I talked to the guys in Black Tide for Blistering.com around Halloween 2007. If you're not familiar with them, they're from Miami and their music is quite solid. Their debut is supposed to drop this spring through Interscope Records. Read on...
The members of Black Tide were originally trying to play on the Ozzfest this past summer in their local area of Miami, Florida. They were trying to play shows like most unsigned bands were trying to fulfill, but what they got was an opportunity to play the remainder of the tour.
The band members range in age from 15 to 19, with frontman Gabe Garcia being the youngest. For being as young as they are, they are gifted players and have surprised audiences on Ozzfest this past summer and now on the Avenged Sevenfold tour this fall.Fans got a taste of Black Tide’s music with advance listens to “Shockwave” and “Black Abyss,”which are posted on the band’s Myspace page. Musically, their blend of 80s hard rock structures with guitar harmonies and tasteful soloing, with a youthful modern flare makes Black Tide a band to look out for in 2008.
Bassist Zakk Sandler and Garcia spoke to Blistering.com about their forthcoming CD, Light From Above, their experiences on Ozzfest and their futures flashing before their eyes.
Blistering.com: Is it a bit surreal being this unknown bunch of kids on Ozzfest to actually doing a tour?
Zakk Sandler: It’s definitely surreal. Getting to wake up in the morning and knowing you’re about to go out on tour with some of your heroes. I don’t think there are words to describe what I’m feeling.
Blistering.com: How long have you been together?
ZS: Four years now. Our drummer (Steven Spence) that we have now has been with us a year. The rest of us have been together for four years.
Blistering.com: So did you meet in high school?
ZS: I was in high school! The rest of the band was in middle school. Actually, with the exception of the drummer, we used to be enemies. It was me versus the other two in the band! We were not all yet friends. One of their first three shows at a venue that wasn’t a backyard was with us. They had no bass player. I was like ‘I’ll do it.’ I was going to do it temporarily. Here we are four years later, going on tour with Avenged [Sevenfold].
Blistering.com: You used to be called Radio?
ZS: We knew we couldn’t keep Radio because of trademark issues. You can’t trademark radio. We needed a new name and it had to be decent.
Blistering.com: Who came up with the name Black Tide?
Gabe Garcia: It was between the band and the label. We all liked it. After throwing down a ton of names, we came up with one that we thought was it. We thought it was cool and could relate to it.
Blistering.com: You’re all relatively young in age. How do crowds view that when they see you for the first time?
GG: I don’t think it makes a difference.
ZS:It’s just a number. We’re just going at it, doing the same thing as everyone else. We’re going through the same first experiences. It’s no different.
Blistering.com: (To Gabe) when did you start playing music?
GG: I started when I was nine.
Blistering.com: Are you still in school?
GG: I’m doing online school. You can do it for just about any grade now.
Blistering.com: How did you hook up with these guys?
GG: My brother met them at school.
Blistering.com: Black Tide’s sound has a throw back to the 80s hard rock sound. Where do the influences come from?
ZS: There are all sorts of stuff on the internet. You can listen to anything. I think we’re all influenced by the whole rock genre and everything associated to it, whether it is hair metal or death metal.
Blistering.com: What bands were you influenced by that formed Black Tide’s sound?
GG: My favorite bands right now are Pantera and Megadeth...Guns N Roses, Megadeth, Pantera, as I said…Iron Maiden.
Blistering.com: So how did you get picked for Ozzfest?
ZS: Originally, our manager got us booked to do the Florida show on the Second Stage. It was something to do. Then, after he was talking to the promoters for it, they asked us to be on the Second Stage for the rest of the tour. Then, eight hours before us leaving, we got a phone call saying Jaegermeister flipped out about you guys being too young. You guys aren’t going on tour. Then a miracle…we got bumped up to the Main Stage.
Blistering.com: What was that like? First you’re on the tour, then you’re not, then you don’t know what’s going on. Then you’re playing alongside Lamb of God and Static X on the Main Stage. What was the experience like?
GG: It was weird at first, but we got used to it.ZS: You learn very quickly, and everyday you learn something new and get more efficient.
Blistering.com: You did your debut CD (Light From Above) in Chicago, is that right?
ZS: Yes.
Blistering.com: Who produced your record?
ZS: Johnny K.
Blistering.com: What do you think he brought out of your sound?
ZS: I don’t know. He gets it and he knows how to keep it so pure than what the band wants.
Blistering.com: You’re doing the Avenged Sevenfold tour. Tell me your thoughts on this.
ZS: My dreams came true for me. Every day is like ‘holy shit!’
No comments:
Post a Comment