The_Bassics
Imperial Beach, California, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2015
Music
Press
The new kids on the Mod block are the Bassics. They came to be by a shared love of the Who, the Jam, and Secret Affair. Their combined ages probably still add up to less than Pete Townshend’s last birthday. - San Diego Reader
It's been awhile since a new band got San Diego's rock fans truly excited, but South Bay quartet The Bassics are that good. Taking a sonic template from the likes of The Jam, The Who and other like-minded combos, this sharp-suited mod group delivers an explosion of sound, with truly ace originals and a winning stage presence. Their youthful energy comes naturally - some of the bands members are still in high school. The Bassics perform at the Kensington Club on Feb. 21, opening up for a new project from San Diego legend, Ron Silva, a great mix of the well established and the promisingly new. - North Park News
The Martinez brothers say their cue to start their band was an omen.
“We found these two guitars sitting right outside a neighbor’s fence,” says Sam Martinez, lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist of the Bassics. “It was like somebody wanted to give away old stuff. We kept going back there all day. Nobody claimed them, so we just nicked them. It was like it was a miracle.”
Sam, 19, and his bassist brother Vino, 21, say that was the beginning of the Bassics, a mod-conscious quartet from Imperial Beach.
“One was a Les Paul Epiphone. The other was a nameless heavy-metal guitar. We fixed them up and learned how to play. We used to take the trolley and go downtown to busk to save up to buy the parts and equipment we needed.”
Sam says the inspiration to play rock in the first place began a few years earlier. “One of my brother’s teachers at Mar Vista showed Help! by the Beatles in class. That did it.”
The Bassics (which includes drummer Carl Mendez, 18, and guitarist Nick Pineda, 16) don’t have it as easy as they would have 50 years ago, when harmonies and power-pop chords by bands such as the Who and the Kinks were on the air everywhere. In fact, if you’re a kid growing up now in I.B., they aren’t anywhere.
“There are actually no bands in I.B. It seems people in I.B. are very apathetic to the music scene and to live music in general. I.B. is classic San Diego. I love this place. But people don’t get out of their houses much.”
When they play 21-plus bars, three of them have to wait outside when they aren’t onstage. But the Bassics don’t particularly care to play the all-ages venues. “Soma is usually for the pop-punk or screaming scene.”
So, why are hardcore screamers so popular? “People want to latch on to their own identity, even if it’s cornholey type shit.”
Martinez says the band owes a lot to the support of their friends, especially a neighbor who gave them a place to practice and a manager who has invested in recording time and equipment.
Video:
"New Difference" by Manual Scan
As performed on a San Diego TV show in 1984
As performed on a San Diego TV show in 1984
Helping them get their first Casbah gig was a musical soulmate, Manual Scan founder and Reader contributor Bart Mendoza.
“Our friend’s dad said he was really into Manual Scan in the ’80s. He showed us a YouTube video. We all wondered if he was still around. We found out not only was he still around, but he is still in the scene. He dug us.” Vino Martinez wrote a song about the stifling I.B. non-culture called “Everyday Life.” “When you’re angry everything comes out good,” says brother Sam.
The Bassics appear February 2 and February 3 at the Casbah. - San Diego Reader
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
The Bassics are the foremost rock band in San Diego, California as shown by their live performance and their 2015 Best New Artist San Diego Music Award. The band is comprised of four young men, brothers Vino(Bass/song writer/harmonies) and Sam Martinez(lead singer/rhythm guitar), Nick Pineda(lead guitar/harmonies), and Carl Mendez(drums/percussion). Being an independent rock group rooted in popular alternative music with modern hues, their live performance displays powerful creative original tunes, melodies, and clever sticky hooks held together by their mutual love and passion for music- delivered through a tight and infectious energetic performance. The Bassics are influenced by a wide variety of music, though their unreleased debut album (EVERYDAY LIFE) has distinct power pop sounds; the original and modern composition gives the present generation, those before it, and those to come timeless songs of amazing quality. Being produced by acclaimed bassist/co-producer of Oingo Boingo, John Avila, the album was recorded in high quality and is fit for radio play. The track "Roll On" has been selected by 91X, San Diego's premier rock radio station, for regular rotation. As of now their debut album "Everyday Life" is unreleased. You have the opportunity, being privileged to hear "Everyday Life", to bring this album and much more music and art made by The Bassics to the eyes and ears of so many people. Take a listen and decide to help them create something amazing. Thank You.
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