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Red Tide performing at Revolution in Amityville. Aint Tellin Photography.[/caption]
By Annette Hinkle
If you’re in tune with the local music scene, chances are you’ve encountered Red Tide, an alternative/grunge band that’s not afraid to dive head first into a heavy metal cover or launch into some straight-up head banging punk if the mood strikes.
Perhaps you’ve seen them perform at the Sag Harbor American Music Festival, or The Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett. Maybe you caught them opening for bigger bands further west at clubs like Revolution in Amityville or Even Flow in Bay Shore.
Whatever the venue, Sag Harbor-based Red Tide isn’t afraid to make serious rock and roll, whether it’s offering up a Nirvana cover or one of their many original tunes.
Not bad for a trio of teens who aren’t even old enough to drive yet.
Red Tide is comprised of two 14-year olds — Pierson freshman Harlan Beeton who handles bass guitar and lead vocal duties, and drummer Anthony Genovesi, an East Hampton High School freshman — along with 16-year-old guitarist Sam Grossman of Sag Harbor, a junior at the Ross School.
This Friday, Red Tide performs a special “all ages” Halloween-themed concert at the Stephen Talkhouse and despite their young age, all three musicians possess a musical sensibility far beyond their years. Predominant influences lean toward bands typically associated with more mature music aficionados.
“When I first started playing, I was into The Beatles and Nirvana,” explains Mr. Beeton. “I knew every bass line on ‘Nevermind,’ and Paul McCartney has been a massive influence — also [bassist] Flea and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.”
These days, Red Tide is playing songs by more challenging bands like Tool and Velvet Revolver and for that reason, the group admits they don’t see many fans their own age at their gigs. Instead, the typical Red Tide concert goer tends to skew much older — people in their 20s and beyond.
“Kids our age don’t really like rock music so they don’t show up,” says Mr. Genovesi who adds that his peers are more into rap and short-lived pop singles than classic groups with staying power like Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam and Nirvana.
“You can’t make them like rock,” shrugs Mr. Beeton.
“I think people who are in their 20s get us,” says Mr. Grossman. “The post Kurt Cobain generation.”
“Yes, when we played at Revolution, two 20-something guys were head banging,” notes Mr. Beeton.
“That’s the crowd we want to play to,” adds Mr. Grossman.
So given the fact their offering an “all ages” show on their home turf this Friday, who do they expect to see in the audience at the Talkhouse?
“Mostly screaming middle age dudes,” says Mr. Genovesi.
“At the Talkhouse we’ll get our little group of friends out,” corrects Mr. Grossman. “I don't know if they’ll know all the music. But they like to hang out.”
It’s obvious this group understands its audience and approaches the music with confidence and vision.
But their focus wasn’t always so clear.
Red Tide formed back in 2013 after Mr. Beeton and Mr. Grossman, who were both Pierson students at the time, started jamming casually with no serious intention of starting a band.
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Bass player and lead singer Harlan Beeton. Aint Tellin Photography.[/caption]
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Sam Grossman. Aint Telling Photography.[/caption]
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Drummer Anthony Genovesi. Aint Tellin Photography.[/caption]
“When I met Harlan, I had stopped playing guitar,” admits Mr. Grossman. “I took a couple lessons and didn’t really like it. But Harlan was into it, so I thought I’d try it again.”
“We just got better and better and decided we needed a drummer to play with us,” says Mr. Beeton. “We thought about it for a year and a half before we put up posters asking around.”
“Within two weeks Anthony texted us,” he adds.
“I saw a poster at Crossroads Music and wasn’t sure if I should do it,” confesses Mr. Genovesi who worked at the Amagansett music store, which recently announced it would be closing its doors by year’s end. “I was playing sax at the time and I‘ve always liked rock music but it never came to my mind being in a band. I went over and jammed for Harlan and I thought I want to keep doing it.”
“In general, drummers are hard to find. I think Anthony is the best of the best when it comes to 14-year-old drummers,” says Mr. Beeton. “We were growing right off the bat.”
“I’m not sure what it sounded like to others. We’re a million times better now,” adds Mr. Genovesi.
The band has been helped along by East End resident Kelly Nickels, former bass player for L.A. Guns, who gave Mr. Beeton bass lessons and now works regularly with Red Tide. The group has also incorporated a fair number of original tunes in their lineup. Generally, the process begins with Mr. Grossman coming up with a guitar riff and the three of them building on it until a song, including lyrics often provided by Mr. Beeton, is born.
“I’d say we’re pretty confident doing our own stuff,” says Mr. Grossman. “People say it holds up.”
“We write a lot more than we used to,” adds Mr. Genovesi. “We’re also producing a lot more and playing a lot of shows lately. I never expected it to even come close to this level.”
“The band is the biggest influence on my musicianship,” confides Mr. Beeton.
Ironically, Red Tide’s rise comes just as Crossroads Music, which brought them all together, is slated to close. Not only did they find Mr. Genovesi there, Mr. Beeton found a voice teacher at Crossroads, and Red Tide has the store to thank for a soon to be released recording of their music.
“I met [musician] Mick Hargreaves through Crossroads, and he recorded us for an EP that’s coming out soon,” says Mr. Genovesi. “He’s awesome, if I hadn’t been working there I wouldn’t have met him.”
“Crossroads started everything for us,” adds Mr. Grossman. “I took my first guitar lesson there.”
But ultimately, it was hard work and passion that made Red Tide truly gel as a band. Now that they’re writing original material, producing their own shows, peddling merchandise and recording, they can see the road stretched out ahead — and they have no intention of giving it up.
“It’s a strange period in life to be doing this stuff,” says Mr. Genovesi. “You can have all the musical talent in the world, but a lot of it requires street smarts...and a car.”
Red Tide performs on Friday, October 30, 2015 at The Stephen Talkhouse, 161 Main St, Amagansett. The Halloween show is for all ages and the band promises it will be an “amazing theatrical experience.” Costumes are encouraged (the band will be wearing theirs) and prizes will be awarded. $10. Doors open at 7 p.m. with music from 8 to 10 p.m. Anyone under 21 must leave by 10 p.m.
