Natalie Escobedo

Los Angeles
Rock-and-Roll Resurrected

On the eve of Lido Beach’s first show in over two years, Scott Waldman is sitting in his mom’s kitchen working on his second cup of coffee. The founder and only consistent member of the band, he’s excited to play under the Lido Beach banner once more (especially considering how definitive their 2015 split seemed). “We lied,” he laughs now, admitting that Lido Beach always felt like unfinished business. Plus, with a 10 year anniversary looming on the horizon, the timing felt right. “Lido Beach is my baby, and I have friends from across the country and locally who are going to help out,” he says regarding the rotating cast of musicians who will join him on three anniversary shows in New York, Nashville and LA. “It’s just jamming with friends in front of people.” The band’s small, yet dedicated pool of fans also influenced Waldman’s decision to revisit their lyrically impassioned yet upbeat sound. “The fans are the most important factor,” Waldman admits. “There’s a girl in Chicago named April who’s never gotten to see Lido Beach….She bought a ticket, and not just a ticket to the show, but a flight [from Chicago to New York]. It’s so incredible that someone is willing to do that. So this show is for her. The New York show is 100% dedicated to April.” In addition to the love and support of his fans, Waldman also found stability over the last few years with his wife Kelli. That newfound personal harmony is reflected in his two new unreleased songs, entitled “Oh Lucky Me” and “I Couldn’t Tell You, Baby.” According to Waldman, the songs signaled a creative and thematic turning point for him and Lido Beach. “I’m really proud of these two songs. I would say that both them could easily stand on their own in comparison to my catalog,” he says. “…It’s definitely a new chapter. It’s not slit-your-wrist music anymore. It’s let’s-go-out-and-grab-some-coffee music.”