Over the decades, there have been any number of bands that have etched their sound and carved their reputation in praise of the California mystique. The Tyde find themselves among those who have taken up the torch in paying homage to the Golden State, and indeed, after three albums – the most recent being the aptly-titled Three’s Co. – they’re easily among the most devout. Despite the fact that they “borrow� the personnel of other outfits to complete their line-up (drummer Ric Menke hails from the Velvet Crush and plays alongside Matthew Sweet while bassist Brent Rademaker leads his own collective of West Coast worshippers, Beachwood Sparks), their cohesion has never been more evident.
Amplifier took the opportunity to chat with erstwhile Tyde leader, guitarist/vocalist Darren Rademaker about the new album and that ever-present California consciousness.
AMPLIFER: After three albums, it’s pretty clear that the Tyde are a real and viable band, but because several of the members of the group pull "double duty," do you still find people thinking the Tyde is a sideline, or simply a part-time group?
RADEMAKER: We've always been weighed down with the idea that The Tyde is some Beachwood Sparks side project. The Tyde has always been my band, my songs, my concept. The Tyde group is made up of myself and (keyboardist) Ann (Do). (Guitarist) Ben (Knight ) has played on nearly every show and on every recording and the other members are a revolving cast who may or may not return in the future. We currently have two new members playing with us in our live show, Roger on drums and Dane on bass.
On that same subject, it seems there are lot of folks sitting in on this record. Is the Tyde becoming more like a musical collective of like-minded musicians?
Definitely. We like to have our friends play with us whether it's recording or playing live. It's a matter of who's available and it's always fun to bring someone different into the mix. I think there is a tradition of it in rock 'n' roll in the past and it seems to be quite common at present.
The song "The Lamest Shows" is bound to gain notice right off the bat. It seems a rather dispirited look at the rock routine. So what brought this on? Do you really feel like you're getting too old for rock ‘n’ roll?
I definitely don't feel old at all and I enjoy it just as much today, if not more, than when I was twenty. I just couldn't think of a rhyme when I wrote that song.
Despite the effusive sound, there are often darker thoughts and perceptions lurking just below the surface - when you write these songs, are you basing them on specific incidents or observations?
That's a good questions because lazy reviewers sometimes dismiss our music as too sunny or happy; they are obviously not listening to the words close enough. They are not inside jokes, only relatable by a few; I try to have some sort of universal meaning in the song somewhere. That old thing about you can always take the lyrics to your favorite song and somehow make them work in relation to your life is true I think.
As far as those effusive arrangements are concerned -- is that something that's calculated before-hand or do the songs more or less coalesce in the studio?
The arrangements are based on sometimes having a big sound and then sometimes being stripped down. It just depends on the song. And yes, it's plotted out which course a song will take before I record it.
The Tyde seem the epitome of a true California band. Many groups have claimed that allegiance throughout the decades - from the Beach Boys through to the Thrills, who happen to be from the U.K. It seems you don't even have to be from California to be considered a California band these days. So how do separate yourselves and draw a distinction between yourselves and all those other groups who offer praises for sun and surf?
We look at it like we are transplants to California, like The Eagles, The Doors, The Byrds, etc...although some members actually grew up in California (in this case, Ann & Ben). I've lived in California longer than I've lived anywhere else. We love all aspects of the California sound and the California lifestyle and do our best to truly and authentically represent it. As for The Thrills and other Cali-sounding bands from elsewhere, they have just as much of a right to the sound but it sure helps if you actually live here. And I'm only referring to Southern California; Northern California is a different story.
California has always been a source of awe and admiration - a Mecca for the rest of the country? Do you still think it holds that mystique in light of the changes in the state's geopolitical evolution of late, what with the Ahnold era, the natural disasters etc.? Is it still the idealized idyllic destination it once was?
I think the destruction perception has always been there. It's cool how California is admired by the rest of the country, as well as the rest of the world. You can find some kid in Glasgow, Tokyo, or Stockholm that can tell you more about California music/lifestyle than most people who actually live here. I think that's a bonus about the area. I mean, we got the whole beach thing, but then there's also the Hollywood scene and the GP (Gram Parsons) vibe out in Joshua Tree. They're all different but all part of it.
Were you immersed in that California mythology when you were growing up?
I was fully into skateboarding (Dogtown and Z Boys era) and all the corresponding magazines were from California. I was living in Florida and I would look at the photos and say "Wow, I wanna go there." You can wear a jacket at night! I even bought surfing magazines even though I didn't surf yet!
###
Interview by Lee Zimmerman
Photo: Nancy Bou Clapp
http://www.thetyde.com
The Tyde's Three's Co. is released August 29, 2006 on Rough Trade America.
Buy Album from CD Universe
