RICKETY CLIFFS: SAN DIEGO PROG-PUNK
Photo taken by @phin.eas.j on IG
Meet Rickety Cliffs. Rickety Cliffs is a prog-punk band, taking heavy influence from progressive rock with the spirit and energy of punk music ranging over decades. Rickety Cliffs consists of three members: Justin "Big Cat" Lynch (drums), Resse Castin (bass and vocals), and Justin Mulder (guitar and vocals). This three-piece originated in the Ranch Bernardo and Escondido area in North County, San Diego. Combining different genres to get a unique, alternative sound, Rickety Cliffs has been gigging increasingly as time goes on. Let's see what the band says about their history, newest music releases, and live show memories!
Photo taken by Unknown
WHEN AND HOW DID THE BAND ORIGINATE?
"The band originated last year when Justin Lynch crashed his car outside School of Rock in Scripps Ranch. Justin Mulder was the only one who could save him. Mulder crawled into the wreckage and pulled the big cat to safety. Justin Lynch promised Justin Mulder his life, and Mulder, in exchange, made Big Cat join the Rickety Cliffs. In return for never speaking of the incident, Justin (Big Cat) agreed to join the band on the principle that no one ever hears of this event."
TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE NAME "RICKETY CLIFFS."
"Believe it or not, we actually got our name from the Wu-Tang Clan name generator. Reese typed his name into the generator a few times, and Rickety Cliffs was the best result."
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATIONS?
"Justin Lynch finds inspiration in The Smashing Pumpkins, Alice in Chains, and Manchester Orchestra. Justin Mulder personally loves Ween, Weezer, and The Weeknd. Reese's three musical inspirations are Radiohead, the Smiths, and Deftones. (Don't tell Justin and Justin that I'm typing this, but I seriously only listen to the Strokes)."
Photo taken by @pissflagsd on IG
WHAT WAS YOUR BEST LIVE SHOW EXPERIENCE AND WHAT WAS YOUR WORST?
"Our best performance was the release show for our debut EP, 'Hit the Shed.' We played with Gingsu and Squeaky Buddah at Humble Heart in Ocean Beach, which has got to be one of our favorite places to play. Our worst show experience so far has been a show we played in Joshua Tree during winter. Hanging out with everyone was a blast, and we played fine, but it was the coldest we have ever been playing. The hot dogs we bought were freezing outside the cooler, and we couldn't feel our hands, but we jammed and had a great time anyway."
LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR LATEST RELEASE, THE EP "HIT THE SHED" THAT CAME OUT IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR. TELL ME ABOUT THE RECORDING PROCESS.
"Recording 'Hit the Shed' was an interesting process. We had recorded 'Shoes' in August of 2022 but didn't get back in the studio until early 2023 to record the EP. Justin knocked out drums first, and we built the tracks up from there. With a little studio magic from Tristan Brooks, a new version of 'Shoes,' and a tracklist that rhymes, you have our debut EP."
LISTEN TO "HIT THE SHED" BELOW.
Photo taken by @phin.eas.j on IG
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG ON THIS EP?
"'Booze Cruise.'"
WHAT IS THE MAIN THEME/MESSAGE OF THIS GROUP OF SONGS?
"'Hit the Shed' is actually a concept EP. Not many people know this, but all the songs are tied together with one story. There is a consistent and underlying theme that really ties these songs together and makes them one big piece. The songs individually are about really getting the themes and tones from the songs to fit together. It took us a while, but the larger story of the EP is actually all one story, and it fits together like puzzle pieces. The songs, one by one, are about creating a larger picture that, when viewed from afar, can reveal one big artistic demonstration. The story itself alludes to concepts such as creating a larger story to connect all the songs. To wrap it up, 'Hit the Shed' is a large concept EP that ties together themes of the songs having one larger story that, when listened to from front to back, then back to front, then front to back two more times, a larger tale is presented."
Photo taken by @pissflagsd on IG
WHERE THERE ANY CHALLENGES WORKING UP TO THE RELEASE OF THIS EP?
"We didn't have a final mix and master of all the tracks on the EP until the week of its release, so we uploaded all of the tracks on the EP just days before it came out."
WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO LOCAL BANDS LOOKING TO START RECORDING THEIR OWN MUSIC?
"Get out there and do it. Try things out that you like or think sound good. Make mistakes; it does not matter what you do, as long as you DON'T play bass. You can get a lot done on your own with your phone and basic recording software. We don't because we're lazy."
WHAT CAN FANS EXPECT FROM YOU GUYS IN THE FUTURE?
"Fans? Anyone and everyone can expect two new singles from us this year and our second EP early next year. We really appreciate everyone who has been to any of our shows or listened to our music."
Photo taken by @phin.eas.j on IG
