The Sea of Cortez -- Listen Up!

We're constantly getting turned on to new music here at Spinner HQ. Between our Free MP3 of the Day and weekly Free CD Listening Party, we hope you are too. To help further the cause, we're gonna bring you our personal must-hear music picks with Listen Up! -- Spinner's weekly spotlight on staff-approved artists who rock our world.

Who: The Sea of Cortez
Hails From: Los Angeles
Why We Love Them: It's a refreshing thing to hear a band that's not afraid to allow their sound to dwell in wide open spaces. Coupled with lush harmonies and breezy instrumentation, the Sea of Cortez's music has us coming back to dip our toes again and again.
Essential Listening: 'The Shores' (MP3 Download)
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Exclusive Q&A with vocalist/guitarist Christian Thomas, vocalist/bassist Donald Eley and vocalist/guitarist Thomas Vincent:

What's your favorite album right now, and why?

Christian Thomas: 'Bee Thousand' by Guided by Voices. It's not new, but it offers a lot of inspiration.
Donald Eley: This is a tough one, there is so much out there right now. I'd have to say Deerhunter and Matthew Dear's new album are both on heavy rotation, but it's always tough to cut the Bears and Rabbits out of the mix.
Thomas Vincent: 'Astro Coast' by Surfer Blood is dirty and delicious. And often I always wander back to Pixies 'Doolittle' -- it never gets old.

Tell us about the first concert you ever saw and any stand-out moments.
CT: Dead Milkmen at Irving Plaza. I jumped off a PA stack for the first time.
DE: I grew up going to a lot of shows with my Dad and so I had to refer to him for this question. I am told my first concert was Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show back in 1979.
TV: Fugazi with the Undead. I couldn't get over how awesome Ian MacKaye's guitar sounded. I think I lost my shoe in the pit, and my ears were ringing for about two days.

What's your biggest vice?
CT: Late nights.
DE: When I was younger and far more flexible, my biggest vice might have been biting my toenails. These days, I'll just be honest with myself and say Maker's Mark.
TV: 'Photograph' by Def Leppard. Oops -- did I say that out loud?

Which current major pop star do you identify with most closely?
TV: That's a tough question. There is such a diverse sound with all of those auto-tuned vocals -- I just can't decide!

What's the story behind your band name?
CT: Crustaceans and quarts of beer.
TV: I'm a huge fan of John Steinbeck. Back in 1940 or so, Steinbeck went on an expedition to the Gulf of California with his marine biologist friend and published a log of his travels and research called 'The Log from the Sea of Cortez.' Our music is kind of all over the map, like traveling, so I thought it suited us.

When you stop making music, what's the one thing you want people to remember about you?
CT: I don't plan on stopping, but I guess it would have to be my double armbar figure four to the head.
DE: How great of a husband I was to my wife Natalie Portman.
TV: So does that mean when I'm dead? I can't imagine not making music.