They burned brightly, but briefly. Now, they have rekindled the flame. For Beachwood Sparks, the metaphor is all too easy and all too apt. The band’s discography is succinct: two albums, plus an EP and a few singles. There wasn’t much, but there was something indelible about those records. They took the cosmic American music of the Flying Burrito Brothers and Byrds, added the bittersweet sounds of middle-period Beach Boys and Sister Lovers Big Star, then turned them into a sun-dappled, dreamy, psychedelic brand of alt-country. But by 2002, Beachwood had run its course, and the group disbanded amicably, five years after it formed. Now a decade later, Beachwood Sparks—guitarists Farmer Dave Scher and Chris Gunst, bassist Brent Rademaker and drummer Aaron Sperske—is back with The Tarnished Gold (Sub Pop). The quartet will also be guest editing magnet magazine.com all week. Read our new feature on the band.
Gunst: Beach stretch in Santa Cruz from New Brighton to La Selva Beach. Barefoot the entire way on the sand. This one is totally flat and replete with oceanic ions. This is a great walk to recharge, gaze into the horizon, dolphins, sea birds everywhere. We discovered this walk when we first lived up here, and no matter the season it is a real treat. There is some field recording on a song from the Nobody and Mystic Chords Of Memory album we did down here. You could really walk all the way to Moss Landing, I think, all along the beach, although we have never made that far. Feeling brave and warm, you can jump in the ocean. Remember to have layers because the beaches up here can be 10 degrees cooler at water level. Grab a stone, shell or sand dollar from the bounty and bring it with you to remind you and ground your body/mind again and again. You can camp up at New Brighton, too. After a good long walk in the salty clean air, you will be hungry and can drink tahini at Dharma’s in Capitola or Malabar in Santa Cruz. Yum!!
Video after the jump.
