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July 29, 2004
CARLSBAD – Carlsbad-based rock band 34Below was swimming in
a sea of frustration before scoring a spot on the Wyland
Ocean Challenge tour.
The songwriting core of the band, vocalist Steve Ybarra and
guitarist Chris James, and percussionist Gustavo Peraza will
perform at festivals from Maine to Florida.
The tour is hosted by the Wyland Foundation, an organization
that has partnered with Scripps Institution of Oceanography
and the Birch Aquarium to create "Wyland Ocean Challenge,
Clean Water for a 21st Century ... And Beyond." It's a
series of nationwide art and science festivals that will
feature an all-ages concert, a community beach cleanup and
children's activities at each stop.
Marine artist Wyland is known for his "whaling walls,"
enormous marine-life murals displayed in 68 cities,
including San Diego.
During an appearance on an NBC morning news show a few years
ago, he met and became a fan of 34Below. Wyland was there
to raise environmental awareness and auction one of his
works for charity. The band was promoting its first album,
"Is It You?"
"He felt the energy in our music and pulled us aside," said
Ybarra. "He was telling us about this huge plan he had and
said he wanted us to be a part of it."
The plan was to combine art and science in an educational
program that promoted the conservation of ocean waters.
While Wyland developed "Ocean Challenge," 34Below
struggled. Five years ago, the alternative rock group was
known as Liquid Groove and there was reason to be
optimistic.
After winning a San Diego Music Award, the band changed its
name to 34Below, a reference to San Diego's geographical
location lining up with the 34th parallel on a map.
The
group signed with a record label. "They told us, 'We will
launch you on a grand national scale,' Ybarra said. It
didn't work out and Ybarra, a paralegal by day, managed to
release the band from its contract last year.
Performances at large events such as the San Diego Marathon
and opening stints for national artists such as Sugar Ray
helped to maintain the group's local fan base.
Last May, another setback occurred when Ybarra's car was
stolen. The band's equipment was inside, along with a laptop
computer. "That hurt," said Ybarra. "I had lyrics,
songwriting credits, cell phone numbers, birthdays ... three
years of my life was in that computer."
When all seemed lost, 34Below reconnected with Wyland, who
was ready to launch his tour. Ybarra, James and Peraza
agreed to join the marine artist for the first leg of the
event, which will include performances in 15 eastern states.
The band is also discussing the possibility of joining
Wyland's West Coast tour in 2005.
Along the way, they will sell copies of their latest CD,
'Live at Dublin Square.' "We do a high-energy show, and I
will reach out and grab you. We're versatile," Ybarra said.
The music 34Below performs does not have an environmental
message, though Ybarra describes the group's collective
personality as 'laid-back beach guys.' They perform
straight-ahead original rock, with philosophical lyrics
about love and life, enhanced by Ybarra's raspy, powerful
voice.
In October, 34Below will return to North County to record a
new album and perform at the Golf for Arthritis fund-raising
event at the Del Mar Country Club in Rancho Santa Fe. "We've
been through a lot," said Ybarra. "We were chewed up and
spit out. When we return, we want San Diego to embrace us."
— Marcia Manna (North County Times — Arts &
Entertainment)
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