Crosstide

Formed in early 2000, Bret Vogel, Rian Lewis, Nick Forde and Matt Henderson began to untangle themselves from the punk music scene from which they sprang. "We appreciated the ideals of punk rock, says Vogel, "but grew tired of that sound. We wanted to create something distinctive, and became, at least musically, the opposite of the bands that we originally identified with. The name Crosstide draws upon the Spanish poet, Pablo Neuruda's poem titled "Waltz, which describes a calm spot in the ocean surrounded by sweeping currents- a place of serenity.

Early Crosstide recordings embodied the spirit of the name and pointed to a maturity beyond their years. The music possessed a wide range of dynamics- all with the genuine passion and emotional quality absent in much of today's music. In the beginning, home-rendered tapes, cds and shirts were sold at shows where Crosstide shared the stage with bands like No Knife, The Jealous Sound and a younger Jimmy Eat World. Initial tours landed the band in mostly underground venues, but at times in the more visible clubs of New York and Los Angeles.

In 2002, Crosstide drove to Austin on two days notice to play at South By Southwest after having received a last minute invitation. An acquaintance made there found them in the studio with acclaimed producer R Walt Vincent (Pete Yorn, Liz Phair, etc). One of the songs from these sessions was recognized by program directors at KNRK in Portland, who quickly put Crosstide into regular rotation making Crosstide the first unsigned band to be added in over a decade. Seattle's KEXP soon followed suit and an additional single was added. Later that year, Crosstide was opening for acts like Franz Ferdinand, Nada Surf, and The Killers at sold out concerts.

To meet the demand, Crosstide independently released a short run EP that quickly evaporated from local record stores, furthering the notion that it was time for a Crosstide full-length album. Growing weary of the shape-shifting record industry, however, the band turned to friend and label owner, Ezra Caraeff to release the album on his credited and artist-friendly, Slowdance Records.

By early 2005, the band members were headed for a remote cabin in Washington (chosen for its peaceful atmospherics) to capture the songs that they had been dreaming about for years. Away from the distractions back home, they were able to remain focused, determined to make music that was exciting, accessible and honest, sighting bands like Ride, The Smashing Pumpkins, My Bloody Valentine, The Church, and New Order as influential. The release of their debut record is set for May 2005.

Expect a passionate collection of songs, that aims to fit sly and off beat rhythms, thoughtful and expressive guitars, and Bret Vogel's unmistakable vocals: lush and contagious- painting engaging lyrics with heartfelt melody, into a timeless pop format.