Tide Bends made waves on the Sand Stage at Asbury Park’s annual Sea.Hear.Now festival on Sunday, Sept. 14. Despite the September heat on the beach, the Asbury Park-based band had its crowd captivated with its hard-hitting, 90s British rock-influenced vibe, which tapered off during their acoustic set later in the afternoon.
Consisting of David Hough (guitar, vocals), Dan Nolan (drums), Rudy Meier (guitar, keys, vocals), and MJ Hancock (bass, keys, vocals), Tide Bends set the festival’s second-day expectations high with a dynamic set. An EP out and more music on the way, it’s no surprise that Tide Bends was one of this year’s local acts.
How are you feeling being here at Sea.Hear.Now?
David: It’s pretty wild. I feel great about it. You know, we’re from the area. I’m from Belmar [New Jersey]. The history of being here, and now how big this thing has become, and finally getting the nod to come and play, and just being on a stage like that is pretty wonderful. It’s pretty overwhelming. But overall, it’s just a great thing. It’s really nice to be a part of it. Everyone’s so excited to be here. I don’t think you’re going to get people who are, like, fair-weather music people coming to these things. You’re getting people who are like, “I’ll stand out in the sun from 12:30 [pm] until 10:30 at night. It doesn’t matter. I’m good.” So to be in front of those people, and a lot of them? It’s pretty special.
So do you feel you have a home-field advantage, being from the area, and then also playing the festival?
David: I guess, just because when they said, “Go to 1800 Ocean Ave,” I knew where it meant.
Yeah, that’s how we feel too. We know where everything is. It’s crazy.
David: I mean, there’s a little bit [of a home-field advantage], but not too much because you’re playing in a league with everybody else. And just because you know the field doesn’t mean [you have an advantage], it’s who you’re with. So maybe yes and no.
Then, preparing for your set here, how did it differ from preparing for a set as a solo show or a smaller gig?
David: It did and it didn’t [differ]. I think the only reason it did was, like, we kept the set of what it was to really hone in on it. For like five or six rehearsals, we didn’t veer away off the path. So, I mean, it’s usually sometimes I’ll make a set list and give it to everyone when we show up, and they’re like, “Oh, oh, okay. We’re doing that,” but everyone just had more of preparations. It was a bigger crowd. We wanted to rise to the occasion. So we were just honing in on things, like redoing all the tech stuff and just making sure there’s no bugaboos. And there still will be bugaboos. I forgot my capo today, so I had to play a whole song just totally miffing it. But it worked out. We’re fucking here. You gotta do it, you know? You’re up to bat.
How has Asbury Park inspired you guys as artists?
David: Well, this is the home spot, right? This is where everyone lands, whether you’re from Toms River or Red Bank [New Jersey], this is the epicenter for that. So that in itsef, just being around everyone, is inspiring. It’s awesome. But I think, then you get into the history of it; it’s crazy. Even in my lifetime, I’ve seen how this stretch has turned. I played at the Stone Pony before they raised the roof, so you couldn’t see past the speakers. Now it’s completely different… There are bands here that I have listened to since I was 15 years old, and I didn’t know that they recorded an album in Asbury. Stuff like that. There’s stuff that we still learn every day because [the history] is so deep and rich, and I know it’s corny.
No, I feel like it’s an apt answer for what the area is.
David: It is. Look, Asbury has its problems, but this is where people come. I could be in El Salvador, and someone’s like, “Oh, yeah. Asbury Park. Bruce Springsteen.” Everybody knows it. We wear this one, you know?
So with the festival here, what is the act that you’re most excited to see, and if you could perform with anyone, who would it be?
David: I really wanted to see LCD Soundsystem.
Did you get to see them?
David: Yes, I did.
They were awesome. They were so good last night.
David: Was it your first time seeing them?
Yeah. It was my first time. It was, like, life-changing.
David: It’s pretty overwhelming in the best way. I was 30 the last time I saw them, and I’m 44 now. So it was emotional. Same thing seeing Oasis a couple of weeks ago. I haven’t seen them in so long that I wasn’t ready for what I was going to feel seeing them. We used to hit it pretty hard when we’d go see LCD, and their last stretch of shows was like seven shows in a row. So we went up a few times to see them at Terminal 5 and all these different places. I remember those shows vividly, and I was like, “I don’t know if I’m ready [to see them again.]” But to give you my black and white answer, it would be them… Now I’m with my fiancée and my child. He wasn’t here last night, but to be with her and her interpretation… She’s a dancer. She’s a choreographer, so her thing is feeling it. Me, I’m more just accepting it and thinking about the time stamp of this on my life. So who was I most excited for—
And then who would you want to perform with? With them?
David: With them, yeah. Spoon, who we’re trying to finish up our set [at Clinch tent] so we can run over and see… those are the two I would say. Most looking forward to playing with them, if they would have us. James [Murphy], call me!
So our last question. Our magazine is focused on up-and-coming artists. If you had to give advice to people who are just starting out, what would you say?
David: Just play. Just play and write and don’t get out in front of your skis… And if people don’t show up or something happens, don’t let it get to you. Just play. Just play on your own, with your buddies, and if it feels good, that goes out… The other thing I would say is try not to let the social media stuff get to you too much.
Is there anything else that you want to add that we haven’t covered? I know you guys said [during your set] that you have a song that you recorded that you played today coming out.
David: Probably in the next six weeks. We just couldn’t get it done before. But then we have five or six other songs. What I think back to LCD is that he likes beat-driven, dance music. To put it simply, a lot of it as I get older, I’m like, “I love that shit…” Some of our stuff is going to be a little more like that… I’m really excited to get this stuff out. You want to create for yourself, you know? Which is tricky, but good.
Photo taken by Gabrielle Sangataldo | Interviewed on September 14, 2025
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