February Birthdays 
REVIEW OF SURF FEST CD FROM THE REBEL SURFERS BY NOEL
This is a great time to be a fan of surf music. There are so many great bands playing terrific music in the original style and other great bands playing amazing surf music that would have been unimagined back in the day, and everything in between.
If you’re as old as I am, you probably remember how music used to sound before it became as highly produced as it is these days, not only during live performances but on records. At least, that’s how I remember it. You set up your gear, turn it on and all the way up, and play like your life depends on it. That’s what my favorite records from the ‘50s and early ‘60s sound like; intense, high energy, on the edge. Fun! A lot of fun!
That’s what The Rebel Surfers sound like when they play live. It’s what Surf Fest sounds like. This is my original reaction to playing the record for the first time that I posted on FaceBook: “I’m playing the last track now. Get this CD or you'll be sorry you didn't. It's hot, hot, HOT! It's fun. It makes you want to grab someone and dance, hard and fast. I am SOOO glad I got a copy. I’m gonna play it again. Now!”
This is visceral music, emotional and intense, played for all it’s worth because that’s how The Rebel Surfers play. It grabs you by the neck and holds you, almost daring you to quit listening, or even to keep listening. But you better! They play traditional surf music, but not like most modern traditional surf bands.
I’m having trouble finding the right words, so I’ll try to illustrate the difference. Here’s my brain on my favorite original surf music.
Now here’s my brain on Surf Fest (or anything) by The Rebel Surfers.
Surf Fest, like Live Bootleg before it, is a wild ride through surf music played as if no one was watching. It’s a 7 track EP with 9 tunes total. I think it takes confidence to play icons like Movin’ ‘N’ Groovin’ and Nitro. Confidence and skill they got. And an aggressive approach that makes all the tunes on this record, at once familiar, have a completely different sound, a hard-edged feel that is sort of delinquent. It’s great. Are The Rebel Surfers sophisticated? Not unless stuffing a 428 Cobra Jet in a 2000 pound little deuce coupe is sophisticated. Nope. But it makes for one hell of a ride, er, listen. Listen to DC-5 or Drum Boogie and you’ll know what I mean.
Drum Boogie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn_Chr9ICOY
All their CDs are limited runs and only available while they last. The motto of The Rebel Surfers is, “We’re not your momma’s Frankie and Annette.” Got that right! Get it.
Here.
http://therebelsurfers.miiduu.com/the-rebel-surfers-surf-fest-cd
This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
