Black Tide rising

“That’s the great thing about what we do,” explains Black Tide frontman/guitarist Gabriel Garcia. “We get everybody who likes heavy music at our shows—young kids, older people, it doesn’t matter.” It’s a common, somewhat clichéd refrain regarding fans of metal, but in Black Tide’s case, it’s true. And when you’re a 15-year old lead singer and none of your bandmates are even 21, age is a big topic.

Although the group is young, Black Tide’s music feels decidedly old-school. The Miami four-piece’s major label debut, “Light From Above,” straddles the line between early thrash (primarily Metallica, who they cover) and the more melodic hard rock of Guns ‘N Roses and Avenged Sevenfold.

We spoke with Garcia just before his group headed out on the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival with Slipknot and Disturbed. (They follow that up with their second stint opening for Bullet for My Valentine.) Up for discussion: the challenges of being in a young band, getting an education on the road, and why Metallica is bumming them out.

You’ve toured with Avenged Sevenfold, who are notorious partiers. What’s a night out like for a band that’s all under 21?
Oh, we party.

You don’t have any trouble getting into the same clubs as Avenged Sevenfold?
[Laughs] Oh, no. Not at all.

People cite the Metallica and ‘80s thrash influences in your music—most of which was created before you were born. Is that what inspired you?
I guess for me, because I’m a guitar player, I really got into people like Joe Satriani and Yngwie Malmsteen, shit like that. Really great players.

Why do so many metal bands come from Florida?
I’m not sure. I think it’s just random. 

What were your first shows like?
We really didn’t really know what to do, especially when we ended up on a big stage. I think, before our recent tours, the most people we had ever played for was 1,200 people. And sometimes, like at last year’s Ozzfest, you go on early, people are really spread out, and there’s no real crowd to hear you. But people seem to be responding to the music now.

So, doing a lot of studying on the road?
Yeah, I actually do online schooling. It’s going good, but the real problem is that we never have Wi-Fi access, so it’s hard to do some of the assignments.

How’s your tour bus?
We didn’t get one. We have a sleeper RV. It’s cool, I guess. We get along. But we got pissed off when we’ve gone on tours and see what other bands get.

You cover Metallica’s “Hit the Lights” on your new album…have you received any feedback from them?
No, we haven’t heard if they’ve heard it. I hope they do. I’m sort of disappointed I haven’t heard back from them.

Where does the name Black Tide come from?
Well, we used to be called Radio. But we couldn’t keep that name, so we actually didn’t even have a name when we recorded the album. That name came up, we liked it. But it doesn’t have any deep meaning.

Have you had a favorite tour?
We loved going out with Bullet for My Valentine. And we opened for Megadeth. That was cool. Our drummer and bass player got to hang out with Dave Mustaine.

Where do you see yourself in the next 10, 20 years? Still doing this?
[Laughs] I don’t know about 20 years. Maybe the next 10 or so.