The Tradesmen at Cold Spring

How One Band Goes Cold Spring Surfing with a Unique Blend of
Surf-Rock and Country

Born and raised in Santa Barbara, I like to consider myself a
friendly native. I’m happy to offer directions when a rental car
full of Italians shows up in my Westside neighborhood looking for
the beach, and happier still to show off the city’s hidden corners
to newcomers. That said, there are some corners I’d rather not
share with certain tourists, and a few Santa Barbara gems I get a
little territorial about preserving for those who truly respect and
appreciate them.

Cold
Spring Tavern is one of those corners, and The
Tradesmen, one of those gems. Yet in keeping with the welcoming,
all-inclusive attitude of the band and their loyal followers, I
feel compelled to share a good thing.

A few weeks ago, I rounded up a couple of friends to make the
Tradesmen trek — a drive over San Marcos Pass on a Saturday evening
to the rustic little 19th century log cabin bar tucked up against
the hillside of Cold Spring Canyon amongst the bay trees. We hopped out of the truck to drink in
the evening’s crisp mountain air before heading into the bar to
meet Patty Tierney — bartendress extraordinaire and programmer of
the live music events held Friday through Sunday at the log cabin
bar, as well as the brain behind the Best Of Cold
Spring Tavern compilation CDs that features favorites like
Tom
Ball and Kenny Sultan.