Beachwood Sparks Biography

Beachwood Sparks Biography

Beachwood Sparks were an alternative rock band from Los Angeles. The band was formed by bassist Brent Rademaker, also of The Tyde, and guitarist Christopher Gunst who met in the 1990's when both were members of LA group Further. Guitarist Dave Scher and drummer Jimi Hey (formerly of the Strictly Ballroom, a band Gunst had played with during the Further days) were recruited before the band's first show in June 1997. Hey left after just a handful of shows (having given the band its name by merging together the names of two streets near Brent Rademaker's home) to be replaced by Tom Sanford. Around the same time the group was also joined by Pete "Sleigher" Kinne on percussion and another former Further member, guitarist and songwriter Josh Schwartz. The new line-up released the "Desert Skies"/"Make It Together" single in October 1998 before Sanford left to be replaced by Aaron Sperske, drummer with Kurt Heasley's Lilys, who made his debut with the band on the Subpop singles club release "Midsummer Daydream"/"Windows 65" issued in April 1999. Kinne and Schwartz left before the release of the bands eponymous debut album in spring 2000, leaving the group reduced to a four-piece. The single "Once We Were Trees" (featuring a jangly cover of The Everly Brothers "Wake Up, Little Suzie" on the b-side) was released on Spanish label Houston Party Records previewing the more mellow sound that would feature on the bands second album, also called Once We Were Trees, which was released in the latter half of 2001. A single from the album, the bands cover of "By Your Side" by Sade, was released in Britain and enjoyed some chart success. 2001 also saw Brent joining his brother Darren in The Tyde along with Gunst (on drums) and founder Beachwood Sparks member Dave Scher.

The band reunited for 2002's Make The Cowboy Robots Cry EP, this time without Aaron Sperske who was replaced on drums by the returning Jimi Hey. Jimmy Tamborello of The Postal Service also contributed to the EP, knowing Gunst and Hey from their time together in Strictly Ballroom and also being a former workmate of Dave Scher and Gunst at LA radio station KXLU 88.9 FM. Although the band never officially split there has been little Beachwood Sparks activity since 2002, with Gunst going on to form Mystic Chords Of Memory, Brent Rademaker devoting his time between The Tyde (which now no longer features Gunst on drums and keeps Scher simply in the role of additional musician) and new band Frausdots and Jimi Hey forming All Night Radio with Dave Scher (who split shortly after the release of their debut album Spirit Stereo Frequency). Josh Schwartz went on to form Fairechild with wife Elisa Randazzo. The group released their debut, self-titled album, in 2005. As of March 2007, Dave Scher has been recruited as touring keyboardist for New York indie rockers Interpol. The Beachwood Sparks will reunite in 2008 to play a show in honor of Sub Pop's 20th anniversary.