Rejoice, for Bon Iver’s new album comes out today! Bon Iver, Bon Iver is the second album from folk it-dude Justin Vernon’s band, his first album being the overwhelmingly pretty, often-hyped For Emma, Forever Ago, the one that has the highest play count on my iTunes.

Of course the new album is also overwhelmingly pretty, but it is a bit warmer. Everything is much fuller, the songs change and transition delicately. And it can’t really be called straight-up folk anymore. Everything is more complex, some tracks have some subtle saxophone, and the guitar is soft and trickling. Vernon’s voice ranges from deep and sweet, to its trademark gentle falsetto.

Seriously, you need to listen to this with a good pair of headphones. Preferably you should be watching the sunset on a beach, but that’s not a requirement. Try “Towers”, or “Michicant”. Trust me, they’ll melt you like  buttah.

Something Pretty for Your Ears is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

Blackbird Blackbird & Others This Saturday is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

You can check out The Rising Tide on Twitter right here! By following us, 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 tonight’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 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 tonight at 8:30pm! Listen online at http://www.kzsc.org/ or tune into 88.1fm.

The SHE’S and Hod on The Rising Tide tonight! is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

I first learned about Frank when I was in a bar down in San Luis Obispo a few years ago to see a completely different band (the equally brilliant Murder By Death). After a few pints, my friends and I settled back to watch the opening act – some English guy with an acoustic guitar that we had never heard of. But he was incredible. Soulful, hilarious, musically gifted, and maybe just a little drunk, he laid down about an hour’s worth of solo acoustic material that managed to strike a chord in me – pun definitely intended.

After that fateful night, though, I completely forgot about Frank for over a year, when another one of my friends handed me a mixtape containing some English guy with an acoustic guitar covering Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road.” Suddenly my memory was jogged, and that fateful night in that random bar came flooding back. I was suddenly hooked. I scoured the world for this man’s music, devouring his solo albums first, and then by a stroke of providence finding his material from his first band, London punks Million Dead. Since then, I’ve hung on his every move, and never been disappointed.

So here are a few words about his music. Frank grew up in Winchester, England, went to school in London, and has been in the music scene for over a decade, releasing three albums with his first band, Kneejerk, two albums with Million Dead, and a solo discography of three studio albums, a full-length live album and DVD, four EPs, and another studio album set to be released so soon I’m already drooling. His music has influences stretching from Springsteen and Dylan to the Sex Pistols and Rancid, with a solid dash of traditional English folk music to top it all off. Last fall, I was lucky enough to see him perform at the legendary Troubadour in Los Angeles, and snagged this video of his latest single, the raucous “I Still Believe”:

Click here to view the embedded video.

In these days of insipid genre-squabbling, I find artists like Frank Turner to be more than just a unique spin on things – they represent a movement that celebrates the joy of music, not the currently trendy “us against them” mentality. Because, after all, something as simple as rock and roll can save us all.

- The one and only DJ Z

He Won’t Sit Down And He Won’t Shut Up is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

The first of which is Gay Genius.

Gay Genius

This local two-piece group is comprised of Nessie from Nessie and Her Beard and Tyler from James Rabbit, both of whom are Rising Tide alum in their own right. The duo banded together as a result of a rapturous performance piece at one of SCUM’s Panbandamonium events that took place last year and got together to write last year’s release, Perfect Dark. The two trade harmonies and lead vocal duties over synth pop beats that recall Casiotone for the Painfully Alone and Soft Cell, among others.

Gay Genius will be coming on to the show on friday night to talk about their collaborations, their forthcoming live performances (including a show this Saturday night, the 22nd) and what the future holds for Gay Genius!

Later on in the evening, The Rising Tide will host SF’s own The Art Museums as guests.

The Art Museums

The duo of Josh Alper and Glenn Donaldson have played in a number of folk and americana oriented acts both in Santa Cruz and in the bay area. However, joining forces as the Art Museums has taken their music in a decidedly different direction. As last year’s Woodsist-issued Rough Frame EP can attest to, the band plunders the sounds of lo-fi indie pop music from the genre’s forebears (i.e. Television Personalities), echoing The Pastels and Guided By Voices, among others.

The group will be performing alongside The Sandwiches, The Soft Bombs and local artist Rachel Fannan (formerly of Sleepy Sun) at Slim’s in San Francisco next tuesday, January 25th. But before that, the Art Museums will come on the radio to talk about the show, let us know about their upcoming work, and regale us with stories of being a band to watch for in the big city!

Tune in for these and more on The Rising Tide on KZSC! Tune in to 88.1fm if you’re in the Santa Cruz, Monterrey Bay or San Benito counties, or online at www.kzsc.org starting at 8:30pm!

You can also follow our blog at http://therisingtidekzsc.blogspot.com/

Gay Genius and The Art Museums on The Rising Tide Tonight is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

First, we’ll be having the band by the name of Worker Bee come into KZSC for a chat.

Worker Bee

Hailing from just over the hill in San Jose, Worker Bee have steadily built a dedicated following over the last 4 years. The band’s unique take on post-rock, noise and americana has culminated in releases such as 2009′s excellent record, Tangler. Worker Bee’s music would find itself comfortably placed in anyone’s record collection between Tortoise and Nick Cave, among others.

The band will be coming into our studio this friday night to talk about their upcoming show at Cafe du Nord on January 20th and maybe spill the beans concerning their follow-up record to Tangler due out sometime this year.

Then we’ll be treated to a visit and live performance from Man/Miracle.

Man/Miracle

Tune in for these and more this Friday night at 8:30pm on The Rising Tide!

Man/Miracle and Worker Bee on The Rising Tide is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

Wooster

Tonight, on The Rising Tide, our primary musical entertainment is the local band Wooster.

What can be said about Wooster that hasn’t already been said? They are a highly acclaimed soulful rock act that has graced local institutions like The Catalyst while also taking their talents both up and down the coast numerous times over the past few years. And while the year 2010 may be winding down, the band is planning to end the year with a bang, performing a special New Year’s Eve show at Moe’s Alley. But before that, the band will appear tonight on The Rising Tide to talk about their experiences of being in a band, and what it’s like to be one of Santa Cruz’s most talked-about bands!

Also gracing the studio with his presence is my friend and fellow blogger, Nick Bane of Bane Shows.

Nick has been putting on events at the 418 Project in downtown Santa Cruz, as well as The Mill Gallery (R.I.P.) and now 150 Pioneer St. He’s a testament to one man ability to bring artists including Maps & Atlases, Baths, Memoryhouse, members of Vivian Girls, Blackbird Blackbird and the like. He’ll be coming on the show to talk about the shows he’s got coming up, and to discuss what it’s like to be a DIY promoter in a town like Santa Cruz.

Tune in to KZSC at 8:30 to hear from these and many more on tonight’s Rising Tide!

Wooster and Nick Bane live on The Rising Tide is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

Interview with Chris Letchford of Scale the Summit is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

April in Paris conjures up images of tranquility; down in the south of France at Villa Nellcote during spring and summer 1971, not so much. Formerly occupied by Nazis trying to hide after WWII, the villa had a history of decadence. The Rolling Stones simply updated it with sex, drugs and rock & roll. Despite all their problems (check Robert Greenfield’s excellent account in the book, “Exile On Main Street: A Season In Hell With The Rolling Stones”) The Stones produced what many agree was their best recording and their only double-album. Even with all this music there was plenty left behind. On May 18th “Exile On Main Street” will be re-released in two deluxe packages: one with LPs, a book and DVD material, the other a CD-only package. Both contain ten songs not commercially available before:  alternate takes of Soul Survivor and Loving Cup (perhaps the drunken Keith version), Pass the Wine, I’m Not Signifying, Dancing in the Light, So Divine, Following the River, Plundered My Soul, Title 5 and Good Time Women (which became Tumbling Dice). Although “Exile” is a great title (based on the band’s tax problems), it could have just as easily been called “Song of the South”. It has roots in American blues, country, rockabilly and R & B from our southern states, played better than most Americans ever will.

Hear the original radio ad for “Exile on Main Street” here

Exiled From the 70′s is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

Hear this classic on KZSC along with other sounds from the Reagan Era Saturday mornings between 10 AM and noon on “Living in the 80′s”.  You’ll also have a chance to win a copy of “This is Big Audio Dynamite: The Legacy Edition” this week so be sure to brush up on your 80′s trivia. Good luck!

Big Giveaway For Big Audio Dynamite is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz