For Reno folk-world-rock Sol Jibe, the band’s new album is a collection of firsts in many ways.
It’s the first time the band had a lot of time to work on recording, the first time using a full drumkit, the first time singer-guitarist Tim Snider ever recorded with electric guitar, and it’s also the first time recording with some new members.
Although some of the band’s influential members have left the group over the past few years, Snider said the band — past and present — remain good friends.
"Life kind of takes over sometimes," Snider said of the band’s lineup. Flamenco guitar influence Milton Merlos left to study in Spain, drummer Cody Remaklus also left to continue his music study, and Jonathan Phillips took the music director position at Wooster High School.
"It’s hard to say we’ve had replacements," Snider explained. "Everybody who’s been a part of this group has put their own vibe into it. When we lost Milton, it wasn’t like we said ‘let’s get another flamenco guitar player.'"
Instead, Sol Jibe added piano player Jay Cowell, giving the band five permanent players. The new members bring their own fingerprints to the new album, their third full-lengh, appropriately titled "Raices Nuevas " (listen to tracks on their MySpace page).
The title translates to "new roots," and Sol Jibe’s sound expands to deeper jazz sounds, but also throws in some fast rockers that would sound at home on a Robert Randolph album, plenty of Latin-influenced percussion and all-around danceable grooves.
"It seemed to be fitting," Snider said of the title. "We’re still progressing, but not forgetting where we came from. Also, there’s some more references to roots throughout the record."
Anyone who’s only heard Sol Jibe’s breezy pop ballad "New Day" on local radio has not heard the range of Sol Jibe.
"We like to not stay in one genre for too long," Snider said. "The way I feel about music is that it’s alive and there are so many influences. I feel like (we’re) seeing a lot more bands branch out into this sort of thing (because of the modern availability of music worldwide). Years ago, if you wanted to check out African music, good luck. Now, it’s a click away."
Since forming in 2003, Sol Jibe has become a self-supporting endeavor for the members. They’ve independently sold an amazing 30,000 copies of their albums, and dogged touring fills much of their time.
“We’re super fortunate to be able to do that,” Snider said, and attributes the band’s music sales to "touring our asses off."
"Festivals have been awesome," Snider said. "We’re so busy, we can hardly see music anymore, so (festivals) are a great opportunity for me to be able to go see what everyone else is doing."
Since "Raices Nuevas" already has so many firsts for Sol Jibe, why not one more? So the band decided to throw Friday’s CD release party in the Grand Sierra Resort's theater, with room for almost 2,000. The band did its 2007 release party for “New Day” for 800 people in the Celebrity Showroom at John Ascuaga’s Nugget.
"(The Grand Sierra) is a little bigger,” Snider said. “We’ll see how we do, but we’re really excited. We’ve got a string quartet and a horn section."
Snider said surprise guests from the band’s past will also play, and there will be 15 people on stage at times.
The show is at 8 p.m. Friday, with preshow tickets available for $15 online at www.grandsierraresort.com. Tickets are $20 at the door. Both will get you a copy of the new album as well. The band expects the download version of “Raices Nuevas” to be available by the end of June at www.majorhana.com.
