Lailani Africa on The Rising Tide!

Hello TRT Listeners!

I am so excited for this Friday because I will be interviewing my friend Lailani Africa (Lani). She is from Sunnyvale and has a beautiful and calm acoustic sound - often incorporating spoken word in songs as well. She is extremely talented, so please tune in Friday 09/16 to hear her sing and listen to our interview.



Peace and Love :)

Hear to Help Japan! - A Special Interview Tonight

Hey folks,

The last few weeks have been fairly slow, and I apologize for not doing a better job of keeping you all updated on the show. We're just now getting around to booking most of July, but I'm fairly certain that many of you will find something to be excited about in terms of our forthcoming schedule.

With that being said, I want to talk to you about tonight's program. We've got a very special interview and corresponding live performance line up for you.

Sayaka Yabuki and Tait Reed of Noise Clinic have put together a benefit concert for the victims of last march's devastating earthquake in Japan that will be taking place on Tuesday, July 5th at the Catalyst Atrium.



Featuring a bevy of local acts, and headlined by Noise Clinic themselves, the Hear to Help Japan benefit show is a stark reminder of the power that music and live performance can have, going on to positively affect the lives of individuals who won't even be present at the concert.

Additionally, Sayaka and Tait have arranged for Gyo Rai Gyo, an instrumental avant-garde rock two-piece from Japan, to come perform on our program.

Tune in to 88.1fm tonight at 7pm to hear Sayaka and Tait talk about putting on the benefit, and what it means for both them as well as the millions of Japanese citizens who have been displaced by the earthquake.

- DJ PassiveTheory

The Blank Tapes on The Rising Tide tonight!

Hey all,

It's graduation time for UCSC students, and yours truly has been busy getting things in order to move on from the world of education, so I will keep this short. Thahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gift being said, don't fret about the fate of the show, as we will continue to bring to you the best and brightest of local music and beyond throughout the entire summer! We'll be sticking around at the usual time slot of 7pm on friday nights!

That brings me to our guests for the evening, The Blank Tapes.



The Blank Tapes unique take on surf rock and indie rock places them in the company of other San Francisco-based luminaries like Sonny & The Sunsets, Beulah and Ty Segall. The group, fronted by charismatic jack-of-all-trades Matt Adams, have been at it for 5 years, gaining a following that has shifted and grown through the group's numerous releases.

On tonight's program, the Blank Tapes will be our guests in the studio and tell us what they have in store for 2011.

Make sure to tune in tonight starting at 7pm! 88.1 fm or www.kzsc.org!

Palmz on The Rising Tide tonight!

Hey all,

We've got a great show for you tonight! Plenty of great new local music from a half dozen local artists and much more to play for you all on The Rising Tide. With that being said, let me introduce you to our guests for the evening, Palmz.


Palmz are a group whose sound is chiefly indebted to 50s and 60s girl group and beach pop music. Thematically, lead singer Lexie Corfiatis' lyrics about love and loss strike a similar chord to groups like Puro Instinct, The Sandwiches, and Best Coast. However, don't count Palmz among some of the many bands jumping onto the "back to the beach" sort of movement in modern indie rock, for this group flies it's freak flag proudly, penning songs about aliens and paying tribute to one of rock n' roll's greatest institutions, The Velvet Underground, with their cover of I'll Be Your Mirror.



Palmz will be coming onto our show to talk about their previously mentioned show taking place this Saturday at 105 Pioneer St., where they will perform alongside Rising Tide alums Blackbird Blackbird, Old Arc and Seattle's own Seapony, as well as to talk about what 2011 holds for the group.

Tune in tonight at 7pm to hear this and more on The Rising Tide!

KZSC Welcomes Concert This Saturday!

Hey all,

Just wanted to let you know about a show happening this saturday night, May 28th, at 105 Pioneer st. in Santa Cruz. The show features a number of local and bay area bands that might be familiar to you...

BANE SHOWS & KZSC WELCOME...

BLACKBIRD BLACKBIRD
SEAPONY
OLD ARC
PALMZ

LIVE AT 105 PIONEER ST.
SATURDAY, MAY 28TH
8:00pm - 8$ for entry

Two of the performers that evening, headliner Blackbird Blackbird and Old Arc, are Rising Tide Alums, and whose spectacular electronic pop music will surely get the crowd grooving. Palmz are another local Santa Cruz act on the bill, and are also our guests on this week's program, so make sure to stay tuned for a post profiling them and their incredibly catchy beach pop sound. Seapony, from Seattle, are also featured on the bill. Tickets for the show will be made available at the door, and for more info on the show make sure to check out the Bane Shows blog.

Dina Maccabee Live on KZSC!

Hello Beautiful Bloggers!

Last week we had an amazing show on The Rising Tide, which I hope all of you had a chance to listen to!

This week we have an awesome solo artist named Dina Maccabee coming on the show! She is from San Francisco and plays a blend of Acoustic/Ghettotech/Shoegaze music. For those of you who have never heard her before, be sure to tune in to The Rising Tide on KZSC 88.1FM or kzsc.org at 7PM this Friday to hear her!



We have some other awesome shows coming up, so stay tune :]. And go to Porterpalooza if you can (UCSC Students only) because Beggar and the Coal from last week, plus Man Go from a couple weeks ago will be playing there!

Peace!

Zine of the Week (13 May 2011): Fruit Yoga! For All Ages!

Looking for a cheery distraction as school for most students comes to an end for the summer? Try Yoga or better yet Fruit Yoga! For All Ages! This zine is all about ridiculously awesome (and adorable) art showing off the basics of yoga. It may not be a good substitute for something like Yoga to The People in the bay, but at least it'll put a smile on your face.

 I recently sat down with this zine at the beach before trying out some of the poses, a mistake I promise not to make again in the future, more because I have no balance than anything else.


If you make zines or want a zine of yours or a friends reviewed, e-mail devilsclawdistro@gmail.com

Beggar and The Coal - Live on KZSC!

From left to right - Ayden, Emily, Rob, Brittany, Jeremy


I first met Rob Fidel at an open mic night at the Porter College dining hall. With Brittany Powers performing background vocals and banjo and my good friend Coryann Pitts singing and playing violin, Rob & co. crafted beautiful and delicate folk music. A few weeks after our first meeting, I featured Rob, Brittany, and Cory on my own radio show in Spring 2010.

Since his last performance on KZSC, Rob has formed a new group Beggar and The Coal. Brittany Powers still sings and plays banjo; the band also features Emily Judd on Cello, Ayden Graham on Violin, Vocals, and Guitar, Jeremy Lyon on Guitar, Vocals, and Harmonium whenever he finds himself in Santa Cruz. Oh - and Rob also plays the Glockenspiel.

Please join me in welcoming Beggar and The Coal to KZSC on The Rising Tide, this coming Friday May 13th (dun dun dun!). The radio show starts at 7:00 pm, streaming online at http://www.kzsc.org . Your ears will thank you for it.


-ben

Dina Maccabee Live on May 20th

The Rising Tide is excited to welcome acoustic songstress Dina Maccabee on May 20th! 

Source: http://www.myspace.com/dinamaccabee

Dina Maccabee is a violist, violinist, vocalist, and songwriter living in San Francisco. Her new recording of original songs was released 10/12/2010 in collaboration with Toby Summerfield on Antephonic Records (Chicago). In addition to her work with Real Vocal String Quartet and Ramon and Jessica, she performs in many styles and many bands, from Middle Eastern Psych Rock to 60′s Brazilian Tropicalia. She has composed scores for Shotgun Players theater company, Just Theater, and several Bay Area filmmakers. Her string arrangements have been published under the imprint of Strings Magazine, and her performances are featured on many studio recordings. Tours with Carla Bozulich, Vienna Teng, and Beth Custer have taken Dina across the country and around the world, while recent performance highlights include opening for Primus on New Years Eve, warming the crowd up for Sean Hayes at the Independent, and sharing a bill with Vasen.

(source: http://dinamaccabee.wordpress.com/about/)

Clean out your ears, mark your calendar and get ready to rock.

Zine of the Week (6 May 2011): Steampunk Magainze

Why, how do you do?

This week's zine is part of a series called Steampunk Magazine put out originally by one of my favorite distros in Southern California, Strangers In A Tangled Wilderness. I recently pulled out my moth-eaten, coffee stained belongings stored "carefully" in a box in a friends attic and came across the first issue again. For those of you who are interested in being transported to a technologically advanced (in a fashion) Victorian era or learning how to create it, in your home, you'll want to pick up this zine series.

 These zines are offered for free on-line although if you can find the printed ones and lay your hands on them, then I recommend that you do. These zines are beautifully done with amazing short stories, essays on a steampunk society, DIY Steampunk crafts, and interviews with steampunk bands. Also, if you're looking to survive the apocalypse, check out their special Steampunk Guide to the Apocalypse.
These zines are available: here.

If you make zines or want a zine of yours or a friends reviewed, e-mail devilsclawdistro@gmail.com

Outside Lands 2011

Ah, summertime! A time for bike riding, spending countless hours at the beach, and of course hitting up some amazing local live music! California produces music festival after music festival around this time of year, and I'm here to let you know about the one that is happening in San Francisco on August 12th, 13th, AND 14th 2011! It's SF's Outside Lands, which takes place every summer in Golden Gate Park in the city. This event is a huge highlight of the season for Bay Area locals and visitors alike, as it always acquires some of the finest bands of today's indie/alternative music scene, as well as artists of today's electro scene.

Me at Outside Lands 2010

I myself had the opportunity to work a day of the festival last summer, and this year I am attending as a guest. The tickets are for all three days, and the line up is proof that they are worth every penny! Though there are bands from all over the world playing at this event, I'm focusing on the local ones in this article because after all, that's what The Rising Tide is all about!

Here's a list of some of the local artists that will be performing at the event:

John Fogerty (Berkeley, CA)

!!! (Sacramento, CA)

Vetiver (San Francisco, CA)

The Limousines (San Francisco Bay Area, CA)

The Stone Foxes (San Francisco, CA)

The Fresh & Onlys (San Francisco, CA)

These are just a few of the awesome artists that will be performing at Outside Lands 2011. Click here for the full lineup! If you haven't already got your ticket, get it soon because this event will likely sell out! Look out for a post by me in August with a report back of how the event went!

Zine of the Week (29 April 2011): Floating

This week's zine is another stellar production of Brass Tacks Press. The zine floating was published posthumously in two installments. It's full of more art that will blow your mind or, if anything, inspire you to create your own art zine (hopes and dreams...). The zine is about heads, well it's about, heads floating away due to a drug-induced phenomenon.

Full of surreal sketches and flying chickens (see above), this is another zine that you must check out. Furthermore, this zine is full of great sketches and small barbs aimed at Los Angeles.
Get Floating: Here.

If you make zines or want a zine of yours or a friends reviewed, e-mail devilsclawdistro@gmail.com

The Best Friends on The Rising Tide tonight!

Hey all,

It's been an exhausting last couple of weeks, but nothing's going to slow down The Rising Tide! As you may have noticed from our sidebar, we've got a slew of wonderful performances to look forward to in the month of May! Interviews with Pangolin, The Ian Fays, The Beggar and The Coal, and more, so keep an eye out on the blog for more information about our upcoming guests.

Speaking of which, it's my pleasure to introduce you to this week's guests on The Rising Tide, a band by the name of The Best Friends.


A 5-piece consisting of UCSC students who all met in the Stevenson dorms in their freshmen year, The Best Friends bring together the best of roots rock, r&b and funk in a way that echoes artists such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers and George Clinton. The group's cooperative ethic is best seen in a live setting, where the band members share the front stage by taking turns at the microphone. It is here that the group really thrives, whether it be powering through their own original material or laying down an authentic cover song or two, for The Best Friends are the closest thing Santa Cruz has to a legit party-all-night band.

The group is coming onto The Rising Tide tonight to talk about their upcoming shows (including their May 11th show at the Crepe Place with Good People and The Jolly Llamas), possible future recordings, and whatever else 2011 has in store for the group.

This and more on The Rising Tide tonight at 7pm sharp! Listen live at 88.1fm or http://www.kzsc.org/

The Ian Fays are Coming to Santa Cruz!

Happy Hump Day Beautiful People!

This Friday at The Crepe Place, the lovely band The Ian Fays will be performing! Not only should you check out the show, but I will be interviewing them at the venue, which you can hear on next weeks show!



The Ian Fays is a band that consists of three sisters from San Francisco, with a Folk Rock/Indie style. Please come watch the show and/or listen to the interview on Friday May 6th at our new time 7PM on The Rising Tide!

Have a safe weekend :].

Electroswing: Roaring 20s Remixed

source: estherchic.blogspot.com

I first heard of the "electroswing" genre on this past New Years Eve.  Dressed in my best 20s flapper attire, I drove to a club in downtown Los Angeles ready to get my groove on at mobster style, prohibition era party.  The event flyer advertised a night of "electronic jazz and prohibiton remixes" – I was beyond curious to hear what this music genre would sound like.  As I made my way into the club, my ears were greeted with the glorious sounds of swing music combined with a heavy, dancy beat.  This was it – the whole party was worth these few bars of music.  Electroswing music instantly became my new best friend.

Since that fateful NYE night I have been on a wild goose chase in search of electroswing DJs.  After spending an hour on Google I came across the website of Austrian DJ Parov Stelar, whom, according to the Prague Post, is the originator of the electroswing genre.  His song Booty Swing off of the album The Paris Swing Box EP (2010) is my favorite electroswing song and soon to be yours too.

With love and music,

DJ Jules

Rising Tide collective member 

and founder/DJ of KZSC's Girls With Guitars

Ps. What do YOU think?  I would love to read your comments below!

Zine of the Week (22 April 2011): The Children's Guide to Astral Projection

One Week Haitus, and you thought I was at Coachella fest. Well, ha, I was actually locked away all by my lonesome with enough new zines to become a prime candidate for the show Hoarders. To quickly mention Coachella fest one more time, if you were there I don't want to hear about it anymore, but I might read about it, if you'd unstick your faces from the internet and make a zine about it.
Now, this week's zine is The Children's Guide to Astral Projection available through brass tacks press, an awesome art zine that you can view free on-line, though you could buy it (and should...support your local zinester- blah blah blah).

A selection of the art zine seen above gives you an idea of how awesome the artwork is. This zine  was made by J.A. Homes whose art is scatterbrained and wonderful. This zine is huge, it's art-insane and it's awe inspiring as well as the best Children's Guide to Astral Projection that I have ever read.

If you make zines or want a zine of yours or a friends reviewed, e-mail devilsclawdistro@gmail.com

The Rat Trap on The Rising Tide tonight!

Hey all,

As you all know, our show has moved to 7pm on friday nights! You can tell your friends about our move by showing them our fly new poster!

As such, we have a very excellent show for all of you tonight!

Our guest for tonight's Rising Tide are a local Santa Cruz band by the name of The Rat Trap.


This five-piece features a number of young Santa Cruz musicians whose work demonstrates a knack of song-writing far beyond their years. The Rat Trap's music draws upon the familiar northwestern indie rock sounds of Modest Mouse and The Shins, but with a decidedly folk-rock turn that also recalls Bill Callahan and Bonnie 'Prince' Billy at times.

The group's first album (the cover art can be seen above) The Western Boundary was released just last month, but that doesn't mean that the band is resting on their laurels. In fact, they'll be coming on our show tonight to talk about their forthcoming show with Dominique Leone at the Abbey this Saturday, April 23rd, as well as what the rest of 2011 holds for this promising young group!

This and much more on The Rising Tide tonight starting at 7pm! You can tune in to KZSC at 88.1fm or listen live at www.kzsc.org!

The Love Dimension on Tonight's Show!

Hello Beautiful People!

Today is an exciting show with our NEW TIME on air, which is 7-8:30 PM on KZSC Santa Cruz 88.1 FM. You can also listen online at kzsc.org :].

We will be welcoming The Love Dimension to the show! The Love Dimension is a San Francisco indie band with an awesome Garage/Punk/Psychedelic sound to them. They are traveling over the hill to play live for all of you listeners and fans, so please tune in tonight to hear them! You should also check out their upcoming show on April 20th at the Stork Club in Oakland, CA if you can.



There will only be two of us from the collective on-air tonight because of many festivities happening throughout California this weekend - one being Coachella. If you were lucky enough to get tickets on time, have fun and be safe!

Enjoy your weekends and do not forget to tune in tonight for more FUN!

Zine of the Week (8 April 2011): Hot Topik

Looking for something to stare at as an alternative to skool and the monotony of life. Don't worry I have you covered on this one. Well, Matt Furie and Sam Gaskin have got you covered with an art zine full of t-shirt designs for "goth-rockers' who hang out around the mall.

Unfortunately, to all you zinesters and zine lovers, out there this zine costs money. On the bright side it's printed with soy based inks on 100% recycled paper meaning you'll have to shell out up to $5 depending on where you buy the zine. This zine is great to flip through and a lot of fun for ideas, if you and your friends ever get bored. Use it as a coffee table zine for your hip friends and their ironic mustaches, or buy it, burn it, cherish it, you can even stash it in the bathroom for guests with time on their hands.

If you make zines or want a zine of yours or a friends reviewed, e-mail devilsclawdistro@gmail.com

Magic Trick (Tim Cohen), Corpus Callosum, Man Go and more on tonight's Rising Tide!

Hey all,

Things are changing on The Rising Tide, that's for sure. Starting next week, we'll be on air from 7pm to 8:30 on friday nights.

Although we'll be programming for a half hour less than we have been, you can be assured that we will be doing our best to promote up and coming local independant artists in the time that has been given to us. That being said, I must be frank in stating that there are a few very specific reasons for the timeslot change.

In short, due to the actions taken by some previous guests on the show we are now standing on very thin ice as a program. I don't want to labor too much on this right now, as I'd rather talk about the program we are putting on tonight, but I feel like it's something I will address in full very soon.

That being said, let's talk about our guests this evening on The Rising Tide. First off, we'll be hearing from Magic Trick, a group fronted by Tim Cohen of The Fresh & Only's.



A prolific singer-songwriter hailing from San Francisco, Tim Cohen's Magic Trick is the genesis of his most recent solo output. Though not drastically stylistically different from The Fresh and Only's nor any of the other groups that litter the psychedelic garage rock scene from the city, such as Ty Segall, Thee Oh Sees and The Mantles, Magic Trick's sound demonstrates the fullest extent of an artist's pursuit to fully commit himself to generate quality songs as often as humanly possible.

Tune into the program tonight to hear a portion of the interview we recorded with Tim Cohen and the rest of Magic Trick at the Crepe Place this past monday, when they opened for Six Organs of Admittance in stellar fashion.

Also on the program: Corpus Callosum from San Jose and local folk-pop musicians, Man Go.

Tune in tonight at 8:30pm at 88.1fm or online at http://www.kzsc.org/!

The She's and Hod on The Rising Tide this friday night!

Hey all,

Just wanted to let you know that you can follow us on Twitter right here. I'm not promising a whole lot, but if you do follow us, chances are you'll be the first to hear announcements about our upcoming interviews, the first to see photos of recent performances we've put up on our Picasa page, and the first to hear about all upcoming news and things concerning your favorite local music radio show!

That being said, let me introduce you to our first of two guests for tomorrow night's program, The SHE'S.


Hailing from San Francisco, The SHE'S are proof positive that making great music has no arbitrary age requirement. Much has been made of the group members' relative youth (they're in high school), but one need not delve too far into their music to find out that the band's ability to craft melodies with quality pop sensibilities reaches far beyond what one would expect for a group of musicians their age. Their sound can be described as indebted to the likes of the Shangri-Las, Herman's Hermits and the Beach Boys as far as structure goes, but The SHE'S bring that 50s-60s surf pop style of music into the modern era, having caught the attention of groups like AB & The Sea, Best Coast and Christopher Owens of Girls (who subsequently put the group on the map by having them open their Fillmore show last October).

The SHE'S will be stopping by our studio this friday night to talk about their ascension into bay area indie stardom, the pressures of being in a touted band at their age, and to perform a special acoustic set highlighting some of the songs from their self-titled (I think) EP.

After that, we'll be treated to a very special visit to the station by Hod Hulphers, better known to the people of Santa Cruz as ...And Hod.


A solo artist in his own right, Hod has been active in the music community of Santa Cruz for many years, as you can often spot him playing at the Crepe Place where his take on folk and music has found a home. That being said, the reason for Hod's appearance on the show this week is that he's in the midst of promoting a very special event taking place this weekend.

On Saturday night, Hod and a whole host of other musicians (including Little Wings, Sugar Shack (featuring Keith Thompson from The Groggs) and the Snow Buddies) will be performing at the Crepe Place to help fund raise for the Santa Cruz’s Bachelor Buddies Production Company's upcoming production of the film Johnny and the Golden Bouzouki. A parody of 70s action/adventure films, Johnny is Hod's most recent foray into the art of musicals. Hod will also be bringing the film's star (Johnny Diamonds) up to the station tomorrow night with him to talk about the film, his own experiences in music, and what the future holds for Hod.

These and more when you tune into The Rising Tide tomorrow night at 8:30pm! www.kzsc.org or 88.1fm.

Victims Family, Dan Potthast and Bam! Bam! on The Rising Tide tonight

Hey there,

With the new quarter fast approaching, expect to hear from some fresh new faces as our Rising Tide family grows to include even more DJs.

That being said, we've got a wonderful trio of guests for tonight's program. It's going to be one of the most musically diverse shows we've ever had!

We'll first welcome into our studio a band from Oakland by the name of Bam! Bam!


This Oakland based two-piece have been kicking around thrashy, lo-fi garage pop jams for the better part of the last year. Though the group has yet to officially release any of their recordings, they have been steadily building a fan-base, taking their no-frills sound with them up and down the coast of California and taking no prisoners along the way. Fans of Black Tambourine, Beat Happening and fellow s.f. lo-fi artist Grass Widow ought to take note of this band, for once they get around to putting out non-demo recordings into the world, their star is bound to take off.

Tune in at 8:30 to catch the ladies of Bam! Bam! as they come to our studio to perform some songs live in the studio and talk about what the future holds for the band.

Then we'll welcome Dan Potthast to our studio.


Once hailing from St. Louis, Missouri, this ska-punk legend has firmly planted himself in Santa Cruz. As a founding member of MU330, as well as the leader of Dan P. and the Bricks (among other projects), Dan has been making music for over twenty years. He's opened for acts like Streetlight Manifesto, continues to make music that appeals to fans of Buck-O-Nine, and is active to this day.

Dan P. will be joining us live in the studio tonight to talk about making music in his adopted home town and the upcoming show with his band The Stitch Up this Saturday night, March 26th at the Crepe Place, where they will be performing alongside The New Trust and The Smoking Popes.

Last but not least, we have for you a very special interview that was taped last night with Victims Family.


This legendary Santa Rosa punk band is world-reknown for their unique fusion of hardcore punk, jazz and experimental noise. As a Nor Cal institution that has existed for over 25 years, Victims Family have performed with the likes of The Dead Kennedys, Nirvana, Green Day, Faith No More, and hundreds of other incredible bands. Though the group has sporadically broken up over the years, they've come back together in 2010 to perform and re-release their first three records on vinyl, starting with 1990's White Bread Blues.

I chatted up the group's guitarist, Ralph Spight, last night via Skype on a breadth of subjects, and if you tune in to the show tonight, you can hear our conversation in full. One of the things we did talk about is Victims Family's show this Saturday night, March 26th at the Catalyst with Catacomb Creeps and (Rising Tide alum) Noise Clinic, which is bound to be a hellraiser of a concert.

These and more when you tune into the show tonight starting at 8:30pm! Listen live at www.kzsc.org or tune in to 88.1 fm.

Blackbird Raum and Rachel Bockover on The Rising Tide tonight

I'm excited for tonight's show, folks.

As one of the most infamous bands from Santa Cruz, Blackbird Raum have a reputation as folk-punk pioneers that preceeds them.


The group, which started back in 2003, have gained a following that far outstrips that of hundreds of better coiffed, more polished, traditionally popular acts. They've done so by refusing to compromise their sound or their wills. The group frequently takes their music to the streets of downtown Santa Cruz, where the size of the crowds they tend to attract has become the stuff of legend. Fans of Andrew Jackson Jihad and Defiance, Ohio will relish the band's retroacoustic sound. One that is driven by a fiery punk passion that may surprise those who are used to hearing banjos and violins associated with milquetoast performance art.

The group will be coming onto The Rising Tide tonight to talk about their ascent into being one of Santa Cruz's most popular acts, their upcoming performance at the 418 Project with O'Death, Helado Negro and Rising Tide alums Tether Horse on Friday, March 25th, and maybe tell us what the future holds for Blackbird Raum.

Our other musical guest for the evening will be Healdsburg's own Rachel Bockover.


A singer-songwriter whose output is all the more impressive given the multiple roles she fills as the writer, producer and performer of all instruments on her recordings. Steeped in the quasi-gothic folk of heroines Tori Amos and Elizabeth Frasier (of the Cocteau Twins), Rachel's music brings together her years of musical experience, empowering her soulful balladry with a perspective that is all her own.

Rachel is currently in the midst of recording her debut record, Tightrope Walk, and will appear on The Rising Tide tonight to talk about the process of getting her debut album together, and what it's like to be a young up and coming artist in her position.

Tune in to this and more on The Rising Tide tonight at 8;30pm. 88.1fm or http://www.kzsc.org/!

- DJ PassiveTheory

Zine of the Week (11 March 2011): The ABC's of Anarchy

Between rolling your eyes at the name of this zine and checking your tumblr, you really ought to actually check out this zine. Read it from cover to cover- fun images and a light-hearted approach to radical politics. This zine was made for people of all ages as a fun introduction to anarchy rather than some thick tome that is most likely used as a step stool in the bathrooms of students nation-wide.

 I always suggest that y'all support your local zinester but for those of y'all who can't or refuse to, so you can support the revolution (your local liquor store), you can now get this zine fore free: here.


If you want us to review your zine on the blog or on air send an e-mail to devilsclawdistro@gmail.com

Honeymoon & Birdhouse on The Rising Tide tonight

Hey all,

I know that we we're advertising a pre-recorded interview with Yann Tiersen for this week, but due to a screw-up that was entirely my fault, we weren't able to get the interview done. My apologies.

That being said, we're going to be hosting two class act local bands on the show this evening! The first of which is Honeymoon.


Recalling the likes of Dawn Landes, Alela Diane and Feist, this bay area quartet's multi-harmony take on indie-folk has caught on like wildifre ever since the band began performing together last year. The group's profile has seen itself rise as they have opened for the likes of David Gray, Jackie Green and Ray LaMontagne among others. The group released 2010's After The Flood EP to a rapturous welcoming at the Henry Miller Library in Big Sur, and have more to come in 2011.

Tune in tonight to hear Honeymoon talk about their meteoric rise in the folk music world, what it feels like to pal around with Phil Lesh, preview some brand new unreleased music and talk about their upcoming tour with the Truth & Salvage Co. which will be kicked off with a performance at the Fernwood Lodge in Big Sur on saturday night.

Also on the show this evening, Birdhouse.


Birdhouse make no bones about their sound: They are devoted acolytes of the Grateful Dead. In fact, the group began as a Dead tribute band back in 2009. However, along the way, the group began writing their own songs and building a grassroots fan base that has followed them loyally as they've gone on to perform at various venues around the city of Santa Cruz, most recently a star-making performance out at the Brookdale Lodge.

Tune in tonight to hear from Birdhouse as they perform a special acoustic set in our studio, answer our questions about what 2011 holds, and tell us about their upcoming performance opening up for Ploughman in the Catalyst Atrium on saturday night.

These and more if you tune in to The Rising Tide tonight at 8:30pm on KZSC Santa Cruz. 88.1fm or listen online at www.kzsc.org!

The Growlers, Mylo Jenkins, Tater Famine & More Tonight!

Hey all,

March is here! And as a special treat for all of you, we've lined up an incredible series of guests and live performances that reach across the genre spectrum! Check out our list of upcoming performers for more details, but let's get back to what's happening on tonight's show!

Our first interview comes courtesy of a group that sold out The Crepe Place last weekend, The Growlers.


This multifaceted psychedelic surf rock act rocketed out of Costa Mesa, California in 2006, and haven't looked back since. The band's music shares the same musical shelf space as garage rock luminaries like Ty Segall, JEFF The Brotherhood and The Fresh & Only's but also recall the psychedelic strain of The Entrance Band and The Mantles.

Propelled by the success of 2010's Hot Tropics, The Growlers have been tearing it up all over the country and even around the world. Performances at the FYF Fest in LA (which we covered back in September) and this year's Noise Pop festival in SF indicate that the group is on the rise.

Tune in on Friday night to hear our interview with the group, what it's like to be an up and coming indie rock act, and what expectations they have of themselves for 2011 and beyond.

After that, we'll be playing host to one of Santa Cruz's most promising acts, Tater Famine.

A folk-punk trio from right here in Santa Cruz, Tater Famine have emerged as one of the perennial folk punk bands of our local scene, joining the ranks of similarly thrashy folk such as Blackbird Raum and Matador. The group has steadily climbed the ranks of the music scene in town, having played all over the city, and are quickly becoming a fixture in the city of Santa Cruz.

Not content to perform only within the confines of our town, Tater Famine have taken their act on the road to promote 2009's An Untimely Fashion, and have performed all over the coast and even in Europe.

The Tater Famine boys will be bringing their eclectic sound to our studio up in the forest tonight around 8:30 to play a few songs, talk about their upcoming show at The Crepe Place on March 17th, and tell us a few stories about being a band out on the road.

After that, make sure to stay tuned for our third guest of the night, Mylo Jenkins.

Mylo Jenkins is a seven-piece folk and americana act from Santa Cruz. Lead by Dan Kocher and featuring a roster of Santa Cruz musicians (some of whom perform in the local folk group Tether Horse), they band was on hiatus for a few years, but recently came to play a series of shows at The Crepe Place.

We'll be welcoming a number of the Mylo Jenkins crew to talk about their upcoming show supporting Jared Mees and the Grown Children at the Crepe Place this sunday, as well as what 2011 holds for the group.

These and more when you tune into The Rising Tide tonight at 8:30pm! Listen in at 88.1fm or http://www.kzsc.org/

Zine of The Week (25 February 2011): Rad Damage

In need of some visual stimulation? I'm not talking about anything sexual. I'm talking about a zine hailing from up North, or as Santa Cruzans say, "over the hill."  Rad Damage is a zine of epic art and odd designs that will blow you away. This zine tells the story of strange creatures in bizarre places.

If you dig the image, you'd probably dig the zine even more. You can get the zine through trade or by contacting the artists through their blogspot: http://hiddenfortresstapes.blogspot.com/

As always, if you want your zine reviewed, you can e-mail it to: devilsclawdistro@gmail.com or mail it to:

KZSC

c/o The Rising Tide

1156 High St.

Santa Cruz, CA 95064

Good People on The Rising Tide

Hey all,

The weather's been strange and my life has been stranger, so let's just get down to business and let me tell you about a little band that I know called Good People.

This rag-tag group of Santa Cruz musicians has been kicking it together since late 2009. Though individually schooled in different forms of music, the group music takes on indie rock, afro beat, math rock and dance rock with equal parts fervor and ambition. The group draws on influence as far flung as Fela Kuti, Discovery, Ryland Bouchard and Tera Melos.

The fivesome have pulled off a couple of coups in Santa Cruz, opening up for local folk punk heavyweights Blackbird Raum and also sharing a Crepe Place bill with the likes of Hermit Convention and Magic Bullets, but the band has stayed largely inactive since the summer, only venturing forth for a couple of shows. The reason for this is that the group has been hard at work completing their debut full-length (which has ten official titles, reflecting the band's quirky nature, but for simplicity's sake we'll call it Good People) which is bound to come out soon.

Good People will be coming into the studio this friday night to talk about their band, what it's like to balance the pressures of being students at UCSC while also trying to make a band work, and what 2011 holds for the group.

This and more on tomorrow night's Rising Tide! Tune in around 8:30pm at 88.1fm or listen online at www.kzsc.org!

- DJ PassiveTheory

Zine of The Week (18 February 2011): Electric Annihilation #1

It's unfortunate that this review is so late in coming but it's better late than never. Electric Annihilation #1 is one of those rare zines that not only reviews and questions music but isn't afraid to cover the bands that aren't being covered. This zine was put together partially by a group of ex-desert rats at large in the bay area, one of them, Tynan Krakoff runs DNT records an indie label built upon a pile of cassette tapes and vinyl, you've never heard before and probably should.

This zine features a quickie-interview with everyone's favorite punk-rocker gone actor now DJ and spoken word artist- Henry Rollins, about the noise music genre and how it stands to serve the next generation as the rebellious iconoclast music that refuses to be co-opted and has actually managed to do this with some degree of success.

Getting a copy of this awesome newspaper styled zine might be a little tricky. There are a few copies of it hangin' around Streetlight Records where the free zines are behind the cash register in the front for the time being but you can also get one by going to the DNT records website or possibly if you chance upon it around San Francisco.

As always, if you want your zine reviewed, you can e-mail it to: devilsclawdistro@gmail.com or mail it to:

KZSC

c/o The Rising Tide

1156 High St.

Santa Cruz, CA 95064

Zine of The Week (11 February 2011): Smart Tart #1

This week's zine of the week is Smart Tart #1 a sex-positive zine that is trans and queer inclusive and hails the bay area. This zine is full of cool images that appear to have been made by stamp, which for those who don't know, can be rather difficult. This zine has the classic feel of the chapbooks of decades past because of the type-writer font and cool heavily photocopied images.

If you want to get your grubby little fingers on this zine (and trust me you do!) you can get it at the SubRosa Infoshop or online here (free download on-line!), or you can e-mail the makers of this fine zine at: dignityandjustice@gmail.com


As always, if you want your zine reviewed, you can e-mail it to: devilsclawdistro@gmail.com or mail it to:
KZSC
c/o The Rising Tide
1156 High St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95064

Birdhand, Jeremy Lyon and more on tonight's Rising Tide

Hey all,

Hopefully many of you will profit from this extended holiday weekend and venture out into the cold, rainy winter weather that's finally set itself down on Santa Cruz to see some shows in the area. We at the Rising Tide will be giving you all the help you need to find out about great shows in and around Santa Cruz by virtue of the Concert Calendar we now have displayed on the sidebar of the blog! Until we get it updated with actual shows, though, make sure to check out Keith Thompson's blog for day-of show information for everything happening in Santa Cruz!

That being said, tonight's show is going to feature two very special local guests that are sure to delight those of you who tune in tonight:

Jeremy Lyon is an emerging singer-songwriter originally from San Francisco who moved to Santa Cruz to attend UC Santa Cruz.

Jeremy's songwriting prowess reveals the influence from classic rock staples like Tom Petty and Elvis Costello, though he takes the foundation laid down by such legends and brings it up to date (and funks it up) resulting in a modern rock sound that places his sound closer to artists such as My Morning Jacket and Kings of Leon.

His most recent work, January's Take It Back EP, clearly shows an artist who is growing both musically and thematically without losing one ounce of the ambition that makes him an artist to watch for in the near future.

Jeremy, a KZSC DJ in his own right who programs the show Devil's Music every Sunday night at 7:30pm with DJ Bobo Z, will be heading up to our tree cabin in the woods tonight to talk about his recent releases and his upcoming solo acoustic performance at the Santa Cruz Roasting Company this Saturday night where he'll be performing with Thema Tillman.

After that, we'll be joined by one of Santa Cruz's most promising new bands, BIRDHAND.


Formerly known as Brown Irish, BIRDHAND consists entirely of Santa Cruz musicians who have found success in other local bands, and the pooled experience is evident in the way that the band has played things cool and calm, opening for bands like Mt. St. Helen's Vietnam Band and even the legendary Bad Brains like it's no big thing.

As a live band, BIRDHAND draws on the blunt force derived from one of their chief influences, Queens of the Stone Age, but as music from their forthcoming-yet-untitled EP leaks out, the band is evidently taking a more adventurous, nuanced path with their music. One that while seemingly just consisting of balls-out rock n' roll, has more to offer than meets the eye.

BIRDHAND will be joining us on Friday night to talk about their forthcoming EP and what 2011 holds for the group.

These and more on The Rising Tide, tonight starting at 8:30pm! Tune in to 88.1fm or www.kzsc.org!

Birdhouse, Gwyneth & Monko, and Laura Meyer Rock The Crepe Place

The Rising Tide is all about great local music, and as a lover of the local music scene here in Santa Cruz I make a point of hitting up as many shows as possible each month. Last Wednesday, February 9th, I was able to hear some extraordinary local live music at one of Santa Cruz's gems of a venue, The Crepe Place. Unfortunately, I missed out on the first act of the evening, which consisted of the musical talent of Laura Meyer who I heard had an excellent show.

When I did finally arrive, the house was cool and calm for the second act as the two man band, Gwyneth & Monko played their signature Americana rock music. Listeners were completely engaged by the duo who truly sang and played their hearts out. Each of them belted out beautiful lyrics and strummed acoustic guitars.

Gwyneth & Monko

Though the opening acts were a wonderful way to start the evening, it was the headliner, Birdhouse that really got the drinks flowing and the crowd going. By the time the amazing Santa Cruz jam band was set up, the house was full and the energy escalating. The fellas of Birdhouse, were able to turn calm into crazy as their enthusiastic fans began to dance and sing along with every song. The guys played several of their well-known hits as well as much of their new music.

Birdhouse

The show at The Crepe Place was terrific fun and I strongly recommend to our readers and listeners to always check out local shows and to keep an ear out for Birdhouse; a band on the rise and soon to be on The Rising Tide!

John Vanderslice, Skeletal System & Audiafauna on The Rising Tide

Hey all,

It's the second week of February, and we here on The Rising Tide are going to heat things up with a trio of performers that are sure to match the warmth of this indian winter we're having up here in sunny Santa Cruz.

First off, we'll be hearing from one of San Francisco's most prolific artists, John Vanderslice.


With a career spanning nearly two decade, John has recorded with the likes of The Mountain Goats, Death Cab for Cutie, Beulah, Spoon and Mates of State, and also fronted the band MK Ultra. Aside from that, he has steadily put out solo records since 2000's Mass Suicide Occult Figurines, most recently releasing his collaboration with the Magik*Magik Orchestra titled White Wilderness (you can listen to a preview of the record here).

John is also a major musical force in the city, not only constructing one of the city's most treasured recording locales, Tiny Telephone studios, but serving on the board of advisers for The Bay Bridged and teaching songwriting classes for grade school children at a local non-profit organization.

We'll be talking with John before he takes the stage tonight at The Crepe Place (with Hod opening) about White Wilderness, how he views his role as a stalwart of San Francisco's independent music scene, and what the future holds for him and his music.

After that, we'll welcome our first of two live local acts, Skeletal System.


This two piece from San Francisco have been quickly making a name for themselves, exhibiting their own take on murky darkwave shoegaze very much in the vein of artists like School of Seven Bells, Memoryhouse and Tan Dollar, while having shared the stage with artists such as Sunbeam Rd., Woodsman and Maus Haus.

Skeletal System released a 5 song EP and single for Small Talk / Static Eyes last year that you can listen to here on their bandcamp page. Make sure to tune in and hear the group perform some of their songs and talk about what 2011 holds for Skeletal System.

To round out the show, we'll be welcoming in Santa Cruz's own Audiafauna into the studio.



This local six-piece has taken it's indie folk-meets-electronic music sound all over the country, and is just coming off of a successful Kickstarter campaign to finance their debut full-length record that will be out sometime in the new year! Kelly Koval's vocals recall Cat Power's Chan Marshall, and the band's fusion of traditional folk instrumentation and electronic beat-making technology set them far apart from the rest of the field. You can listen to their three song EP, The Leaflet, on bandcamp by clicking that link.

Audiafauna will enter our studio on friday night to talk about their band's whirlwind-like rise to the top of the local scene, and what 2011 has in store for the group.

This and much, MUCH more on The Rising Tide on KZSC, this friday night at 8:30pm. Tune in to 88.1fm or log in to www.kzsc.org to listen!!!!! WOOOO.

- DJ PassiveTheory

Zine of the Week (6 Feb. 2011): Haich

Howdy all,

The Rising Tide isn't just a place for new and local bands but also for artistic expression locally. With that, I must admit that this week's zine comes from Australia. We are setting the bar pretty high to start. Below is the cover of this art zine of epic proportions.

This zine contains experimental poetry that to me reflects the disconnected aspect of a society that is stuck in the state of increasing connectedness with an increasing disconnectedness. As technology makes everyone better connected the more people seem to reject it.  Also, this slick zine beats your dumpstered coffee table book of the history of bowling (maybe not) and offers up a whole new level of creative combination. You can view the zine in individual page selections online at the blog listed below.


If you want a copy of this beautiful work of futuristic/ sometimes steam punk & cyber-punk themed art or you just want to check it out, check out the groups blogspot: http://readpalered.blogspot.com/


Remember if you have made a zine and you want it reviewed, mail it to KZSC with: c/o The Rising Tide or e-mail a digital copy to devilsclawdistro@gmail.com

Finish Ticket // Ayana and the Queers

Hello Bloggers!!!

Last week we had Blackbird Blackbird and Old Arc come into the station and perform live, which was amazing. After they performed, we carried on with a unique performance by The Mystery Lights. If you didn't get a chance to hear them, please check out all of the above artists by clicking on their names :]!

We have an exciting lineup planned for tonight, February 4th.

First we have Finish Ticket, a young band who has already opened for the 2010 Not So Silent Night show. Finish Ticket is an alternative/indie pop band from the San Francisco Bay area, made up of five young musicians. In September of 2009, they released their EP, "Life Underwater," which is available at finishticket.com. The guitarist of Finish Ticket goes to UCSC and will be joining us tonight - speaking on behalf of the band. I am more than excited for this band, they play amazing music!

Finish Ticket

Second, we have a local Santa Cruz band, who call themselves Ayana and the Queers, but say they are unsure about keeping the name. Any suggestions? Either way, they are new and have a lot of energy, so tune in for a fun interview and new songs! Ayana and the Queers also have an upcoming show - most likely on Valentine's Day at the Blue Lagoon, so stay tuned for more information.

Signing out,
DJ Greek Freak

PB&J RIDE STRIKES BACK: Tour De Franzia. A hit? I think yes.

The PB&J ride is an unbelievable mass bike ride that happens about once a month in Santa Cruz. Though the people who started PB&J (Party, Bike & Jam), were not the first to think up these massive group bike rides around the city, they are keeping the flame alive and feeding what is seemingly becoming a quirky tradition of Santa Cruz.

The energy of Friday night's event was almost too much to handle. It all began in front of the Clock Tower downtown, where what seemed like several hundred of Santa Cruz's youth gathered together eagerly waiting to accomplish their goal of partying, biking, and jamming. And that's exactly what they did. When the leaders of PB&J said when, the group took off, stopping traffic and gaining the attention of onlookers all over. After a victory lap around downtown, the group rode for about an hour before arriving at the first stop to hear some awesome jams. The bands at the first house were, James Rabbit and 2001. The energy in the first house was out of control as people danced on couches and hit into overhead chandeliers. It wasn't until the second location, however that the PB&J ride really seemed to make some musical history.

The second stop is where the epic Santa Cruz band, Of Melting Moons played. When the mob of bikers descended upon the little yellow moon house, home to the local groove kings, Of Melting Moons was ready to serenade the audience, face paint and all. The fellas' moon juice, which they have been crafting in their laboratory for the last year and half, was certainly flowing. People were so infatuated with the music that they piled onto the roof, banisters and anywhere else they could fit their bodies to enjoy the band's zany energy. The house was aching due to the sounds of the 5-piece jazz-rock mother funkers, who riffed on their all-original set, rocking and jamming into the night. They played fan favorites, including "Electric Elepants," "Shadow Gliders," and "Bubble Dancers / In This Castle."

Though the bands Grizzel Toe and Nessie & Her Beard were expected to play that night as well, their time slots were unfortunately reduced to nothing when police interference ended the music and the riding.

Over all, the night was a great success and I am personally grateful that I got to experience yet another PB&J ride. Keep your eyes and ears open for the next one!

- DJ Mands