Q & A with Last Tide

Last Tide is a fairly young band that is making big waves in the DC music scene (pardon the pun). What brought you all together to form Last Tide? Why DC... why now?

Nate: I found out the other band I play in was going on a three month hiatus in January and decided to use the opportunity to try to put together a band to play some of the songs I’d been writing. I put up a lot of ads on Craigslist and played with a lot of different people, and this group just worked really well together.

Misha: Yes, we are a craigslist band. How did bands get together before? …By the way, I’m selling a used microwave for $50. Pick up only.

Nate: As to why DC, no particular reason really. It just happens to be where we all are.

Rob: Why now… Because the Time Machine broke?

We at DoS are very excited about your debut EP called "The Broken Places" scheduled to be released on 10/26 at The Black Cat. Tell us about the five tracks you have selected to share with the world and why you think these will make a lasting first impression on listeners.

Nate: Tough question.

Libby:  Sometimes it’s more about the process. My drive to create doesn’t take into consideration the relationship between the final product and the audience’s feelings, but rather the fulfilling of its only need, which is to satisfy that drive itself.

Rob: In other words, we spit fire and shit lightning. (All laugh).

Okay, so I am going to cram several questions into one, forgive me... You noted on your band blog that the upcoming EP was engineered by Edie Sedgwick and mastered by TW Walsh. What did you think of this recording experience? How long did it take you to finalize the five tracks?

Misha: Few words: Sweat. Bugs. Bullet Shells. Awesome.

Libby: Edie’s sweet.

Nate: Yeah, the studio was… an experience. To use his words, “the space is very punk.” Bunker-like concrete room in Brookland with no A/C in July and August. We maybe spent two and a half days tracking and two and a half mixing? Something like that. Then the mastering was pretty quick, week and a half, two weeks. Great experience overall, and we’re really happy with how it turned out.

The band claims many musical influences on your MySpace page. If you could make your dream jam session a reality, who would you invite? Let's limit this to five people...

Nate: OK, let’s each pick one? I’d say Neil Young.

Rob: Neil Diamond.

Libby: Neil Peart.

Misha: Nine Inch Neils.

Nate: But seriously… I actually pick Neil Young.

Rob: OK… Ash Bowie.

Libby: Liz Fraser.

Misha: Isaac Brock.

The band has made quite a splash in DC in 2009. As the year is drawing to a close what do you all have planned next for Last Tide - I see East coast show dates in your near future and of course your EP debut in October... any other milestones or goals?

Nate: Just to play as much as possible and see what happens. Maybe try to get somebody to put out a 7″.

Misha: Maybe even a split 7″ with another DC band. That would be cool.

Libby: I wanna go to Europe. We actually have a huge fan-base in Sweden (laughs).

Favorite beach? I have to ask of course... do you prefer high tide or low tide?

Misha: Either somewhere in the Bahamas, or one of the scattered beaches on the coast of Tiwi, Oman.

Nate: Probably Cape May NJ. Childhood thing.

Rob: Venice Beach.

Libby: Any one with clear waters, white sand and good company.

Catch Last Tide this fall when they debut their EP on October 26 at The Black Cat and tour other venues up and down the East coast:   www.myspace.com/lasttide.