Wax Jaw built their sound on a drive to play high-energy shows that would leave no audience member standing still. Born within Philadelphia’s expansive music scene, the band fuses dynamic and fast-paced punk tunes with emotionally charged lyrics, inspiring fans to search their hearts while sweating it out on the dance floor. The five-piece outfit has captured the raw emotion and electricity of their on-stage performances in their debut album, It Takes Guts!, which is set to be released via Born Loser Records on October 10, 2025.
It Takes Guts! holds joy and suffering in the same breath. The album explores themes of addiction, sexual liberation, and self-worth, offering an authentic reflection of lead singer Shane Morgan’s lived experience as a transmasculine person. Despite its heavier themes, It Takes Guts! playfully embraces the ironies of life and the undeniable catharsis that comes from choosing to be sexy or sleazy when the mood strikes. The instrumentation of the record mirrors its lyrical duality, stitching together jagged punk riffs and new-wave danceability. It’s music that invites both movement and introspection, with each track built to hit home and blow out your speakers.