Green Seeds Grow Grandly

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]R[/dropcap]eggae rock band Tomorrows Bad Seeds embodies the spirit of Southern California, specifically the carefree vibe of the coastal beach city areas, where cannabis is as commonplace as the near-perfect sunsets. CULTURE first met Hermosa Beach locals Tomorrows Bad Seeds at Vans Warped Tour 2012. Fast forward to 2018, and the band has a new album out soon along with a nice slot at the sold-out One Love Festival in sister city Long Beach. With a beautiful view of The Queen Mary, CULTURE talked with band leaders Moises and Matthew “Mets” McEwan about cannabis, new music, what keeps them going and what the future holds for them. They also divulged which strains they’re currently in love with.

You have a new album coming out and a tour that follows, correct?

Moises: A new album is being released in April, if not early May, called Illuminate. It’s an idea Matthew “Mets” McEwan thought up, and we just released a song called “Frequency.” It’s recorded in the frequency of love which is 528Hz in the key of C. We also are going to be releasing a couple of new singles in the next few months. We’re going to be on tour from May to June for over 30 dates with Thicker Than Thieves, Sun-Dried Vibes and Roots of a Rebellion.

You recently left your record label, didn’t you?

Moises: Yes, we had a little falling out, and now we’re signed to Island/Empire. Everything’s cool now—we revamped and approached this album a little differently. We’re super stoked to be working with a new producer Chaz “Rocks” Tony.

“There are a lot more healing properties than we know, the cannabinoids and endocannabinoid receptors. They just haven’t studied it enough.”

How does it feel being played on Sirius Radio’s “The Joint?”

Moises: I’m glad, just finding out “The Joint” plays our songs. It’s cool finding all the places that you can hear our music.

Mets: It’s honestly a blessing. I actually turned on “The Joint” one day to hear our songs next to the greats. Steel Pulse, Black Uhuru, Aswad, the greats, you know? All the pioneers that inspired us growing up, and they put our songs with them. It’s just really a blessing.

Who influenced you as a guitar player when you were growing up?

Mets: I grew up with a lot of rock and roll influence mixed with hip-hop and punk. Guitar-wise I’d have to definitely say it was Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray and older blues stuff like Albert King. I play upside down with a right-handed Fender Stratocaster strung left-handed. I grew up playing Fender, but as I grew, I really liked playing with an SG or a Double Cutaway Les Paul. That’s my favorite guitar. I got into the different tones.

Being from Hermosa Beach, how is it playing at The Queen Mary next door?

Moises: It’s our backyard, same thing as Hermosa Beach. I’ve actually lived in Long Beach, too. We’ve played around The Queen Mary in so many venues at so many festivals, it’s not even funny.

Mets: We played on that island right there, we played near my house, we’ve played on The Queen Mary. We even played once in the “Spruce Goose” dome with the Dirty Heads way back in the day, almost 15 years ago.

Now let’s talk cannabis. What are Tomorrows Bad Seeds views on it in 2018?

Moises: I heard that D.A.R.E. just took it off the gateway “drugs” list, and I think that alone is amazing. There are a lot more healing properties than we know, the cannabinoids and endocannabinoid receptors. They just haven’t studied it enough. If anything, I feel as though alcohol needs to be under the same microscope cannabis is, you know? Herb never hurt nobody.

Starting with you Met, what’s your favorite strains?

Mets: I’m an OG man, I like heavy indica. I don’t mind a good hybrid every once in a while, but I love my OGs.

Moises: I love sativa, but lately I’ve been liking the more indica feeling Skywalker OG, King Louis and Jet Fuel. My ultimate-ultimate favorite strain would have to be Jack Herer; a J1 to get my artistic side going. I like to use that herb during the day and an Indica herb at night. We are stoked that California finally legalized it, and we can’t wait for the globe to legalize it, to release to everyone the true healing powers of that plant.

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