See also Beach Day's Hollywood Hot Spots
Before shuttling photographer Christina Mendenhall and me around their beloved Hollywood, Florida, for a tour of their personal hideouts, the musical trio called Beach Day let us poke around their brains and living room. Besides the cats and dog running about, Natalie, Kimmy, and Skyler modeled a few other favorite things. Since they'll release their first seven-inch on Kanine Records next Monday at Radio-Active Records, it seemed appropriate that they discuss their favorite album of the moment and their current instruments of choice.
Just as Nat admires the '50s style that Hollywood embraces, his tastes tend toward past musical eras.
Nat's Album: Cults - Cults
"I haven't had a favorite album since the Supremes that I can listen to over and over again," Beach Day bassist Nat laughs. Of the Cults album, she says, "It has a really old-school feel, but it's very modern. And it has the right amount of reverb. I feel like a lot bands now are afraid to use reverb. It's just very appealing to the ear. And I can relate a lot to the lyrics. [She sings about] a failed relationship and herself, and she's not talking about gimmicks. It's personal to me."
Kimmy's Album: Phil Spector's Greatest Hits
Kimmy scooped up this baby at the Los Angeles Amoeba Records a few months back. "It has the Crystals, the Ronettes -- it has all of the classic Phil Spector stuff," she says. "It's two records." Pretty unbeatable cover too.
Skyler Album: Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
"There's nothing new to be said of Pet Sounds. It's just the most beautiful record ever made," Skyler points out thoughtfully.
Nat's Big Bass
The Danelectro bass pictured here is a reissue and on loan to Nat for their tour. "It's very rare to find those," Nat says. "It has a really natural distorted fuzz to it that's really cool."
Kimmy's Green Guitar
Things Kimmy likes about her '67 Hornet reissue are that it's very light, it doesn't hurt her shoulders, and it has a matte-green color she hasn't seen elsewhere. "It's a Danelectro, which is my favorite brand," she says. "I've been playing them for years. I have four of them. But this one's my favorite."
Skyler and His Drum
"It's from the '60s," Skyler says. "I got it from a vintage drum forum. It's chrome over aluminum. And they don't make snare drums like that anymore. It has this very specific classic '60s sound I thought was important."
And Now: A Gratuitous Cat and Guitar Shot
Beach Day performs at 9 p.m. Saturday, July 14, at Sincerely Yours, Marty McFly at Gateway Cinema, 1820 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. The band's seven-inch release party is on Monday, July 16, at Radio-Active Records, 845 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale.
Remaining Tour Dates:
7/17 Augusta, GA @ Soul Bar
7/18 Athens, GA @ Caledonia
7/19 Durham, NC @ Pinhook
7/20 Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn
7/22 Asheville, NC @ Emerald Lounge
7/25 Brooklyn, NY @ Public Assembly
7/26 New York, NY @ Cake Shop
7/28 Columbia, SC @ Art Bar
8/03 Miami, FL @ Bardot
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