Getting to Know: Upbeat LA Rockers, Rival Tides
In today’s Getting to Know, we meet LA’s Rival Tides, a band that would like to become rich and famous, but not for the reasons you may think. If you are in an up and coming band that would like to partake in a Getting to Know feature, contact editor@riffyou.com to receive the questionnaire and instructions. Thanks!
Band Name: Rival Tides
Band Members: Robyn August (vocals), Caleb Healey (guitar), Alex von Hollen (guitar), Jason Friday (bass, backing vocals), and Greg Fulleman (drums).
Years Active: 2
City of Origin: Los Angeles, CA.
Who are you and what do you do?
“I’m Greg and I play drums.”
In 100 words or less, tell us how your band has gotten to this point.
“We had an old band with a different name and a bit of a different style, but eventually we got our act together and started Rival Tides in 2012. We try to always work hard at setting and accomplishing our goals. We still have a lot to accomplish.”
What is your latest release and how would you best describe it to someone who hasn’t heard your band?
“Our last release was a Self-Titled EP that is available on vinyl, CD or digital. I’d say that if you like fun and upbeat rock music, we’re worth taking the time to check out.”
When making an album, which aspect of the process do you put the most time into and why?
“I’d say that song writing takes the most time, but production is still really important. Rehearsing kind of falls into place during the song writing process… so it’s more of a continuous process.”
What is the best part about your band and why?
“We take the band seriously, but manage to have a lot of fun at the same time. We treat every show like we’re playing to thousands, and don’t just stand around, bored, on stage.”
What makes your band unique from the rest?
“I think our live shows really solidify who we are. We try to treat each performance as its own one-off experience and we strive to entertain and engage with the crowd. The audience is just as important to the experience as the band on stage is.”
How does your band survive the challenges of touring/gigging?
“Right now, we’re only doing tours/shows part-time, so we manage it pretty well. We do what we can to efficiently handle any challenges that come our way and so far we’ve been fortunate to have a good amount of success while out on the road.”
Would you rather be critically-acclaimed; rich and famous; or an under-the-radar band with a dedicated fan base?
“This will take a bit of explaining, but I’d say rich and famous- but NOT for the money and the fame necessarily. It’s more because that would allow us to focus on music full-time and then have more time to experiment musically and get to do what we love on a regular basis.”
If you’d have to compare your band to another one out there, living or dead, who would it be and why?
“The sound isn’t an exact match, but I tend to say Anberlin. Their energy, passion and great song writing are all things we strive to come close to in Rival Tides.”
Which band/musician would you like to share many drinks with? What would you talk about?
“I think I’d be interested in talking with the guys from Fall Out Boy. They managed to come from a background in hardcore bands and create a sound and style that so many have been able to identify with. They seem to have a great sense of business and ear for good music. I’d love to know more about how they balance the two, and how they see the current rock music scene.”
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