Marc Lewis, guitarist and founder of Santa Cruz rock outfit Doors To No Where, is somewhat elusive about the band’s moniker. “The name really came from the idea of being different, intuitive and into exploration. It’s very open to interpretation,” says Lewis, who has just returned to the scene after taking several years off. “When I started to play music again it was after being down some dark paths and getting lost a bit,” he explains. “The name Doors To No Where is a reminder of that.”
For a band that is strictly rock and metal influenced, the trio is extremely laid back. “We’re old school and we actually care about our community,” Lewis says. The original group starred Lewis, bassist Sean Sanford, and drummer Alex Ross. But when Ross left two years ago and was replaced by Pete Testorff, Doors found its missing hinge. Testorff is known to many as the drummer for Vincent’s Ear. “My style simplifies things and strips down to a more straightforward experience,” says Testorff. “Pete will help on arrangement, direction and structure,” Lewis adds. The band will celebrate its blistering new release, Lucky You, on Friday at The Catalyst Atrium. “We recorded our new record at The Compound with Joe Clements (Fury 66),” says Lewis. “He produced it and helped us out a lot. He’s punk rock, and we’re more rock, and Joe was incredibly helpful when it came to tone. He has a great ear.” According to the band, if it weren’t for The Blue Lagoon and The Atrium, they wouldn’t be where they are today. “When I was a kid growing up in Santa Cruz, you could go to the Red Room and see bands like Sublime and Green Day,” recalls Lewis. “You could go to The Vets Hall, The Portuguese Hall and Palookaville. Nowadays, The Blue Lagoon and The Atrium are the only thing holding rock and roll together in this town.” | DNA
INFO: 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28. Catalyst Atrium, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $5. 423-1338. 16+.
