Amiyah Golden
Words by Amiyah Golden
Photo by Mark Cubbedge
If you haven’t been to one of Jacksonville’s dive bars to bump elbows with fellow locals and wallow at the top of your lungs in an off-key pitch to some classics, can you say you’ve truly lived yet?
I cover many emerging artists in the Jacksonville music scene, but I had the opportunity to talk to local cover band Solar Tide and explore their unique impact within Jacksonville’s soundscape.
The band is composed of musicians Chad Stidham, Sarah Spelsberg and Chris Condon. All three being a testament that it is possible to have a flourishing career while still pursuing your passions. It is not out of the ordinary to see artists have 9-to-5 jobs outside of their musical pursuits. Many of the artists we cover dedicate long hours to their employers while squeezing in room to practice, write and perform!
The trio all have demanding professions. With Stidham working as a nurse manager, Condon as a professional photographer for the PGA Tour and Spelsberg finishing up medical school and now working in her residency in emergency medicine, the energy they find for gigs is fueled by the love they all have for music.
Originally hailing from Detroit, Stidham is all too familiar with the world of music. With a long history of band life, the guitarist was totally convinced he wouldn’t be involved with any more bands once he moved to Jacksonville.
“Honestly, when I moved here, I was like, I’m never playing music again,” said Stidham, “Once I started working, I got sucked into an open mic here and there.”
And work is exactly where Stidham and Spelsberg connected. The two met at the Mayo Clinic, where they bonded over their love for music. A holiday party was the first time the two mingled their voices — and instruments — together.
“A bunch of musicians [who were] medical professionals at Mayo were dared to make a band and play the Christmas party in 2010, so we did!” said Spelsberg. “Chad and I had so much fun playing together he started inviting me to play with him at his open mic night.”
With Stidham on guitar and Spelsberg being a multifaceted musician with the ability to play the guitar, mandolin and the fiddle, the two graced numerous local music hotspots to perform. This lasted for years before the addition of drummer Chris Condon. Having mutual ties to Spelsberg through his wife’s father, the two connected. With Condon already familiar with Stidham, the three forming to become an energetic trio just made sense.
Condon also wasn’t new to the culture of performing having been a member of two former bands, Dial Nine and Jacksonville favorites the Dirty Gringos.
Cover bands aren’t a new concept, especially in the early ’80s and ’90s, with many bands being known for their unique renditions of classic hits. They cater to fans who couldn’t experience Nirvana or Metallica in person but still wanted to experience their favorite songs.
The band has established a synergy so sound that they often don’t rehearse together because of their busy schedules but, surprisingly, never miss a note when it comes time to perform.
As a personal frequenter of Lynch’s Irish Pub in Jacksonville Beach, it is always a delight to hear a song that unlocks a core memory. With many of the greats having passed away, the need for cover bands is imminent— keeping music alive for the people, while sharing their individual beautiful talents and sound!
Make sure to check out Solar Tide once a month at Lynch’s Irish Pub. With the band usually performing in the early evening, it’s the perfect ending to a long walk on the beach!
To keep up with the band and their other performances, you can follow them on Instagram or Facebook!
Instagram: @solartidejax
Facebook: Solar Tide
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