Formed in 2018, horror punk rockers Warish is fronted by singer-guitarist Riley Hawk (Petyr), son of skateboard star Tony Hawk, originally backed by drummer Bruce McDonnell. A debut self-titled EP was released in early 2019 on RidingEasy Records, preceded by a single for "Fight" b/w a cover of a song by Australian band Coloured Balls, "Human Being."
As of 2019, Hawk also operated a record store café in Oceanside called Steel Mill Coffee.
Their debut album Down In Flames (RidingEasy Records) was preceded by the first single, "Healter Skelter," and a single for "You'll Abide." A video for "Bleed Me Free," was shot entirely on Super 8 film. They played the Casbah August 30, 2019 before touring with San Francisco stoner rockers Acid King, beginning at Portland's Hesh Fest on September 20 and running through Austin's Levitation Fest on November 9.
A single for "Woven" dropped at the beginning of 2020. A new 13-song album debuted in early 2021, Next To Pay, preceded by a video for its first single, "Say To Please." “Next To Pay is about a sense of imminent doom, everyone is going to die,” says Hawk. “It’s not the happiest record, I guess. This album is more of an evolution, it’s a little more punk-heavy.”
Another video debuted in March 2021 for "Second Hand Misery." Says Hawk, “This video came to mind when I heard the 'If you’re happy and you know it' song by Barney playing somewhere while I was in a bad mood and was thinking, this song is kinda evil sounding. Then I went home and instantly started editing the video to the track S.H.M. Because it’s the polar opposite of If You Are Happy And You Know it. It fit nicely I thought, hah.”
The videos for "Scars," "Say To Please," and "Destroyer" premiered in April 2021, as did the single for "Seeing Red." The "Destroyer" video depicts a trainwreck late night TV show appearance.
Original drummer Nick (Broose) McDonnell plays on about half of Next To Pay, while new drummer Justin de la Vega appears on the more recent tracks. The album also features new bassist Alex Bassaj, who joined after the debut album.
(Photo: Daniel Hall)