Erika Wennerstrom on Austin, influences, and Heartless Bastards’ latest, Arrow

Erika Wennerstrom is the backbone, heart and creator of blues-garage act Heartless Bastards, and her vocals have a fierce, feminine grit uncommon in modern-day frontwomen. She started writing songs on the piano at the age of 13 and learned how to play the guitar by writing original material. Wennerstrom and the band have been through some flux and turmoil over the years, but the Austin, Texas, group’s most recent album, Arrow, is filled with dusty, Americana rock that plays cool and confident. We recently spoke with Wennerstrom and asked her what sparked her love for songwriting and what inspired Arrow‘s lyrics. The band is at the Granada in Lawrence this coming Tuesday, May 29.