HOLY SHIT IT'S BEEN A WHILE.

Hey guys,

I haven't forgotten all of ya'lls but, basically, it's been a hectic last few weeks.

We've had some pretty fucking awesome guests since the last blog: Tyler Martin of JAMES RABBIT performed some brand new songs on the show last week, we had the big ole' KZSC Presents Event featuring GRAND LAKE, JAMES RABBIT, THE BEST FRIENDS and my band ACID TAPESTRIES, and there's plenty more where that came from!

Next week - A guest so special that... I DONT KNOW WHO IT IS! :D

Friday, March 26th - THE BROADS! Dark, foreboding, mysterious folk! WOOO (space)

Friday, April 2nd - MUTHAFUCKIN' DOUBLE-WHAMMY: Chris "Chrismas" Campbell, the SC repraZentative of FMLY will be hittin' the studio to talk about that fabulous organization (who recently put on a Bike Ride Musical Extravaganza featuring past guests COOL BAND NOW and rad folk like NO JET LEFT) (blawg) AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND that week's very special musical guests will be Santa Cruz's own MATADOR (space) will be coming in to play a few songs off of their soon-to-be-released LP! It's going to be engaging and absolutely gorgeous, so make sure to tune in!

EDIT: Reminder, no guest on the 16th, I'll be out of town for Coachella!!!

Guest on Friday, April 9th has just been announced: TETHERHORSE. BAM.

It's time to visit the Hospital. One that's in the Mountains and serves Animals.

Hey all,

This week's guests on The Rising Tide are MOUNTAIN ANIMAL HOSPITAL (space) an experimental rock quartet that is every bit as ethereal and textured as they are loud.

Let's go rock the woods.

A fixture of the Santa Cruz local indie rock scene for the last few years, they released their full length debut, Startled By Deer, in 2008 on Lovers in Heat records and have performed at the Crepe Place, the Brookdale Lodge, the Blue Lagoon and the Resource Center for Non-Violence among other venues here in Santa Cruz. They have also taken their act on the road and have played with the likes of Sleepy Sun, Silian Rail, Judgment Day and Loch Lomond.

Stunning.

But what about this band makes them so unique, especially in a city like Santa Cruz where bands tend to be constricted by the limitations of their genre-oriented scenes? You'll have to tune in this Friday to find out as not only will I be playing some choice songs off of Started By Deer, but I will be conducting an in-depth interview with the group and previewing some of the material from their newest full length which is to be released later this year. Also the band will be demonstrating their flexibility by performing a number an acoustic arrangement of some of their songs live on the radio! Tune in this friday night at 8:30pm to hear this and more of the new indie rock music you've all come to know and love!!!

ALSO///////////////////////IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT:

Grand Lake // James Rabbit // Acid Tapestries // The Best Friends LIVE at The Merrill Cultural Center on Friday February 26th!

WOOOOOOO.

- Lee Bizzle

AMAZING WEEEEEKEEEENNNDDDDDD

Hey ya'll, I just wanted to give you the rundown of the weekend ahead with the LOCAL SHOW LOW DOWNN 0))) part TWOOOOO!!!

Raise your skinny fists and pay tribute to the gods of local, quaint, Santa Cruz ROCK.

First off... Get down with your baddddddddddd self at 215 Storey where the following benefit show/spectacle will take place:

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 12th - 7pm SHARP
:::Live @ 215 Storey::: SC Free Skool benefit, so bring $$$!!
JAMES RABBIT (sc) - All-around goodfellas, future guests of the show!
PANGEA (oak) - Surf rockkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
INTERGALACTIC SMUGGLERS (sc) - One of the best folk-punk bands around... They should come on this show... Hmmm
JUNK BONES (seattle/sc) - Sweet, sweet folk-punk tunes

Secondly... Not to toot my own horn, but there's a pretty wicked awesome show goin' on Saturday night at the Resource Center for Non Violence starring some pretty sweet bands:

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 13th - 7pm SHARP
:::Live @ the Resource Center for Non Violence::: freeeeeeeee (515 Broadway)
MOUNTAIN ANIMAL HOSPITAL (sc) - Best psych-rock-folk-rock-awesome band in the world
ACID TAPESTRIES (sc) - Just a band... **coughreadthisarticlecough**
OUTLAW (oak) - Outlawed from Oakland, at home in Santa Cruz

Third, well... It's Valentine's day so... Reject bullshit commercialism and come show some awesome bands some REALLLL LOVVVVEE:

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 14th - 6pm SHARP
:::Live @ 215 Storey::: freeeeeeeee
CHRISTMAS (oly) - The funnest band this side of the solar system!!!
ROUNDABOUT (sc) - Cool dudes with tunes to satisfy YOU.
SLAM DUNK (ALL THE WAY FROM CANADAAAAA) - That's all I got.
COOL BAND NOW (sc) - Tune in this Friday to hear more from these dudes!

See you there peeps!

- Admiral Lee Bedrouni III

Two for the price of one!... So... It's free as long as you have an internet connection.

Lame jokes aside, it's my pleasure to introduce the guests for this Friday night's edition of The Rising Tide: HERMIT CONVENTION and NEW BENGAL SPICE, two solo artists who are going to BLOW YOUR MIND TO FUCKING PIECES, if you would excuse my French.

But who are these two mysterious gentlemen whose presence looms large on the Santa Cruz indie music scene?

What is Hermit Convention!? What is New Bengal Spice?! How are they relevant to my BEING!??!? AUGH, the suspense, it's killing me!

Hermit Convention is the project of the one-man, bass-wielding, face-melting giant, Craig P. He's been a fixture in Santa Cruz's local music scene for farrrrrrrrrrrrr longer than I've been around town, and with good reason to. Whenever I see Hermit Convention listed on a bill for a show in town, I know that there will be good times to be had, as he's practically the only artist in town who doesn't have to fill a house with cacophonous noise in order to keep a crowd attentive. Nah, HC is all about luring people in with the promise of simplicity (a man + his bass + a loop pedal) and then absolutely overwhelming you with the kind of lyrical wit and personality so many bands strive for.

Just keep on layin' down those vibes, dude.

New Bengal Spice is the solo-project of Peter Wallner, and he too will fuck your shit up. Even the mere thought of having Peter join Craig on the Rising Tide is life-threatening to say the least. Especially given the spectacle that is New Bengal Spice live; searing guitars and a keen pop sensibility that ties all the noise and loops together in a nice, in your face package. Peter also currently drums for local sensations Green Flash and used to be member of the band Sheena, so he too has been around the block (so-to-speak) in Santa Cruz far, far longer than yours truly.

I'm in ur local scene, tak'n da spotlight.

And with that, I will leave you all with this picture of a gorilla and a shark high-fiving each other while an explosion occurs in the background to symbolize the explosive prowess and team ethic of these two solo artist who, coincidentally, are set to release a split ep/tape/release-thing through 1019 records. Hmmm... now where have I heard of that record label before? Regardless, I implore you to tune in to KSC this Friday night, starting at 8:30 for more awesomeness.

BOO YAH!
- Lee B.

P.S. Check out the sidebar for some live vids featuring both performers as well as upcoming performers including COOL BAND NOW, MOUNTAIN ANIMAL HOSPITAL and JAMES RABBIT (to be updated soon).

Photo 1 Credit: Ken Kouot
Photo 2 Credit: Wherewolves.net

VIDEOOOOOHHHHH + more

Hey folks,

Hope you all tuned in to hear CP Willsea make some improvisational live noise music last night, it was fun having him on the show and I hope you enjoyed my interview with him as well. Audio from that show should be up by next week (I hope) and audio from the Grand Lake interview should be up sometime very soon (as in, like, the next few days).

SPEAKING OF GRAND LAKE, they invited their film crew to KZSC to film their performance on the Rising Tide and just recently uploaded a pair of videos from their performance (as well as footage from their recent performance at the Crepe Place). Here is Grand Lake performing "It Takes A Horse to Light A House":

Grand Lake - It Takes a Horse to Light a House from Army of Middle on Vimeo.

ALSO, I made a gaffe on last night's broadcast and said that Cool Band Now would be performing on the 5th of February. This was my mistake; next week's guests will be HERMIT CONVENTION and a special guest (a spicy one) so you had better tune in anyway!

Peace out!
- Lee B.

The Reel-to-Reel World of CP Willsea

Evening folks,

On this week's edition of The Rising Tide (8:30-10:30 pm PST, listen here), I will be featuring CP Willsea; local artist, record label owner, and pretty much jack-of-all-trades awesome dude from Santa Cruz.

Real revolutionaries rock in the daylight.

CP (or Cole) is not just your run-of-the-mill local experimental musician; he's involved in more creative and engaging projects than I can count. Chief among these projects is his record label, 1019 Records (seen here). 1019 stands out from other national and local record labels in that it is a cassette tape oriented record label, wherein the only way to access music released through 1019 Records is via cassette (which are sold via the website and paypal at a nominal fee). No CDs, no vinyls, just pure DIY craftsmanship without the bullshit involvement of CD pressing and the like.

Up in hurr.

Cole also perfoms solo (under the CP Willsea name) and contributes to two local Santa Cruz-area bands: WOLF CRYSTAL (sc) and PALM YARD (sc). When Cole joins me on The Rising Tide this Friday night, we'll discuss these projects, future 1019 Records releases (including new releases from celebrated local artists such as HERMIT CONVENTION, NEW BENGAL SPICE and THE GROGGS), and premiere a version of the interactive musical installation piece he plans to unveil at Caffe Pergolesi on February 19th. It's going to be great, so tune in!

Feel the vibes, for they are good vibes.

For more on CP Willsea and 1019 Records, check out his site here or read the Santa Cruz Good Times article written by Chris Hopkins here.

Peace!
- Lee B.

The Local Show Low Downn 0)))

Evening folks,

It's my intention that, once a week, I'll update this blog with a segment I'd like to call the Local Show Low Downn 0))) [named, with love, after everyone's favorite tree-costume-wearing doom drone band, Sunn 0)))] where I'll tell you about certain local shows that, in this DJ's esteemed opinion, are well worth your time and resources to go see.

But that's enough yammering for now, it's time to give you the Low Downn 0))):

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 27th -
:::Live @ The Blue Lagoon::: 5$$$
Midnight Snack, THE BROADS (sc), Zoo, & BROWN IRISH (sc)

FRIDAY JANUARY 29th -
:::Live @ The Historic Brookdale Lodge::: 12$$$
Bowerbirds & Julie Doiron

:::Live @ The Church::: 3-5$$$
The Dielectrics, A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT (sc), & The Kris Special

SATURDAY JANUARY 30TH -
:::Live @ Caffe Pergolesi::: FREE???
Young Prisms, GREEN FLASH (sc), & WEEKEND (sc)

:::Live @ The Crepe Place::: 8$$$
Judah Nagler, Atheorem & MOUNTAIN ANIMAL HOSPITAL (sc)

:::Live @ 811 Broadway::: FREE/DONATIONS PLZ
MOTHER DUCKER & THE EGGS (sc), Sam Solo, Junk Bones, & Hatchlings!


Oddly enough there are no shows I know of on the 31st. Weird... C'mon, Santa Cruz, you can do better than that!

Also, I'll have the Grand Lake audio up (interview + one song) most likely Monday of next week, profile on CP Willsea will be up on Thursday, also, I implore you, LISTEN TO SURFER BLOOD. Amazing shit.

That's it for now, so I'll leave you all with this:

Hmmm... It just might be time to get my groove on, Secretary of State-style.

Lataz,
- Lee B.

The Rising Tide Mission Statement

Evening, eager readers and audiophiles alike.

First of all, I'd like to introduce myself. The name's Lee, and I'm a DJ at KZSC Santa Cruz.

Here I am, doin' my DJ thing.

For a long time I had done a show called Wandering Stars that, for all intents and purposes, was essentially a vanity show. The theme was one I basically copied from a similar show done by a San Diego radio station wherein I'd play 2 hours of moody, downtempo trip-hop or electronic music (i.e. Massive Attack, Portishead, Air, etc.). However, as I got more involved in radio, it dawned on me that I wanted to do something different, and in the winter of 2010 I was given the chance to shake things up a bit.

Poster from a Local Santa Cruz show

And with that opportunity, I wanted to explore a subject that had become of great interest to me lately; the idea of emphasizing rising artists both external to Santa Cruz (i.e. your typical national rising acts) and within the city (and, while admittedly stretching it a bit, being inclusive to all Bay Area artists who could really use the exposure) AAAAAND playing some classic lo-fi music (why not?). That is why I chose to do the Rising Tide; because I feel it is within my duties and responsibilities as a college radio disk jockey to provide the listening public with the kind of media that is not just "of the moment" or novel, but absolutely essential to their lives!

The amount of rock going on here is essential to your life.

That being said, I don't want to fucking dick around. I want to expose people to new and local art and creativity that befits the weird ass nature of Santa Cruz, not your buddy's lame ass Jack Johnson-by-way-of-Sublime dubstep cover project, aite? Also, if I do invite you on the radio, have some goddamn class: No alcohol, no weed, no legitimate or illegitimate drugs, and please try not to swear at all. And don't be a dick, either. Radio's a privilege, not a right.

Michael Cera just heard that you were being a dick on the radio. The shock caused him to stop playing guitar and make three more shitty movies. Thanks a lot, tool.

If you are a Santa Cruz/Oakland/Berkeley/San Francisco/whereveraslongasit'snorthofSLO musician and would like to come down and perform/be interviewed live on the air, please drop me an email @ afrobombasticbassist@gmail.com. Leave me a myspace link or, hell, if you want to send me some actual recorded material (i.e. tangible CDs or LPs or cassette tapes) you can ask for my mailing address via email, though the minute I get signed up for some weird fetish magazine, you can kiss that kind of immediacy goodbye!

You can also read the blurb I wrote to hype my interview with Grand Lake (WHO ARE PLAYING AT THE CREPE PLACE TOMORROW NIGHT) right here, and rest assured that audio from that very live performance (which was awesome), will be up for your listening pleasure VERY VERY soon.

Upcoming performances/interviews include:

1/29 - CP WILLSEA (sc) - 1019 Records, Wolf Crystal, Palm Yard, tons of stuff as seen here.
2/5 - HERMIT CONVENTION (sc) - Generally awesome dude. Chill vibes and meaningful songs.
2/12 - COOL BAND NOW (sc) - Out of control dudes. It's going to get heated.
2/19 - Might be breaking, might have guest
2/26 - Guest host. Will there be a guest live? Maaaaayybeeeee.

See ya'll next time.
- Leerizzle

Notes:
- Picture 2: Poster by Garrett McGovern
- Picture 3: Photo by Cole Willsea, taken from here