Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19339
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on May 26 2014 04:50 PM
JohnnyMosrite wrote:
Robbie,
Take a listen to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YpXwi2zbaE
Pretty thin soup in my opinion; but perhaps not to you.
I can only agree that we disagree.
That might be because of the recording technology and/or where the guy taping was standing (i.e. he may have had a crappy mic). Another thing to consider, this was at a Shitones gig, so maybe he didn't bring all his Mermen gear. You can see Ferenc and Insect Dave in the crowd (at least in other videos from that same show) so maybe they can comment on what they heard directly.
I can only go by the shows at Archive.org and their Live at the Haunted House album. He sounds huge. And Robbie would know, he's been fortunate enough to see them many times live.
— Site dude - S3 Agent #202
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"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea
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Number9
Joined: Jul 18, 2009
Posts: 499
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Posted on May 26 2014 05:00 PM
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Last edited: Mar 01, 2020 10:51:17
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25683
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on May 26 2014 05:45 PM
Brian wrote:
JohnnyMosrite wrote:
Robbie,
Take a listen to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YpXwi2zbaE
Pretty thin soup in my opinion; but perhaps not to you.
I can only agree that we disagree.
That might be because of the recording technology and/or where the guy taping was standing (i.e. he may have had a crappy mic). Another thing to consider, this was at a Shitones gig, so maybe he didn't bring all his Mermen gear. You can see Ferenc and Insect Dave in the crowd (at least in other videos from that same show) so maybe they can comment on what they heard directly.
I can only go by the shows at Archive.org and their Live at the Haunted House album. He sounds huge. And Robbie would know, he's been fortunate enough to see them many times live.
that's also a ballad, and not his normal sound
at the beginning, about 2/3rds of the way thru the song,
it kicks into overdrive and is more like his fuller normal sound.
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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JohnnyMosrite
Joined: Jun 14, 2006
Posts: 909
New York City area
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Posted on May 26 2014 06:19 PM
Well,
Hmm... Thought provoking comments. Let's see - trio is OK for surf for some; but doesn't sound as full as a full quartet or better to me and the "reasons" given (there really aren't any excuses) are:
Bad recording.. So I guess the (Mermen) CDs I have with "Ocean Beach" live and sounding thin (the second guitar overdub as heard in the studio "Krill Slippin" CD is missing)
and
Mr. Thomas wasn't "looping" or otherwise sound gimmicking on a particular night.
Isn't "looping" essentially playing along to a pre-recorded track - kind like playing along with a (golly gee!) living, breathing rhythm/accompaniment guitarist?? Dare I say that looping is done to make the sound fuller, perhaps. My point seems to be re-enforced by the comments I'm reading.
In the immortal words of Johnny Cash - "Get rhythm"
My 2 cents back
j Mo'
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homerhead
Joined: Mar 17, 2006
Posts: 530
Portland, OR
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Posted on May 26 2014 07:36 PM
OK, - can't stay quiet any longer. The Mermen are the best band on the planet and Jim Thomas is phenomenal. Subjective I guess. Go see them and you'll understand.
Rick
— Rick
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RobbieReverb
Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 2388
San Jose, Ca.
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Posted on May 26 2014 07:53 PM
Brian wrote:
JohnnyMosrite wrote:
Robbie,
Take a listen to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YpXwi2zbaE
Pretty thin soup in my opinion; but perhaps not to you.
I can only agree that we disagree.
That might be because of the recording technology and/or where the guy taping was standing (i.e. he may have had a crappy mic). Another thing to consider, this was at a Shitones gig, so maybe he didn't bring all his Mermen gear. You can see Ferenc and Insect Dave in the crowd (at least in other videos from that same show) so maybe they can comment on what they heard directly.
I can only go by the shows at Archive.org and their Live at the Haunted House album. He sounds huge. And Robbie would know, he's been fortunate enough to see them many times live.
I was gonna say the same thing that Brian said, regarding the quality/ nuances of the recording. And, for this show, Jim had a way scaled down "Shi-tones" rig. However, I've seen him plenty of times with the scaled-down rig, and he's always sounded absolutely huge, nonetheless. He's obviously not looping (sound on sound recording) here. Generally Jim does loops for intros/ preludes to songs. Very rarely does he loop in the middle of songs. He's got so much going on that he really doesn't need to, and in many cases, looping would clutter-up the sound. Johnny, you're certainly entitled to your opinion. I think if you you saw the Mermen, you'd have a different opinion.
— Bob
Last edited: May 27, 2014 22:51:44
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vintagesurfdude
Joined: Nov 28, 2011
Posts: 795
Prescott Valley, AZ
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Posted on May 27 2014 12:35 AM
6V6 wrote:
I'd be curious if there are any surf trios with two guitars and no bass? Or maybe a guitar and baritone and no bass?
I played rhythm in a no bass 3 piece in the early 60's. Unfortunately or fortunately as the case may be. no recordings survive. It worked OK, we got booked regularly, but I prefer to have bass, just sounds more correct to my ear.
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simoncoil
Joined: Sep 28, 2012
Posts: 926
Berlin, Germany
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Posted on May 27 2014 02:35 AM
Wow, I really don't understand where some of the aggression is coming from I sense in some of the comments here. And why people have to get fundamental about what is "essentiell" for surf music in this context, when it is simply a matter of taste: Either you like the open sound and flexibility of a trio or you don't. In either case there are surely enough bands around for you to listen to; no need to argue against the preferences of other people.
6V6 wrote:
I'd be curious if there are any surf trios with two guitars and no bass? Or maybe a guitar and baritone and no bass?
Check out The Good The Bad. They play with two guitars and drums, occasionally one of the guitarists will use an octave pedal to sound like a bass. Personally I don't like them (or maybe I just don't get it), but some people really dig them.
Another, more traditional sounding trio with only guitars is Wetter from Austria.
— Los Apollos - cinematic surf music trio (Berlin)
"Postcards from the Scrapyard" Vol. 1, 2 & 3 NOW available on various platforms!
"Chaos at the Lobster Lounge" available as LP and download on Surf Cookie Records!
Last edited: May 27, 2014 02:42:31
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zzero
Joined: Jul 09, 2010
Posts: 1153
Lillian Alabama
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Posted on May 27 2014 02:36 AM
homerhead! yes the mermen are the best band on the planet!!! thank you !!!!!    
i'm so glad that someone noticed!!!!!!
— Enjoying the surf,sun and sand!!
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Tikidog
Joined: Jun 23, 2006
Posts: 186
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Posted on May 27 2014 02:37 AM
Playing in a trio is great...better stage sound for me, more room to throw in chords, bassnotes and the bass player can do different things, which actually are getting heard!
Check out
THE RAZORBLADES
ATOMIC 7
SHADOWY MEN ON A SHADOWY PLANET
THE GOOD THE BAD
THE MOFOS
...and of course the Mermen are great...I guess seeing them live is just different from the recording..which is good in my opinion....
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simoncoil
Joined: Sep 28, 2012
Posts: 926
Berlin, Germany
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Posted on May 27 2014 02:45 AM
Tikidog wrote:
the bass player can do different things, which actually are getting heard!
So true! There is a reason why bands like the early Belairs or the (Hollywood) Tornadoes were able to play without a bass being present (or plugged in as in the later case). 
— Los Apollos - cinematic surf music trio (Berlin)
"Postcards from the Scrapyard" Vol. 1, 2 & 3 NOW available on various platforms!
"Chaos at the Lobster Lounge" available as LP and download on Surf Cookie Records!
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