You won’t find someone who loves the ’80s more than New Wave Crave co-founder, lead vocalist and guitarist Justin Doerr, at least according to the band’s drummer, Bishop Bautista.
Doerr, better known by his stage name “Ducky,” is the only original member of the ’80s cover band, which was voted Best Local Band in this year’s readers’ poll. He bases his stage persona on Duckie Dale, Jon Cryer’s character in Pretty in Pink. At a recent show at the National Automobile Museum, he wore dark sunglasses, a blazer over a floral button-up and a fedora adorned with a colorful pin.
“I really have a big crush on Molly Ringwald,” Doerr said.
Two other band members also base their looks on ’80s icons. Laura Rocke, also known as “Miss X,” is the band’s lead vocalist. As she belted out songs like “Material Girl” and “Love Shack,” she wore a bright purple tulle skirt, black lace tights and dark, chunky accessories reminiscent of Madonna or Cyndi Lauper.
The band’s bassist, Jesse James-Dillano Cruz—called simply “Jesse James” while performing —bases his look after ‘80s rock stars like Axl Rose, with blue, metallic sunglasses and a bandana pulling back his long hair.
The only band member who doesn’t have an avatar is Bautista.
“I’m just me—Bishop Bautista is Bishop Bautista,” he said, dressed for the August heat in the current decade’s casual activewear.
Doerr, along with former members Damian Janssen and Silas Bunce, started the band as a tribute to new wave bands such as Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, Echo and the Bunnymen and The Cure—some of which still make appearances in New Wave Crave’s set lists, though the band now also prioritizes pop hits from the likes of Madonna, the B-52’s and A-ha.
Bautista said he hopes New Wave Crave is an escape for people.
“Good friends. Great dancing. Great music,” he said. “Get away from everything that may have made you unhappy that week for a couple hours with New Wave Crave.”
Added Rocke: “Then we’ve done our job.”
Much of the band’s success can be attributed to Doerr’s love for the ’80s.
“We’re passionate about these songs. We like the songs, and I think people feel that vibe off of us,” he said.
Though the band’s nostalgic look and high-energy performances might look lighthearted, New Wave Crave’s members said creating that vibe is far from effortless. It takes hours of practice to master the styles of the dozens of musicians they cover.
That practice just isn’t typically done together.
“A lot of people think we rehearse nonstop,” Bautista said. “They think we’re practicing three times a week. … We don’t rehearse. We all studied on our own. Everyone’s very professional and knows their craft. Like, our bass player—I know he’s got to nail these baselines. Our singers are going to nail the singing lines. … The accountability that every individual in the band has, it’s remarkable.”
After a show, New Wave Crave will gather at one of the band members’ homes and watch the recording of a concert like a professional sports team, analyzing where they could have improved. Their study doesn’t stop at just sound, either.
“We used to mute it,” Doerr said. “And if we were bored, we knew we were performing it wrong. It’s got to be entertaining to watch, even without the music.”
Doerr added: “If you lived through the ’80s, and you remember how great it was, we want to re-live it with you again. If you have kids who never experienced the ’80s, we want to still share that experience with them.”
Learn more at newwavecrave.com.