Tides
As a long-time Fest go-er, the impact of The Fest on the greater punk scene around Gainesville has always intrigued me. Yes, the event showcases international talent and Main Stage headliners, but it also gives great exposure to local bands. In turn, those local bands can give us greater exposure to what's going on in Florida.
In this interview we talk with Tides about their new album How To Survive A Fall, while also learning more about the Jacksonville scene up Route 301.
Scene Point Blank: This is your first record. What's the story in putting it together? When did you start writing and recording?
Beau Crum: We have been writing nonstop since we started the band. We were all bringing ideas to practice weekly and by the time we were finished with the first EP/split we already had almost enough songs to do the full-length but it took time to get into the studio. This record came together more organically than the split because we were finding our sound as a whole and learning what each of us was bringing to the table.
Scene Point Blank: As a Midwesterner with 12+ Fests under my belt, I feel like I have a good feel for the Tampa and Gainesville scenes, an okay feel for Orlando... not so much on Jacksonville. Tell us about the JAX scene. How is it similar and different to other nearby cities?
Beau Crum: The Jacksonville scene has constantly changed over the years. The city is so spread out, and there are a lot of different bands, scenes, and genres throughout the area. Hardcore has always been a big part of the scene, with a lot of great hardcore bands coming through over the years, but I think Jacksonville is probably best known for Lynyrd Skynyrd and Limp Bizkit.
I was always really into the Gainesville No Idea Records bands, and I think that influence comes through in my writing, as well as Alex’s. Chris was heavily influenced by the skatepunk and Fat Wreck Chords bands, while Sean was into a lot of interesting post-hardcore and other styles. He was also in a lot of hardcore bands growing up. Dan is kind of the wildcard and just goes with the flow.
I think having all of those different influences in one band really speaks to the sound that Tides has developed. It’s a combination of all these different musical backgrounds that has helped shape who we are.
The Jacksonville scene has been really great lately, too. We’ve had new venues popping up like Hard Love, The Oriole, and Albatross, while the OG Jack Rabbits is still holding it down. I’m also seeing more and more younger kids coming out to shows and supporting local bands, which is really cool to see. It feels like there’s a lot of energy in the scene right now.
Scene Point Blank: I definitely pick up on the Florida DIY sound I love in Tides. When you started the band, did you have a specific mission to distinguish from your previous bands or is this just what happens when you get in a room together and play?
Dan Wagler:Playing in Tides is totally different from other bands. All the members are so dedicated.
Beau Crum: We knew that we wanted to take this more serious and record an EP immediately and just see what happens. As far as the sound, I think we were all just very open minded but all had our different influences and they all meshed well with the sound that came out of it. We are a lot older now and I don’t think there was any room to bicker or put too much thought into it, but we all knew if it wasn’t fun it wouldn’t be worth the time invested. We are lucky to have found the guys that make up this band -- it just took many decades to finally get here.
Scene Point Blank: While you aren't the first band with the name Tides, it's such a good Florida band name. How did you pick it?
Sean Slater: We were honestly just brainstorming and the name kind of stuck. We’re only now realizing there are actually multiple bands called Tides around the world. We’re playing the Farewell Youth Fest in Germany, and when we were announced, someone tagged a German band called Tides. They responded saying it was actually us, which is when we realized the name was already being used by other bands.
We added “Tides_FL” to our name to make it easier for people to find us online. That said, the German Tides sounds really good, so we’re definitely not mad about sharing the name!
I seem to remember seeing a billboard that said take a trip to Jacksonville Beach and enjoy the tides, but I didn’t really Google it and we found out later that there’s definitely a lot of bands that apparently had the same idea.
Scene Point Blank: I already mentioned that I've invested much of the 2000s into annual GNV trips, so perhaps it's warped my brain. I swear many bands in this scene release records in late summer/early fall. Is that coincidence or does Fest timing play a role?
Beau Crum: I think it fell into coincidence for us. When we started the band we had a goal to play Fest, so the first EP was around the announcement for the first Fest we played -- but we were late getting any music out. We were on the back up list and a band dropped off 3 weeks before Fest and were asked to play. We were extremely stoked, but there wasn’t much time for people to check us out.
Our show was still packed so we couldn’t have been happier.
Scene Point Blank: What makes ADD Records the place to be in 2026?
Beau Crum: We worked with ADD on the split and became great friends with Dave Disorder. We were talking to a couple other labels as well, but Dave showed up to our show in Dunedin and he just talked to us as friends and gave us an offer we couldn’t pass up. He has pretty much done everything and more than he said he was going to do. It kind of blows our minds, to be honest. He didn’t do much with the split but he was telling us that was the first record he put out in years and he was sparked on doing more bands and releases with the label.
Scene Point Blank: What does Tides have planned for FEST 24? Any big covers, cameos or surprises you can share/hint at?
Beau Crum: We hope Christine from Little Low collaborates with us on "Undertow "but I am not sure what time Little Low plays.
We are working on a collaboration with John Gaunt (Chuck Ragan’s fiddle player) right now. John wrote a song and asked us to make it a Tides song. It has been a great challenge and we are loving where it is going. We are hoping to record it and release it before Fest and have him join us, possibly. The plan is for us to record our version and have him record the folk version and I will produce a documentary short video explaining the process. We are really stoked on it!
Scene Point Blank: Who are you most excited to see at FEST 24?
Beau Crum:I want to see Samiam, Pup, MakeWar, Her Head's on Fire, and Home Front and stumble across new bands I haven’t heard before!
Alex Van Auken: A few highlights for me are Hey Mercedes, Bear Vs Shark, Samiam, and Her Head's on Fire amongst a bunch of others. I love checking out and supporting bands I’ve never seen or listened to before.
Chris Jones: Really excited to see New Junk City. It’s one of my family’s Fest highlights for the weekend. There are the obvious bands I want to see like Small Brown Bike, Lagwagon, Samiam, Flatliners, etc., but I’ve been a big Defeater fan and I’m looking forward to catching the Love Letter set.
Dan Wagler: I'm excited to see as many bands as possible, especially, Lagwagon and my friends New Junk City.
Sean Slater: The Flatliners and Samiam, Bouncing Souls and Lagwagon.
Scene Point Blank: How many Fests have you been to? Do you have a story from your first time, or your most recent time?
Sean Slater: This will be my 3rd Fest.
Being able to speak with Patrick from Drug Church was really cool, super down to earth guy. I’m a big admirer of their music. And being able to see The Get-Up Kids -- a band that I haven’t seen in 20+ years.
Alex Van Auken: I’ve been going to Fest since like FEST 4 or 5. I’ve missed a few years here and there, but I’ve been there most years. Playing the last several years has been so much fun. It’s a holiday I look forward to every year for sure.
Dan Wagler: This will be my third Fest and the third time I'm playing Fest. I always heard about it but never went. Now that I'm a part of it, hopefully I'm never going to miss a year.
Beau Crum:I have been to 10-15 Fests at least -- too many to count. I once could not remember my bike combination at the end of the first night at Fest so I ordered a pizza from 5 Star and got a ride to the hotel with the delivery driver.
Chris Jones: I’ve been going since FEST 16 and look forward to it every year. I’d have to say a pretty awesome moment was last year when we played Vecinos. The show was at full capacity with a line wrapped around the building! We were stoked to have the Dopamines and Raging Nathans show up to support us. Those dudes are awesome!
Scene Point Blank: How do you approach Fest when you aren't playing? How do you "set your schedule" of bands to see?
Alex Van Auken: There’s usually a few must-see sets that I circle on the schedule that guide me wherever, and I’ll check out bands in all the surrounding venues in between. I’ve discovered some of my favorite bands by popping in random venues at the right times.
Beau Crum:It depends on who is playing but I usually have a must see and then I like to stumble in to see bands I've never heard. Or I listen to the Fest Radio on the site and check out new bands.
Chris Jones: I just create my "Band Wishlist" and pray that the schedules align with timing with everyone else’s favorites. Sometimes you need to divide and conquer to see the bands you love!
Scene Point Blank: What's a hidden Gainesville gem you recommend to people?
Alex Van Auken: Gotta check out Sunshine Records and Hear Again Records for sure. It’s also mandatory at some point to enjoy tacos and elote from Boca Fiesta.
Dan Wagler: I'm probably going to have to say Geeks. I love that place.
Beau Crum:Toby from Red Scare puts on a small soccer tournament on Saturday morning that is really rad. Getting to kick the ball around and meet other players from other bands and Festers is a highlight for me. I put together a team last minute last year and we won, so I’m hoping to put another team together this year.
Chris Jones: Kind of off the path, but everyone should check out Satchel’s Pizza! Its right around the corner from Geeks. So good!
Scene Point Blank: How big has Fest been for regional punk bands in Florida?
Beau Crum:Being a Florida band and being close to Gainesville is a blessing. Being able to play Fest has been great and we have met a lot of great friends and other bands along the way. I usually book a Jax pre Fest, so meeting these bands comes in really handy. It has always been about the music and connections through music for me, so being able to help other bands that are not from Florida play in Jax has been rewarding.
Scene Point Blank: Historically Fest took place during an out-of-town football game in Jacksonville, leaving Gainesville student-free and full of Festers. How does it feel to make the opposite commute as the majority of North Floridians (what do people call the region)?
Beau Crum:It doesn’t bother me at all because I don’t follow the FL/GA football game. One time my old band Coyote Throat played Fest on Sunday and our bass player was in the bar industry, so he couldn’t take off because of the game and he got caught in the traffic from Jax for 6 hours and barely made it to our show.
Alex Van Auken: I think it’s cool. With the college kids gone, the city just gets taken over by this community of people that really care for one another and are so passionate about this scene. It feels like one big family reunion with relatives you’ve never met before.
Scene Point Blank: Where do you typically play shows in Gainesville outside of Fest weekend?
Beau Crum:We have been playing a lot at Geeks, which is Tony’s vintage toy store. That place is really cool. We also play at Loosey's when we can. Danny has been really cool. We have a tour booked and are playing there in January. We will announce the tour after Fest.
Scene Point Blank: Anything you'd like to add?
Beau Crum:We’re incredibly stoked to still be doing this and to have the opportunity to share our new record. We’re so grateful to our families, fans, friends, and everyone who has supported us along the way, especially Tony and Randy for giving us a shot. The Fest is such a huge part of our culture, and we’re incredibly proud to be a part of it.
There are so many amazing bands playing all weekend, so anyone who chooses to come see us means a lot. We hope you enjoy the set, check out the new record, and have an amazing time. Come say hi at Fest!
