Sub Pop Records

BIO

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 bands 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…