The rookies continued their quest for glory and my daily viewing of such led me to check out the 5-piece rock band, Wanna-Gonna on Saturday night. Throughout their 30 minutes they played a range of styles from bluesy rock, to folk, hard rock, art rock and more.

It’s clear the band is talented and are at their best when they let loose and let the music do the talking for them. A few of their songs have lyrics but I found myself consistently distracted when their lead singer would sing. It’s not that he is a horrible singer, just I think their music has potential to be more powerful and interesting when they are given time to explore the musical aspect of their work, to solo, play off each other and show off what they really excel in.

The singer’s voice just came off as a bit too poppy sounding to match some of Wanna-Gonna’s intense jam sessions and musical progression. While 30 minutes is a bit short when trying to show everything you’ve got, I think Wanna-Gonna might have tried to show a bit too much in the allotted time. They worked through pop, blues, folk and hard rock. I think they should focus on one style and maybe lose the vocals.

While the band is young and it’s clear they lack a bit of experience, it’s also clear they have a lot potential. With a catchy name, they’re one I should remember when and if Wanna-Gonna re-surface again, it wouldn’t surprise me if they do.