"Nobody uses the word ‘grunge’ anymore, so I tell people our band plays dirt pop,” says singer/guitarist Sean Sanders, whose group North Beach (originally known as Short Eyes) began as a one-man band.
“I’d played with Kevin [Whan, the drummer] before, and I’d talked to him through Facebook about getting together for old time’s sake. We jammed a few times at my place, and it took off from there.”
Whan says he added the “pop” flavor to Sanders’s dirty brew. “Sean had a vision of bringing ’60s garage rock back to San Diego when he finished college at San Francisco State…with my pop and indie influences, I think Short Eyes has an old sound with a new twist.”
Singer/bassist Chris Richardson adds a ’70s-inspired ingredient to the mix. “I supply the funk and most of that jam-band groove.”
Guitarist Justin Sanders adds another spice. “I love to surf, and as far as I’m concerned, we’re a surf-rock band. At least my parts are.”
In early 2013, the band changed their name to North Beach, releasing their Granado’s full-length on March 5. Around the same time, bassist Chris Richardson left the band. “Chris is pursuing his dream of doing sound engineering at a college in L.A.,” said Sanders. “He’ll be playing the next few dates, so be sure to give him a kiss.”