Wavves Working on Own 'Strain of Weed,' Comic Book to Follow

It might be testing the limits (and the law) when it comes to band merchandise, but California lo-fi rockers Wavves definitely score points in the creativity department.

Last September, the band announced that they would be selling Wavves marijuana grinders at their shows. That was followed up recently with the addition of Wavves-brand rolling paper.

"I smoke too much weed, I think that's how I come up with these things," frontman Nathan Williams tells Spinner. "I've tried to get a strain of weed -- Willie Nelson has one, Snoop Dogg has one. That would be really cool. It would just be called 'Wavves' because I think that would be a pretty good name."

Williams, who's never been shy about his affinity for pot-smoking, is still working on this "project," and dreams of one day peddling the Wavves strain at his gigs.

"No bongs or pipes, though," Williams says. "That's how they threw [Tommy] Chong in jail, I'm not going to f--- with that; the rolling papers and grinders are enough for now."

Most of the band's merch is stamped with another image that has become synonymous with the band.

A not-so-friendly looking cartoon cat holding a joint and wearing a hat sporting a marijuana leaf can be found on everything from t-shirts to grinders to its first incarnation as part of the cover art on the Wavves' third full-length, 'King of the Beach.'

Watch Wavves' Video for 'Post Acid'
That cat is in fact also the same feline friend we see on the cover of Best Coast's debut album, 'Crazy for You' -- no coincidence considering Best Coast mastermind Bethany Cosentino and Williams are dating, and share custody of the fur ball known as Snacks.

"We put this design together and then a month later Best Coast put Snacks on the cover of her album, and that launched him into stardom and now he's a big cat star." (Snacks made a big splash on Spinner's Indie Rock's Year of the Cat hit list, too.)

Williams isn't worried about the two bands doubling up on mascots, though.

"I'll let Snacks be the Best Coast mascot," he says. "I think the Wavves mascot is me. I'm my own mascot."

And we couldn't agree more, especially given Williams' growing empire.

"There's a lot of other things in the works, not just weed-related," he says. "I'm writing a comic right now with a friend of mine so I'll probably bring that along pretty soon [as merch]."

Let's just hope he stays focused long enough to complete the comic, from the sounds of Willaims lifestyle, staying on task must be a challenge -- especially when you're in the midst of co-headlining a major tour with your girlfriend.

"It's so weird because everybody in my band and Best Coast all know each other really well so it's hard not to make every night a big party.

"But you kind of have to pace yourself."