SHOWS
TBA




Bret Vogel : Vocals, Guitar
Rian Lewis : Guitar, Vocals
Nicholas Forde : Bass
Matt Henderson : Drums, Programming
Erick Alley : Keyboards





Crosstide's rare ability to intertwine dramatic balladry and stadium-ready anthems demonstrate a band well beyond their years. Featuring Bret Vogel (vocals, guitar) Rian Lewis (guitar, vocals), Nicholas Forde (Bass), Matt Henderson (drums, programming) and Erick Alley (keyboards), Crosstide have written a record (debut release ‘Life As A Spectator’) that will become the soundtrack to countless summer days.

Recorded in a remote cabin in rural Washington State, Life as a Spectator is the result of months of isolated, focused songwriting. Combining elements of post-punk, early emo, 80s pop sensibility, and the varied influences of Crosstide’s contemporaries, Life as a Spectator connects the dots between two and a half decades in a way that is exciting, accessible and honest. Bret Vogel’s unmistakable voice, infectious melodies and thoughtful lyrics atop a sly, offbeat rhythm section forge a masterfully structured debut album of mammoth pop songs brimming with classic Britpop style and distinct indie flare.

Crosstide’s story, as it applies to most, can be traced to South by Southwest in 2002. "We drove to Austin on two days notice," recalls Bret Vogel, "We barely made it in time for our show, but it proved to be one of our most important trips to date." It was as a result of their performance at SXSW that Crosstide's music found its way into the hands of acclaimed producer, R. Walt Vincent (Pete Yorn, Liz Phair, etc.).

"From first listen, I knew I had to see these guys live," says Vincent. "I remember first receiving a 5-song demo that Crosstide recorded in their basement, and I noticed a maturity beyond their years. Their music possessed a wide range of dynamics—all with the genuine excitement, passion and emotional quality I found absent in much of today's music."

The name, Crosstide, spawns from Pablo Neruda's poem, Waltz, which describes rough currents surrounding a calm spot in the ocean,—a perfect metaphor for the Crosstide sound: Lush vocal melodies surrounded by bright atmospherics and sweeping guitars.

"All of us previously played in hardcore and punk bands," says Vogel, "And we appreciated the ideals of punk rock, but grew tired of that sound. We wanted to create something distinctive, and became, at least musically, the opposite of the bands with which we originally identified."

Recently, Crosstide has shared the stage with the likes of The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, Nada Surf, Jimmy Eat World, Jens Leckman, Elefant, No Knife, Burning Brides, Rival Schools and the Velvet Teen. One of the key songs from their self-titled EP, Talk Radio, was added at KNRK, Oregon's largest commercial alternative radio station, making Crosstide the first unsigned act in regular rotation there in nearly a decade and positioning them as a breakthrough act for early 2006.

www.crosstide.net

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