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: Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve. Right by our house, this one starts at the reservoir and it’s all up, then all down. Altitude and ozone ions. Certain times of the year all you can smell is California sage. It is a nice anchor for your senses if your leggies get tired. Heard a rattlesnake once, but they are too hot to bother you, and the trails are wide and they don’t come out. Just watch where you make water. From the top you face north and can see the Golden Gate and city line of San Francisco (or just fog) to the north, and then looking west you can see the ocean in Santa Cruz. This is a tough one with a few miles of up, up, up but well worth it. For a few times in a row, we kept running into a much older man walking around up there playing the harmonica, rocking out with the trees and hawks. Bring water, and like most hiking in California, layers are great. If the up, up, up hike doesn’t appeal there are many many trails to love.
Video after the jump.
