San Diego

Skinny-dipping With Maybird

Brooklyn indie-psych band Maybird make their San Diego debut

They are squeezing into beds together, sleeping in the tour van, and may or may not be skinny-dipping here in San Diego.

Prior to their show at Blonde Bar, Oct. 19, I spoke with Maybird guitarist Sam Snyder over the phone while he was nestling in a tour van with his five bandmates of the luscious indie-psych band from Brooklyn, New York.

Earlier this year, the band released their new EP titled “Unraveling,” which was released via acclaimed DJ/producer Danger Mouse’s label 30th Century Records and produced by Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney.

“Pat’s a really great dude,” Snyder said in reference to Carney. “He’s got a really fun philosophy on the way he works. The first day that we were there, we basically spent the entire day just listening to a bunch of music and kind of just letting it be an inspiration thing -- which is something we all kind of felt like we benefited from because it was good to see where everyone’s mind was at. And, you know he has great sounds, he’s got awesome gear and just really knowledgeable about how to get sounds that we were looking for.”

These days, Maybird is still on come-up and even though they have a record deal, they’re still trying to make the band a full-time gig.

“We’re not rolling in it by any stretch of the imagination, but we find a way to make it work and that just has to do with playing every night and touring a lot -- and you know, doing a lot of that kind of work. When we’re at home, we get some other side gigs. I work on records for other people and we give guitar lessons, so there’s always that to supplement, but its tricky when we’re on the road for a month at a time. The way I see it is, with the work we’ve done, we’ve consistently gotten more and more busy. So we must doing something, in some way, right. It’s a good feeling to have. It’s a full-time commitment right now.”

Even with all of the constant touring, Snyder and the band have not made it out to San Diego until now.

“This is the San Diego debut! We’re really excited. Adam, our drummer, doesn’t have a bathing suit. ‘There’s beaches in San Diego, Adam.’”

I suggested Black’s Beach and its au naturel allure.

“I guess we’re just going to go there -- save a little money.”

Musician, people-pleaser, lover, fighter and writer Matthew Craig Burke has been spewing musical words of wisdom since never. He lives off of peanut butter sandwiches, beer and Beck Hansen. Follow his updates on Facebook or contact him directly.

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