Black Tide has gotten accolades from many hard rock and metal music 'zines, and were even awarded Best Newcomer by Kerrang! magazine. The highlight might have been the sellout of New York City's famed Irving Plaza (now the Fillmore)while on tour with headliners Escape The Fate last weekend.
Black Tide vocalist Gabriel Garcia talked with us before the gig about the huge walk-up sales that led to the sell out.
"Yeah, it was kind of like that. I heard it was 600 people first. 600 people pre-sale, I was already super-excited, now that we're here it's gonna...it's gonna be awesome."
Even though the band sold out The Fillmore, and they're having a great time, they're working a lot harder than the average band and keeping up that DIY, or do-it-yourself, mentality.
"The best thing about this tour I think is just. I think everyone that's on the tour is super cool, super down. It's really been a big party. But it's also hard work because this is the first tour that we're been doing 100 percent on our own, like, no crew and things like that."
Early in their career the still underage Black Tide has been denied entrance to gigs and even been kicked off the OzzFest second stage because hard liquor company Jagermeister sponsored it. Artisan asked if they still get hassled by venues about being underage at clubs they play.
"No, not anymore. Now it's like we already have a work permit and everything like that, and basically we set up the tours, and it's all good to go. Right before we went in and recorded the record, we had to get everything approved by a judge. We told them the whole story, "We're trying to get signed, you know...' She basically just has to give you approval, and then you can do whatever you want."
Black Tide is touring in support of Light From Above, which was released in March of last year. The band has two very infectious songs "Shout" and "Shockwave," which made an impression on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. The band gets much of its exposure from video games, having music appear in Rock Band, Pacific Rif, and Skate 3. They were also named Best New Talent in the Guitar World Reader's Poll for 2009.