A Publication of Local Umbrella Media
VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 6 |
21
Sandollar / Under the Water Ocean Beach has traditionally been considered a great area to live for musicians so perhaps it’s no surprise that members of one of Southern California’s rising stars on the national stage, Sandollar, reside in the area. Together just over a decade, Sandollar has gone from club favorite to headlining this year’s Ocean Beach Street Fair on June 25. This month the band releases their latest album, Under the Water, via Pacific Records, with new videos and much touring ahead for Baron Lunbeck (lead vocals/piano), Marco Rodrigues (guitar), David Bashem (guitar), Henry Ortiz (drums), Max Damkoehlor (bass), John Herb (trumpet), Maria Connors (trumpet) and Edwardo (percussion). Their sound has won over not just concert fans, but also television producers, with their music showing up on the likes of Netflix’s Outer Banks and CBSTV’s Magnum P.I. “We describe our music as beach rock,” Lunbeck said. “It’s a blend of reggae, rock, and jam band. We were heavily influenced by classic rock bands such as Zeppelin, Hendrix and the Dead, along with legends like Marley and Dylan.” As for the band’s name? “It was inspired by an early morning surf session at Blacks Beach,” Lunbeck said. “I came in and saw hundreds of sand dollars scattered across the shore and I thought to myself, it’s a sign,” he joked. As for Under the Water, Lunbeck considers it to be a slight departure from previous works. “The new album and single are very different from our last. I worked with producer Lew Richards in an attempt to make more radio friendly songs, with an emphasis on lyrics rather than long jam songs. It’s very different then what you would hear at a Sandollar show but I wanted to try something new, and I believe I accomplished that.” Who pens the bands tunes? “Although the finishing touches of each arrangement are a collaborative effort, I usually write the first draft of most songs,” Lunbeck said. “Although many things influence my songwriting (many of which I don’t even understand), I mainly just write to my emotions, experiences, and through dreams.” He often wakes with a melody already in his head. “Sometimes it’s a crazy night out, other times it’s love or heart break. I can go almost a year without writing a single song, or other times I may write multiple songs in one day. I’ve learned not to force it and write most of my music in my head, purposely not quite finishing sings so they still have room for interpretation.” For his part, performing live is the best thing about Sandollar. “A live band will always be superior to a DJ just for the fact that it is multiple people’s energy’s spilling out all at once,” Lunbeck said. The bigger the crowd gets, the more intense the emotions and the vibe becomes overwhelming. I’ve always considered myself a somewhat adrenaline junky. Whether it’s surfing, skateboarding or rock
climbing I just love that natural high! It’s something that I’m kinda always chasing or thinking about. To the point where sometimes normal life just leaves me a bit sleepy and people often think I’m bored or depressed even tho I’m not. Performing music is the ultimate high.” With a summer of gigs ahead and a new album to promote, Lunbeck considers the future of Sandollar to be “very bright at the moment. We’ve gone back to our jam band grass roots and are making a lot of new exciting music that will be well suited for various festivals,” he remarked. “Our live show has and always will be our best selves and lately I feel us getting better than ever. By blending our favorite genres I think were close to making something new, fresh, and innovative.” It’s clear that music is something special to Lunbeck.
“I must say music truly is just a vessel for emotion,” he said. “And I’m still learning how to wear my heart on my sleeve.” https://sandollartheband.com
Artist Spotlight / Oasiz Fans of 90’s era Brit-Pop, especially hitmakers Oasis, will want to hear new tribute band Oasiz The group features Kelvin Matthews (aka “Liam” / lead vocals), Scott Samuels (aka “Noel” / guitar, vocals), Chris Iandolo, (bass, vocals), Scott Southwood (drums) and Derek Gaertner (guitar). “The driving force behind our Oasis tribute band is our singer, Kelvin Matthews, a native of Wales, who lived in Manchester for many years, and is an expert on all things Oasis,” said Samuels, a veteran of area combos who can also be heard performing as Neil Diamond in tribute band, Solitary Diamonds, as well as playing
with cover band Vinyl Pirates. Here bears an uncanny vocal resemblance to Liam Gallagher, not to mention look and style. Just a few weeks after he arrived here, he connected with Scott Southwood, the drummer who I worked with in Roxy Monoxide, and who was most recently with the Black Crowes Revival. Scott approached me to join the project and I thought it would be fun.” Samuels notes a more personal reason for his love of this project. “My former bandmate from the 90s, the late Kit Johnson, was a huge Oasis fan, and a friend of Liam in Oasis’s early days of tour-
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ing the US,” he said. “We used to play “Acquiesce” back in the day. So, I kind of feel like I’m honoring her memory, and I wish she was here to see/hear this band.” Samuels is also a huge Slade fan, so he also takes that into consideration. “As Noel Gallagher once famously said “without Slade there would be no Oasis”, so it’s also the closest I’ll ever get to a tribute to my favorite band of all time.” Oasiz performs all of the Gallagher brothers’ big hits such as “Wonderwall,” “Champagne Supernova” and “Live Forever,” with a few deep catalog tunes for the diehards. “I think “Acquiesce” is @LocalUmbrellaMedia
the sentimental favorite for me,” Samuels said of his own favorite Oasis song. “And, I love their cover of Slade’s “Cum On Feel The Noize.”
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