Music
Press
The band Hi Tide is also making some music history of their own. “Open Invitation” (HAS) is the track that is taking the format by storm. - New Music Weekly
The band Hi Tide is also making some music history of their own. “Open Invitation” (HAS) is the track that is taking the format by storm. - New Music Weekly
One would be hard pressed to try to categorize Caymanian band HiTide.
Both sons of merchant seamen—cousins from The Brac—Sean Hennings and Shane Allenger were introduced to various musical genres at a young age. “Our fathers used to bring back music from all over the world,” says Hennings (guitar, drums and vocals). “And I believe our early appreciation for different types of music is why the melodies we create today cannot be placed into one bracket.”
With a wide range of influences that include Steve Gadd, Annie Lennox, Dave Weckel, Stewart Copeland and Carlton Barrett of Bob Marley and The Wailers, Peter Gabriel, and Michael McDonald, one can quickly understand the band’s diversity. From rhythm & blues to even a little calypso, you name it and HiTide will play it.
Part of the band Network as teenagers in the 1980s, both Hennings and Allenger moved away from the islands for several years, though then still followed their musical dreams.
Allenger lived and worked in Nashville, Tennessee where he performed regularly on TNN with such country greats as Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Nicolette Larson and Randy Travis. Hennings, on the other hand, called Hollywood home, while improving his drumming and musical skills at the popular Musicians Institute of Technology.
Both eventually moved back to Cayman and formed HiTide as a full band in 1993.
When, one by one, other members dropped out of the band, the two cousins decided they wanted to continue doing what they loved—even if only as a duo. “When we first started as a duo, we were told that we would never be able to survive,” says Allenger (lead vocals and congas), with a ‘Wonder what they think now?’ smirk.
“We saw a place for what we do,” explains Hennings. “A lot of the times when you go out and listen to music it’s from a computer. But there are still people who love to hear good live music, and that is what we strive to provide.”
With live musical performances becoming less popular, Allenger explains that some people might even assume that the band is pulling a Milli Vanilli (lip-syncing to previously recorded music). “It has happened before, where people have tried to cover our microphone, or even tried to hold Sean’s hands when he is playing—just to see if we’re really performing live.”
“The music has always been in us,” says Hennings, who has hopes of taking HiTide to the world. “It was God given and we are going to use it to the best of our ability,” adds Allenger.
All HiTide songs are downloadable on both iTunes and Rhapsody. - Cayman Net News
One would be hard pressed to try to categorize Caymanian band HiTide.
Both sons of merchant seamen—cousins from The Brac—Sean Hennings and Shane Allenger were introduced to various musical genres at a young age. “Our fathers used to bring back music from all over the world,” says Hennings (guitar, drums and vocals). “And I believe our early appreciation for different types of music is why the melodies we create today cannot be placed into one bracket.”
With a wide range of influences that include Steve Gadd, Annie Lennox, Dave Weckel, Stewart Copeland and Carlton Barrett of Bob Marley and The Wailers, Peter Gabriel, and Michael McDonald, one can quickly understand the band’s diversity. From rhythm & blues to even a little calypso, you name it and HiTide will play it.
Part of the band Network as teenagers in the 1980s, both Hennings and Allenger moved away from the islands for several years, though then still followed their musical dreams.
Allenger lived and worked in Nashville, Tennessee where he performed regularly on TNN with such country greats as Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Nicolette Larson and Randy Travis. Hennings, on the other hand, called Hollywood home, while improving his drumming and musical skills at the popular Musicians Institute of Technology.
Both eventually moved back to Cayman and formed HiTide as a full band in 1993.
When, one by one, other members dropped out of the band, the two cousins decided they wanted to continue doing what they loved—even if only as a duo. “When we first started as a duo, we were told that we would never be able to survive,” says Allenger (lead vocals and congas), with a ‘Wonder what they think now?’ smirk.
“We saw a place for what we do,” explains Hennings. “A lot of the times when you go out and listen to music it’s from a computer. But there are still people who love to hear good live music, and that is what we strive to provide.”
With live musical performances becoming less popular, Allenger explains that some people might even assume that the band is pulling a Milli Vanilli (lip-syncing to previously recorded music). “It has happened before, where people have tried to cover our microphone, or even tried to hold Sean’s hands when he is playing—just to see if we’re really performing live.”
“The music has always been in us,” says Hennings, who has hopes of taking HiTide to the world. “It was God given and we are going to use it to the best of our ability,” adds Allenger.
All HiTide songs are downloadable on both iTunes and Rhapsody. - Cayman Net News
Discography
3 albums with originals: Change, Begin Again & Open Invitation
2 cover albums: Unplugged Classica & Unplugged Classics 2
3 Christmas Albums: A Cayman Christmas, Merry Christmas from Hi Tide and Warm Wishes
Photos
Bio
Hi Tide, an acoustic duo from the Cayman Islands, is well known for their live performances as well as their recordings of classic covers and catchy contemporary original pop songs. As described by the editor of a popular weekly music magazine, “Hi Tide provides a nice mix of pop with a dash of Cayman which commercial radio enjoy and support”.
Cousins Shane Allenger and Sean Hennings started Hi Tide in 1994 and although the band has gone through many changes and featured other musicians, the two mainstays have always been Shane and Sean.
Along with their newly released Christmas CD, Hi Tide has seven other albums, three with original songs, two with classic covers, and two other Christmas collections. Songs from all of these albums are well represented on radio in the Cayman Islands, with three original songs -- “That’s What I’d Do”, “In Your Kiss”’ and “Open Invitation” -- making the international charts. Their cover of Bob Marley’s “Waiting In Vain” has also been released in Italy on a compilation CD.
One of their most popular original songs, “Love You More”, has been licensed in England to be played in thousands of stores throughout Europe, and two other originals -- “Next To You” and “Don’t Ask Me Why” -- are licensed to a new television show, Sleepless on Sunset.
Throughout the years, Hi Tide has shared the stage with many great performers including Bon Jovi, Jimmy Cliff, Third World, Jeff Healey, Garbage, George Duke, Al Jarreau, Natalie Cole, Emmylou Harris and Randy Travis.
As well as putting on regular shows in the Cayman Islands, they have performed all over the world including mainland USA, Hawaii, Canada, Europe, South America and, of course, the Caribbean. Their appearances have included private gigs, one-off shows, mini-tours and many music festivals.
Hi Tide never stops working and, despite their many performances, Shane and Sean are currently in the studio recording another album that will include popular classics, and one with their ever-evolving original songs.
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