Wes Hoffman Finds the Space Where Things Still Work
- Nick Davies
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
There’s a quiet confidence to the new “Better Than We Think” single from Wes Hoffman, the kind that doesn’t kick the door down but instead sits across from you and asks the hard question: what if this isn’t over yet? It’s a song built on tension, empathy, and that familiar orgcore ache, where realism and hope keep trading punches.
What started back in 2017 as a studio project between Hoffman and drummer Hes Retnu has grown into something much bigger than its original intent. With bassist Jacob Boyd now firmly in the mix and a rotating cast of trusted friends filling out the lineup when needed, the band has evolved into a fully realized unit, one that’s been in constant motion ever since. That momentum has taken them from basement ideas to packed rooms, sharing stages with everyone from FEAR and A Wilhelm Scream to No Trigger, Mad Caddies, and Belvedere.
Wes Hoffman lives in that sweet spot between urgency and melody. Riff-forward guitars and emotionally direct lyrics give a nod to the Vagrant and Drive-Thru Records era without feeling stuck in it. Their 2022 debut EP Rewrite The Story laid the groundwork, while 2024’s full-length How It Should Be, proved the band could stretch those instincts across a bigger canvas. Tours with Counterpunch, Versus The World, Taken Days, and American Thrills only sharpened that edge.
“Better Than We Think” feels like a natural next step. It’s slower, more reflective, and intentionally leans into the emo side of the band’s DNA without losing the hooks that make their songs stick. Written mostly in the third person, the track unfolds like a conversation happening in real time, two people circling the same problem, both afraid to let go, both unsure if staying is brave or just familiar.
“‘Better Than We Think’ is a song about two people considering to end a relationship,” Hoffman explains. “The verses narrate the conversation and thoughts each person has, while the chorus exclaims that things might be so much better than they think. We wanted to showcase our songwriting range, while still keeping the big hooks and catchy choruses we’re known for.”
Lyrically, it’s classic orgcore storytelling: grounded, human, and unafraid of doubt. Lines like “when it was sink or swim I know you wouldn’t sink” don’t offer guarantees, they offer belief. And sometimes, belief is the loudest thing a song can say.
As Wes Hoffman looks ahead to their second full-length, For The Better, set for release via SBÄM Records, this single feels like a thesis statement. Not everything has to be fixed right now. Not every ending is final. Sometimes the most punk thing you can do is admit that, despite the weight and the history, it might all turn out better than you think.