Highcyde

Infobox musical artist
Name = Highcyde


Img_capt = (From left) Castillo and Thompson.
Background = group_or_band
Origin = San Jose, California, USA
Genre = Alternative rock Indie rock Rock
Years_active = 2002 - present
Label = Independent
Associated_acts =
URL = http://www.highcydemusic.com
Current_members = Jay Castillo (vocals) Tony Thompson (guitar) Kristopher Duarte (bass) Evan "Shlick" Von Rittmann (drums)

Highcyde is an American alternative rockband from San Jose, California that formed in 2002. The band today consists of Jay Castillo (lead vocals), Tony Thompson (lead guitar), Kristopher Duarte (bass), and Evan "Schlick" Von Rittmann (drums). In eary 2006, Highcyde was named one of the best Bay Area alt-rock bands by the Oakland Tribune.

Biography

Highcyde is a San Jose, California based high-energy alternative rock band surging in popularity. For Highcyde it's all about driving rock guitar sounds, powerful beats and lyrics that anyone could relate to.

Named one of the best San Francisco Bay Area alt-rock bands by the Oakland Tribune, Highcyde produces a tightly integrated, commanding rock music sound that signals hints of Nickelback, 3 Doors Down, Creed, Hoobastank, and Staind.

Formed in early 2002, Highcyde emerged when vocalist Jay Castillo and guitarist Tony Thompson connected through a large group of mutual friends the two didn't know they had (a group that evolved into a social networking community known as Baycrew). This eventually helped jumpstart Highcyde's popularity among a diverse and growing fan base. The Highcyde front man recalls the connection by saying, "It was kinda funny because my boy Tony never knew I was a singer, and I never knew he played guitar." Tony recalls "it was a situation that just worked. Musically, we're on the same page."

In late 2005, Highcyde released its first full-length album titled "My Story Now" -- a much-anticipated follow up to the band's 2004 self-titled EP that secured the "Best Guitars in Rock" and "Best Beat in Rock" awards on GarageBand.com, and raised the eyebrows of independent reviewers who praised the music as "very radio-friendly" and having "cool powerful electric guitar licks." With the album "My Story Now," Highcyde has stayed-the-course with a straight-ahead powerful rock music sound, yet poured more fuel on its fiery sound with heavier guitar tones and lyrics meant to symbolize never looking back at the past, or even looking too far ahead into the future, but living "in the now." The album was recorded for anyone who has ever had their motives and loyalty questioned and wanted to stand-up to the World and say, "this is my story now, don't ever doubt me!"

The Internet music review Web site Podsiphon, whose analysts scour the Internet for the best new MP3s, has commented, "Highcyde haven't been around long, but they have so much energy you can't help but turn it up. The tough thing for a band like this is to stand out from all the other noise, but these guys do it with smart lyrics, pounding sounds and songs you find yourself sticking into your favorite playlists." Podsiphon says: "Watch these guys, they'll be on a record label within a year or two."

Highcyde is actively touring today throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and across California, and has performed in front of a loyal and rapidly growing fan-base at concerts in San Francisco, San Jose, Hollywood, San Diego and Fresno. The band keeps close contact with many of its fans at shows and through various online communities, including MySpace. The band is also climbing the charts on Internet radio, and its single "Change" has held a top-10 spot on various Internet radio stations.

Discography

=External links=
* [http://www.highcydemusic.com/ Highcyde Official Site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/highcyde Highcyde MySpace Page]
* [http://highcyde.imeem.com Highcyde iMeem Page]
* [http://www.garageband.com/highcyde Highcyde GarageBand Page]