bigtikidude wrote:

I don't usually like to post bad reviews,
and I have seen the Barbwires before, and they were awesome then.

But their performance at Tiki Oasis left me and some others a bit disappointed. I don't know if it was because of the setting, or them playing along with the tape of backing tracks, or the sound man not getting the sound just right. Or playing on borrowed equipment.
But it just didn't gel well.

I'm sorry to hear that. I've seen the Barbwires quite a few times over the years and they have always put on a great show. Saw them as recently as a month ago at the Hultsfreed Hayride weekender and it was no exception.

T H E ✠ S U R F I T E S

Last edited: Aug 26, 2012 16:07:58

kick_the_reverb wrote:

I had a great time at Tiki Oasis, even though it was more hot and humid than normal.
Tikiyaki, The Exotics, Los Venturas were all really great.

Barbwires - I didn't know them previously, they had good energy on stage, but apart from that I was left wondering why did they get chosen to headline the show. The promised "extra layers of backing tape" were virtually non existent. The melodies and style of playing sounded to me like Chuck Berry doing surf. There was one good song in my opinion (with some nice guitar/trumpet interplay). Very disappointing all in all. I did not see the connection to the spy theme (but then again the next night's headliners were a ska band, so I guess there was no connection).
I should have left to see the Exotics play the room party earlier (only caught part of their great set).

I really don't agree or understand these critics of the Barbwires. Are you a music fan, or just a tiki fanatic? Makes me wonder. I went to Tiki Oasis for the first time. Had a great time. Yes, the there sure was a strong SPY theme the whole weekend, but i sure did not experience the Love Me Nots having any spy influenced music...
Everybody sat down as the Love Me Nots played, but as The Barbwires entered the stage, the whole crowd stood up and they had the biggest crowd the whole weekend!
The show was, as always very good. Their songs are very, very detailed with some extremely skilled musicians playing their famous tunes. How can anyone compare their music even remotely with Chuck Berry??? Too much rum maybe my friend?
It has been said, and read before, and the matter of fact is that The Barbwires 'Searider' album has by many been voted one of the ten best surf albums of all times. These facts speakes for themselves.
If you truly like surf music, you love The Barbwires. If you where only there to drink good rum, buy a official Tiki t-shirt, and listen to spy music..Well, then you should be just as happy with playing Chuck Berry in your ipod on the way home to Questionville!

Can't talk, too busy living!!

Let's not turn this into too long a flame war, but:

1. I did not include the Love Me Nots, since they are not related to surf nor instrumental music. Their show was also high energy (good), but they moved away from their 60's garage sound of a few years back, and I didn't like that. I also did not think they matched the theme of the event.

2. Obviously you're a fan of the Barbwires and enjoyed the show, good for you.

3. You don't know me, so don't assume anything about what I like or what I don't, how much I drank or not, or if I have an iPod or not.

4. I stand by what I said, and a few other members (who know the Barbwires, and have a lot of respect from me), were also disappointed by their performance.

5. I will reserve the right to give less than positive reviews when I feel the hype does not match the actual performance. I never said they were not talented or skilled.

Wavebreaker wrote:

I really don't agree or understand these critics of the Barbwires. Are you a music fan, or just a tiki fanatic? Makes me wonder. I went to Tiki Oasis for the first time. Had a great time. Yes, the there sure was a strong SPY theme the whole weekend, but i sure did not experience the Love Me Nots having any spy influenced music...
Everybody sat down as the Love Me Nots played, but as The Barbwires entered the stage, the whole crowd stood up and they had the biggest crowd the whole weekend!
The show was, as always very good. Their songs are very, very detailed with some extremely skilled musicians playing their famous tunes. How can anyone compare their music even remotely with Chuck Berry??? Too much rum maybe my friend?
It has been said, and read before, and the matter of fact is that The Barbwires 'Searider' album has by many been voted one of the ten best surf albums of all times. These facts speakes for themselves.
If you truly like surf music, you love The Barbwires. If you where only there to drink good rum, buy a official Tiki t-shirt, and listen to spy music..Well, then you should be just as happy with playing Chuck Berry in your ipod on the way home to Questionville!

The Scimitars

Wavebreaker wrote:

It has been said, and read before, and the matter of fact is that The Barbwires 'Searider' album has by many been voted one of the ten best surf albums of all times. These facts speakes for themselves.

I strongly disagree "Searider" doesn't make my top 500 surf albums of all time,and I've heard 90% of the albums in the entire surf genre.Many of the bands that performed at this years Tiki Oasis didn't exactly fit the spy theme in my opinion.Personally I wish they had booked Stereophonic Space Sounds Unlimited to come out their secret lair and finally do a actually show seeing how Lee Joseph of Dionysus Records is a pretty big name at Tiki Oasis and he has signed them to his label.Oh well it can't always be perfect.Sadly I missed the Barbwires set by about ten minutes as my plane landed 40 minutes late.

Reverb, It's A Way Of Life!

I am a big fan of all things Surf music and Tiki...
Enough that I stayed the week to go to both the SG101
& Pier Sunday and my 5th Oasis.

Love Me Nots were not my cup of tea so it was room crawl time... I came back to see The Barbwires, they were a big part of why I went to this years Oasis and half way through the set I went back to room crawling....

Not saying that they were good or bad... but I left...

"Maybe there aren't any surf bands; there's only surf music?" Tuck

Once again I had a great time at Tiki Oasis. I too like all things Surf music and Tiki and in either category I’m not too hard to please.
As for the spy theme, if folks enjoy it well what is the harm? For me the theme is Tiki.

Tikiakyi at Bali Hai!…uh…um…well..fuu-gedaboudit! They were in their native habitat completely dialed in. And that is all I have to say about that.

I really enjoyed Los Venturas. I only caught their second set but wow, just like their two previous San Diego shows, they crushed it.

I missed the Exotics in the room party but was very impressed by their performance on the big stage. It sounded like they had some folks travel out from Milwaukee in support too. How cool it that?!

I listen to the Barbwires entire set from my balcony on the 5th floor. My intent was to go down to the lawn and check them out but I got sidetracked with a conversation and didn’t make it down. They ended up only getting my divided attention. I am bummed I didn’t get down to give them a good listen and maybe pick up their record.

BIG thanks to all the bands who traveled down to good ole San Diego and played making TO another enjoyable event for me .

Oh yeah, The Love Me Nots stole the show for me…. I had no idea .

Cheers,
SK

SSS Agent #178

Last edited: Aug 31, 2012 13:43:47

brandonio wrote:

WhorehayRFB wrote:

For the record, Lee worked really hard to get SSSU to play. It just didn't happen. I don't think anyone was more disappointed than Lee.

Wow! I didn't know that.I talked Lee briefly but never mentioned SSSU to him though I wanted to.SSSU are a very mysterious band indeed.I was wondering if even Lee has met or spoken to them in person.If anyone has it has to be Mr.Joseph right?

Sounds logical. I shot Lee an email recommending SSSU many many months ago for the spy theme & he said Otto & himself already had the same idea but it wasn't going to happen (I don't recall the specifics). Then Lee told me at the convention that he was slated to play bass with them if they came out (Lee is a VERY talented bass player if you didn't already know)--which would have been an added treat.

Radio Free Bakersfield--60 Minutes of TWANG, CRUNCH, OOMPH.
http://radiofreebakersfield.com
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http://www.sandiegojoe.com/rfb.htm

for those that didn't go,
here is a cool retrospective.
Tiki Oasis 12 in 120 seconds
http://youtu.be/9URL9_7VVgo

Jeff(bigtikidude)

bigtikidude wrote:

for those that didn't go,
here is a cool retrospective.
Tiki Oasis 12 in 120 seconds
http://youtu.be/9URL9_7VVgo

Thanks for posting the link man - great memories!

Jet Sterling, Cosmic Spy
www.surfabillyfreakout.com