The High Sea is local indie folk-rock band from San Jose, but if you ask them, lead singer Nate Kavanaugh will jokingly reply, “We’re a suburban Goth band.” Whatever they are, the band is made up of brothers Nate and Sean Kavanaugh and Bob Vielma (Shinobu, Gnarbots).
Nate Kavanaugh is a former De Anza music student and lead singer of The High Sea. Sean Kavanaugh keeps a steady beat on the drums while providing backup vocals. Bob Vielma is the band’s bassist and, sometimes, backup vocalist. The High Sea formed in October 2008 by the Kavanaugh brothers after a string of dissolved bands led to playing together.
By doing it on their own, they say they were able to focus on what they wanted without other people’s ideas getting in the way, that making music together is amazing and it “just gives them one more reason to hang out.” According to the brothers, their style has matured together, and while it stays consistent, they enjoy adding new elements to their music.
Nate says that he gets his inspiration for songs from a mix of life experiences and memories, combined with a bit of fiction, exaggeration, and humor. Their music-making process is simple. “Nate writes the songs, I slap a beat over it and sing in the background,” says Sean. The brothers cite their biggest influences as Bob Dylan and The Monkees who both, because of their total ability to make music without caring what others think, “inspired everything about Nate and myself,” Sean says. Other influences are Sam Cooke, Keith Moon and The Hold Steady.
Both brothers agree if it wasn’t for their dad, they might have never pursued music. They are also in an eight-piece band with their family, The Kavanaugh Brothers Celtic Experience.
The High Sea’s current goal is to record a “polished, finished, A-plus album.” They’d also love to play a show at Bottom of the Hill. While they’re not in it for the fame, both agree that they’d like to get their name out there and have people hear their music. The brothers’ biggest hope is to inspire someone else to pick up a guitar.
The High Sea recently released a rocking three-song EP, “Audios, Esposito!” When asked what they loved about music, both responded, “Everything.” Sean elaborated, “Music speaks for me when I’m tongue-tied. It’s the only limitless thing in the universe.” Nate added, “I’m addicted to it. [Quoting Nietzsche] ‘Without music, life would be a mistake’.”
Listen to The High Sea’s music online for free at http://www.facebook.com/thehighsea
