It’s been nearly two years since TUBE. last touched base with local “throat kick” band Separate Spines. In the early months of 2016, the band was just releasing their debut EP Voli. Since then, Separate Spines has seen some changes. Vocalist Sydney Jones became the lead vocalist, while founder and singer Buddy Hale took over the drums.”We have definitely learned a lot in the last year,” said the band in a recent email. “The world is a very different place now, and it all came out in the album.”
The album is Cut Up The Rainbow, their upcoming release. “The intention with Voli was to create songs that were engaging but also sort of odd. Going into the writing process for Cut Up The Rainbow, the idea was more about just letting music happen.” Rainbow feels more personal to the band, perhaps because it features songs by each member. “Working as a band to flesh out new ideas was really special and rewarding. It’s super fun to drive around to. When we blast it on the radio, we look down and notice we’re going 100… and we flip out.”
Spines ran into a lot of walls in the past year trying to create “the perfect album.” Eventually, they scrapped the idea and started from scratch. “That ended up being very liberating and fun.” Now they say their writing process has become “more spontaneous, collaborative and focused.”
They also recorded, for the first time as a band, in a real studio. “We love DIY recording and there is plenty of that on this record as well, but we really appreciated having the help of Lance Jackman.” Jackman is one of the engineers at The Dock studio in Sacramento where Rainbow was recorded. Separate Spines gives him a glowing review. “[Jackman] is a great engineer and played a huge role in making the songs sound super pro and highly polished. The most exciting thing about this release is just having it done.”
Cut Up The Rainbow, which drops Nov. 17th (“like a hot lumpy nightshade”) has got seven new songs “a bunch of reversed sounds, a vocal feature by Troy Mighty of Dead Western and a potpourri of sustainably-harvested-locally-grown-screams.”

Separate Spines is looking forward to touring, “seeing old friends and sharing the new album with them.” They also have plans to collaborate with “local artists and [incorporate] performance art into our upcoming shows.”

The weekend of Rainbow‘s release is a busy one for the Spines. Friday, Nov. 17th sees them at their soft release show at the KDVS fundraiser at the Turtle House (217 2nd street, Davis, CA). Doors open at 7 pm, and suggested donation is $5-$10. On Saturday, they’re playing Rainbow‘s Sacramento Album Release Show at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, (1430 J St, Sacramento), from 8-11 pm, tickets are $5.  Mutable and There Will Be Monsters will be playing as well.

At the end of the month, they are holding a San Francisco release show with at Bottom Of The Hill (1233 17th St, San Francisco) with Slothrust and And The Kids. The show is 21+ and starts at 8:30 on Nov. 30th. Tickets are $12 in advance $14 at the door. Both true release shows will have the Spines playing Cut Up The Rainbow in its entirety.

Fans who want to keep tabs on the band can, of course, do so on social media (or as they call it “all of Zuckerburg’s most famous contraptions”) where they will be announcing tour dates as they book. The band is open to suggestions (“Invite us to play your living room! Or a festival!”) and full of love for their fans. “We really appreciate all the rad people in Sacramento and beyond that support the arts.”
Also, they’re looking for some additional members including a second drummer, someone to play effects, someone to run sound, a booking agent, and a manager. Get in touch with them here.
Words: Katta Hules.

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