artists » Mark Melchiorre of Silvertide

Philadelphia-based powerhouse rockers, Silvertide, are on the move. For the past year they have been rockin’ across the country supporting their debut album, Show and Tell. Equal parts Zeppelin, Black Crowes, Aerosmith and their own unique energy, Silvertide are a breath of fresh air. Comprised of Walt Lafty on vocals, Nick Perri on lead guitar, Mark Melchiorre, Jr. on rhythm guitar, Brian Weaver on bass, and Kevin Frank on drums, Silvertide is a force to be reckoned with. Already in their short career they have shared the stage with Gov’t Mule, Van Halen and Mötley Cruë. Now that’s a serious resume! Did I mention that all five members are under 25? These young blue-collar dudes are making big waves in the music industry.

Accompanying Mark Melchiorre, Jr. on stage every night are VOX amps. “VOX always had a mystique to me,” explains Mark. “Growing up, I always saw VOX. The band has two opposite spectrums of tone as far as guitar sounds go. Nick with his Les Paul and Marshalls and me with a Telecaster and VOX. Having the option of a different tone always drew me to use VOX amps.” Mark utilizes the AC30 head and cabinet configuration with Silvertide. He describes, “When we play smaller clubs the AC30’s Master Volume allows me to get the sound I need at a lower volume, and when we’re playing bigger venues, I can crank it and blow my eardrums out!”

VOX amps were also found in the studio during sessions for Show and Tell. “I used AC30s on the record, but not the exact rig that I’m using now. The ones in the studio were vintage ones, from the ‘60s,” says Mark. These fine amps allowed Mark to obtain that classic sound and vibe for his rhythm playing. He had this to say about his guitar duties, “On some songs me and Nick play some dual lead stuff, but I’m pretty much a rhythm guy.”

Silvertide are currently on tour with Mötley Cruë and hope to play in Europe and Japan in the near future. When asked about Silvertide’s wild ride so far, Mark reminisced, “It’s been pretty crazy. I mean we’re on tour with Mötley Cruë right now. It’s been an incredible experience being able to play with bands that have been around and sold millions of records. When we toured with Van Halen, I would say that was one of the best times we’ve had as a band on tour. I mean, it’s Van Halen! We grew up listening to these guys, and now all of a sudden we’re on tour with them. It’s just amazing!” Mark and Silvertide are generating a tidal wave in the music biz, so grab a life raft and hold on tight! For more info and tour dates, visit www.silvertidemusic.com

By Kenny Kuehn