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Poison Oak's "WASTED" Delivers a Nostalgic Anthem Celebrating Friendship, Good Times, and Self-Reflection


Poison Oak  - The Cage, a music blog powered by Cage Riot
Photo provided by Gavin Bain

By: Staff

Poison Oak drops new single “WASTED,” reflecting on friendship and the passage of time


Poison Oak dropped an official video for “WASTED,” and it’s got some serious nostalgic vibes with terrific visuals to match. It’s like your favorite childhood jam grew up, tossed in some adult themes, and threw a party. Picture cartoon dudes strolling alongside mushrooms, blunts, and beer bottles, all while pondering the good ol’ days. It’s a fun, trippy ride that gets even better when they kick into their line dancing. With lyrics like “was I wasted on you?” paired with these visuals, it all ties together into a reflection on life’s wild times, leaving you wondering if it was all worth it now that everything’s changed. Judging by the fun they’re having in the video, it was definitely worth it. This video needs to be on an episode of Adult Swim, stat! 


And let’s not forget the music itself—blazing guitars and drums that race along like a hellcat down a freeway. This song’s got an infectious melody and a message that’s gonna stick with you. When those vocals hit, you’ll be belting out “Ohh I wanna know and I wanna say, we were down there stupid smiling dreamin' the whole way” right along with them. It’s the kind of track that makes you think back to the good times and realize, even if things have changed, you didn’t waste a moment—it was a hell of a lot of fun.


Poison Oak is back with a killer new track, “Wasted.” This one hits hard, diving into the reality of friendships fading away—not because of drama, but because life just happens. It’s a song that captures those moments when you look back on all the laughs and memories, wondering—was it all worth it now that things are different? The track really nails that feeling of simpler times, where the only thing that mattered was having fun, not the weight of adult responsibilities sneaking up on you.


Since their start in 2019, Poison Oak has been cranking out anthems with their signature blend of huge guitar riffs, catchy melodies, and soaring choruses. They’ve already released three EPs and a full-length album, These Suburban Dreams, and the buzz is real. With love from Triple J, Happy Mag, and Vents, their music’s been getting attention from all over the world—and for good reason.


“Wasted” brings everything you want from Poison Oak: raw energy, relatable lyrics, and that rock spirit that makes you want to blast it on repeat. If you’ve ever reflected on old friendships or wondered how things changed, this track is gonna hit you right in the heart.


You can find this release on any major platform, see below for links to take you straight to some of the profiles. Make sure to playlist, stream and share “WASTED” by Poison Oak.



Published Quote We Found About This Band:


"Poison Oak brings anthemic energy and emotional depth to their music, creating a sound that resonates long after the last note." – Triple J



Wait… there's more!

We had the chance to catch up with this exciting artist for an exclusive interview in "The Cage" Music Blog, where we discussed their music and got to know them better.

Here’s how it went:



Begin Interview:

Hello Poison Oak, we’re thrilled to have you for this interview! We've thoroughly enjoyed diving into your music and exploring your work, and now we’re even more eager to discover more about you, both personally and professionally.


Please tell us the names and roles of each band member.

James – Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Ray – Lead Guitar, Adrian – Bass, Backing Vocals, Chris – Drums and Backing Vocals



Is there a story behind how Poison Oak chose its band name?

It’s from a Bright Eyes song, from the “I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning” album



Can you describe the type of music that you play and the genres Poison Oak represents? Are there different styles within your genre?

Well simply put Rock n Roll, however, you could say it is a cross of Indie Rock, Pop Punk and Alternative Rock.



Can you walk us through where the inspiration for "Wasted" comes from and how the theme of lost friendship shaped its direction?

Well it initially started with a Riff, that now, doesn’t even exist in the song, as it has transformed from that. It’s a reflection on the past of the great times we’ve had in our early twenties, where most of the friendships that were formed in this period of time, were based around getting ‘wasted’ and just ignoring responsibilities.



Can you describe the theme of "Wasted" artwork and what the inspiration and intention were for the observer to absorb from it?

The artwork is created by Jacob, our graphic designer, and he came up with it through his own interpretation of the song. Basically, a man with his arm around an imaginary beer character, going through life getting ‘wasted’ and forgetting about his responsibilities.



Where do you create your music—at home in a recording studio or with a producer? How do you finalize your work—self-mixed and mastered or through another source?

We go through multiple demo recordings at home, tweaking making adjustments then re-doing the songs. Then we take it to the producer, he will make some adjustments, then we’ll do the final product in the studio with our producer Brock etc.



If there were one thing you could change about the music industry, what would it be?

Remove social media haha



Most people love or hate social media—where do you land?

Look unfortunately it’s a necessarily evil in today’s market. But yeah, we’re not huge fans, it’s time consuming, vein and unfortunately it seems have become a necessity it promoting your music these days.



End Interview


We’re happy to have shared this artist’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.

Now, click the links below to experience their incredible work firsthand!




Check out this latest release and listen to more of Poison Oak on Spotify & YouTube.
















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