Zach Schwartz (a.k.a. Zach Rogue) created the band Rogue Wave after losing his job in the dot-com bust. They’ve since release 4 critically acclaimed albums on Sub Pop and Brushfire Records and toured with Death Cab for Cutie, Jack Johnson, Spoon, Nada Surf, The Shins and more.
In 2010 he began recording music for his solo/side project called Release the Sunbird, that isn’t exactly a solo/side project. He released these songs on an album entitled Come Back to Us on Brushfire Records on July 26th, 2011.
1. malt vinegar sea salt from williams-sonoma:
although i love eating pringles salt & vinegar chips, i know i can’t because of the MSG (catch a clue, pringles). thing is, no other chips seem to match the taste. the other day, i was at my parent’s house and saw a bottle of malt vinegar sea salt sitting on the kitchen counter. what magic pixie dust-like creation is this, i queried. holy crap, the stuff tastes amazing and will blow your hair back with the flavor. wow.
2. ted lucas:
my friend pete from peter wolf crier turned me on to this guy’s music. his self-titled record is pure joy, and made from the simplest elements. such a pure voice and elegant acoustic guitar playing. anyone who sleeps over at casa rogue will invariably hear the sweet sounds of ted lucas in the morning. such a sleepy and gentle way to wake up in the morning with a happy smile on your face and a soft reminder that each new morning opens up the promise and hope of a new day.
3. soundprism:
it’s amazing how the iPad has now impacted and will utterly transform how live music is performed. with the advent of touch, there are some fascinating apps out there that turn the notion of live performance on its head. i’m a big fan of some of the stuff moog is doing (big surprise there, i suppose) and the mellotron app is pretty stellar as well. caitlin from our band has been using soundprism lately to great effect. it makes some of the warmest dreamy sounds i’ve heard yet on the iPad. i’m not about to abandon the guitar any time soon, but it boggles the mind to think about how digital touch technology could expand and enhance almost any instrument in the future – or change the definition of what an instrument is.
