracks feel rough around the edges, but isn’t that what indie rock’s all about? Polished perfection is overrated anyway.
And let’s not forget the unsung hero of this project: Steve Garden. Dude played half the instruments AND engineered the damn thing. If multitasking were an Olympic sport, he’d take home gold without breaking a sweat. Meanwhile, Clinton Brown handled producing duties alongside his bass and guitar wizardry. Honestly, between the two of them, they could probably start their own band called "Overachievers Anonymous."
As for Wayne Mason himself, credit where it’s due—he wrote tunes that linger long after the last chord fades. His knack for storytelling shines through even when the words get a little murky. Heck, sometimes vague lyrics make you think harder, right?
So here’s the kicker: Same Boy might’ve flown under the radar back in 2001, but it deserves another listen today. Why? Because it reminds us that music doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel to leave a mark. Sometimes, all it takes is honesty, passion, and a dude named Steve playing four instruments at once.
Oh, and one final thought: If someone tells you they don’t like indie rock, hand them this album. If they still hate it, well… they’re probably lying.
