Talk to local bands, of which there are almost as many in Santa Cruz as there are waves on the beach, and if they’ll be honest, all they want is success. They want to be able to tour, to play in front of big audiences that love their music, to record their songs and have them played all over and, yeah, if they are truly honest, to quit their day jobs and make a living doing what they love: playing music.
So how can Kat Moss, who has had those dreams come true, be unhappy?
You’ll have to read her soul-baring interview with writer Mat Weir to find out what blocked her joy and what she’s done to recapture it. Again, it’s a problem that so many local artists wish they had, or maybe not.
Our cover story covers it like this:
‘’The quick shot to stardom came at the cost of the familiar trappings of the rock ‘n roll lifestyle, combined with physical and emotional fatigue. When a close friend unexpectedly passed away in 2025, it pushed Moss to numb herself to the world.
‘’‘I really wasn’t really in my body or present, in fact, I think I had a lot of resentment at the time,’” Moss says. “I was so fucking overwhelmed I just wanted to tuck my tail and run away from everything.”
But she didn’t and she’s back and she’s a role model for bands that make it and find out the struggles don’t disappear.
In this issue music maven Mat explores another local band making waves, Dark Ride, which recently released a special album, Blade Manor.
‘’It’s 41 minutes across 12 songs of fun, 80’s B-movie themes set to late 1990’s and early 2000’s riffs and harmonizing vocals,’’ writes Weir.
How local are these Horror Punk guys? Their video features a cameo from Village Host Pizza & Grill in Aptos, a beloved place to locals.
Speaking of music, there was sad celebration for Soquel High School’s music teacher and band leader, Jim Stewart, who is hanging up his instruments after inspiring students for 30 years.
“Sometimes a budding soloist will lose energy, but you have to keep that energy up,” Stewart told his students, in Kristen McLaughlin’s article inside.
“For 30 years, Stewart has done exactly that—bringing relentless enthusiasm, creativity and dedication to one of Santa Cruz County’s most celebrated music programs.”
On the news front, we celebrate students at Watsonville High School who have created a Peace Pole with messages of hope and peace in eight languages. Tarmo Hannula also takes a quick shot at the local version of Burning Man, UNSCRUZ, which happened last weekend.
There’s plenty more inside.
Thanks for reading.
Brad Kava | Editor
PHOTO CONTEST
NOT MUCH ROOM Railroad tracks from New Brighton Beach bluff heading toward Capitola Village. Photograph by Rebecca Verhoek
GOOD IDEA
To celebrate biking in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz is reopening applications for the GO BIKE! Downtown Santa Cruz E‑Bike Rebate Program, designed to support those who work within the Downtown Santa Cruz Parking District with an e-bike purchase to use for everyday transportation. Applications are open for a limited time and while funds last.
Eligible participants may receive a $400 base rebate or a $800 income-qualified rebate if you are currently enrolled in an income assistance program. To apply: gosantacruzcounty.org/go-bike
GOOD WORK
The Hephaestus Robotics Team, a group of high school students in the SantaCruz COE X Academy Robotics Clubs, earned first place in the Ranger Class at the 2026 Monterey Bay Regional ROV Competition on April 25, securing a spot at the 2026 World Championship.
The regional competition, held at Watsonville High School, challenged students to design, build, and pilot remotely operated vehicles to complete mission-based tasks focused on technologies that can operate in cold, dynamic, and extreme environments, reflecting ocean and cryospheric conditions.
The team advances to the world championship June 25-27, in St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada.
