Awesome show, Jeff! Great turnout! Fun times! Congrats to you, Tena, JonPaul (the hardest working bassist I know) and all involved with organizing, playing and attending this event.

Three big highlights for me…

Ivan, Danny and Jon Paul’s Atlantics tribute! A real treat. Totally on the nose with great live energy that really knocked my socks off.

The Boss Martians! Another major treat since these guys were a big fave from seeing and playing with them in L.A. back in the 90’s. Total flashback to the great Tigermask shows with everyone dancing and jumping around.

Meeting Tony Valentino of The Standells. Big fan of his and Dick Dodd’s group. Thanks to Tim HB Kahuna for the introduction!

Stellar all around. Keep it coming, Jeff! Looking forward to next year.

BOSS FINK "R.P.M." available now from DOUBLE CROWN RECORDS!
www.facebook.com/BossFink
www.doublecrownrecords.com

Last edited: Aug 11, 2014 14:06:16

josheboy wrote:

Wow!! What a completely mind-blowing and insanely awesome convention this year!!! Jeff, you're an animal! How on earth can you top this one next year? Its hard to imagine, but I'm sure you'll find a way (you always do!).

Some highlights/thoughts for me:
Member Jam was so fun to play and every band sounded great!

I saw The Atlantics last year at Surfer Joe and they floored me! This tribute featuring Ivan, Dane, JonPaul, and Danny was RIGHT ON THE MONEY! If you guys did this any better, The Atlantics would have to tribute to you! Great job!

The power, tone, musicianship, showmanship, and energy released by Threesome kick started this convention and set the bar high for every other band. I've loved this band since I got their album when it was released a couple years ago, and now that I've seen them live, I love them even more! After their set, I heard the words "female Dusty" at least a dozen times from the crowd. Jovana is a singular talent in a class all of her own. She blew everyone away! Uros's style and power and showmanship is simply awesome, and JonPaul (JovanPaulo Balakovic) is a beast!

Frankie & The Pool Boys: Always a pleasure to see Ferenc & Company play! They have so much fun on stage, that it infects the audience every time!

As for The Kilaueas, I love their albums, but the live experience is so much better! Ralf's antics and mannerisms were only surpassed by his amazing musicianship. He's a great front man! Tom is also a hell of a player, and Jaque & Lorenzo provided some awesome and infectious rhythms. Like many budding surf musicians, I like to study players when they play live, but I found with The Kilaueas that I couldn't do that because they're so much fun I simply couldn't concentrate on technical stuff and I just enjoyed the experience.

Boss Martians were better than I could've imagined! I don't mind a little vocal frat rock mixed in with my instros every now and then, especially when its done so well. Hell of a set! I saw them talking with Lorenzo after their show and I hope that Italy will get to experience them next summer. So excellent!

The Surf Coasters are so much fun, and Shigeo is a master of the guitar. Watching him play so flawlessly and effortlessly is both humbling and exciting. And the band backs him up perfectly! Thanks to everyone involved in getting them to Califoria for a mini tour. BEACH MONSTER!!!! RRROOOOOAAAAAWWWWWWWRRRRR!!!!

Someone said in a previous post that Slacktone is like a religious experience. I think that sums it up very well. Pure transcendent surf perfection!

Apart from the music, I also really loved the appreciation showed to two of our own: Danny Snyder and Jeff BTD! Personally, Danny Snyder has been so incredibly supportive of me as a budding guitarist. He's brought me on stage with him several times (I got to be a TomorrowMan and a Poolboy! Woo!! Thanks also to Ferenc!), he's given me advice, and I even got to have some individual instruction from him and it has really helped me in my quest to play better live and to write my own music. He is like a big brother to me, and I am truly grateful for it love him for it. And I am only one of many! The award and recognition is well deserved! Thanks also to ColtSurf for donating that incredible guitar! As for Jeff, he is my surf brotha, and I enjoy his company and his friendship as often as I can. He has also been supportive of me personally by coming to shows and encouraging me, and we all know how much he gives us all with his time and effort in putting together so many surf shows. Have fun with your new laptop, Jeff! And you will LOVE the Surfer Joe festival!!!

Thanks to all the sponsors and vendors and to everyone who pitched in gear and time and energy and such.

And finally: I love hanging out with my surf family! Cant wait until next time!

I think its time for a surf blog josheboy! That was great and I agree with your observations all around. I had to go to work and bowed out mid-martians set but I appreciate the recap on the rest. (glad that you won the ice-tea burst. Be a bit more careful with that one as its not powdercoated, but layed candy and flake over surf green of all things.)

I was really touched to witness the goodness of the people at SG101, bring a tangible affirmation to Jeff's hard work and dedication. Jeff might have gotten a bit choked up but I being an overly touchy feely artist type, was tearing up a bit. It was moving to me to take it all in.
Most might not know I have a dual vocation of splitting my days between my pedal-amp business coupled w/ stay at home dad duties, AND I gig weekends as a bandleader for a rock n roll service at a Presbyterian church. I give the folks there a mix of gospelbilly,surf,alt-country,bluegrass,etc.. Anyway.. I actually shared with the folks yesterday in first service about the SG101 convention and that I found
it akin to a church service.
I told them that too often people want you to come to church, and stand up and sing, and then meet the pastor, go to the potluck, get coffee,yada yada.. when many times a person may show up to church just to ESCAPE their pressing life. They just want to go sit in the corner and take it in, breathe in some peace of mind and spirt, then head back to face the new week.

I added that I actually "found some great rest and peace sitting in the Starting Gate listening and rocking to the Surf music, and it felt like church." Granted for me, my idea of escape and a free spirit is not really quiet mountaintops and sunsets, like most people but rather I get recharged being in the middle of an electric storm of loud guitars and drums. Seeing smiling people working together* in community to make something happen, even at the local pub!
SO! you guys blessed me this weekend, beer in hand, observing what a group of people sharing a common love can do for each other when we can give of ourselves. Hi-fives again.

http://www.thenocturnebrain.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nocturne-Brain-Preamp-Zombies/240721872969

Last edited: Aug 11, 2014 14:47:06

image

Holy smokes - this was my second SG101 fest, and while last year's was absolutely amazing, this one topped it. Attendance seemed to be up at all the shows I saw, especially the big one at the Starting Gate. The music alone got the place smokin', but the lack of AC in the back room tipped the day over the boiling point. But what's rock n' roll without sweat?

I got to BTD's BBQ late like last year, but there were still quite a few people there, so it was great to see lots of old friends. It was great to catch up and chill a bit after a longer than expected flight, and prepare for the evening's festivities at the Purple Onion.

What a great show that was!!! Just a perfect balance of bands - any of which could have been the opener or headliner. Threesome, being the young upstarts they are, were picked to kick it off and quickly struck fear in the other bands having to play after them. What a powerhouse of sound that they deliver! It was so cool to finally meet them after working together via e-mail the past couple of years, and to finally see them perform as well. Simply amazing! There was a bit of talk about them coming back for another tour - lets hope it happens.

The Kilaueas followed with a fine, entertaining set of their own. I believe they played songs from all of their releases, but focused on new material from their just released CD/LP (which sadly didn't make it to the band in time, but we'll have copies very soon at Double Crown). Ralf is such an entertainer, putting a smile on everyone's faces while delivering delicious surf riffs. So great to see them again after 8 years.

Insect Surfers - they're legends, and their set proved why. They take absolutely every style of surf music and mix 'em all together. Like Ralf, Dave from the Insect Surfers is also a musician/entertainer - their mix of great music and showmenship topped off the evening perfectly.

Big thanks to Dave at the Purple Onion - such a great guy and he loves this music so much. I saw him at the Saturday and Sunday shows. He also gave me a perfectly prepared Navy Grog to start the evening, so thanks Dave!

Didn't get nearly enough sleep, but was still really excited and amped for the big Saturday show. There were definitely more people than last year - a tribute to the bands and the growing reputation of the convention. Thanks to all of you that came to the Double Crown merch table - I know many of you have a bunch of our releases already, but I still sold more stuff than I did last year. I sold enough to cover my expenses for the trip, which helps me convince the family that I should come down year after year. So thank you!!!!

On to the music - wow!!!! I listened to most of the member jam from the merch table, since there were so many people to talk to, and people were buying stuff as well. However, I made it out to see the Atlantics tribute set. Holy smokes - I was in awe of the amazing talent of all four musicians. I just can't imagine how these guys, spread all over the country, somehow managed to nail a half hours worth of Atlantics tunes without practicing together. Seriously, this was so good. You could close your eyes and it sounds very, very close to the original recordings, but with a new crispness, and live energy, that was just so mesmerizing. I had goosebumps, and the tunes of the Atlantics have been swimming in my head ever since. Thank you Ivan, Dane, JonPaul and Danny - do you have any tribute ideas for next year Ivan?

Crap, I gotta get going soon - wasn't expecting to write so much, but there was just so much happening, it just comes out! Quick highlights though - the computer and trip to Surfer Joe for Jeff / Big Tiki Dude - so amazing and well deserved! Perhaps this new technology will help next year's festival be even bigger and better! Threesome - simply amazing once again. I sold merch for them so I had to watch from afar, but they tore it up. And who says CDs are dead? Once they finished we sold a ton of CD's. Thank you to everyone that picked one up - the sales really help bands like theirs finance touring, especially when coming from somewhere as far as Serbia.

Frankie & The Poolboys - always a thrill to see them play. Sure, I'm biased, but the talent of the musicians, combined with some great songwriting from Ferenc, makes this a band not to be missed. They only have 2 CDs so far, but there is so much great material between them that it really makes for a live experience not to be missed.

The Boss Martians - So great to see my friend Evan once again - the guy just oozes rock n' roll energy. For this show it was all about surf and frat rock - more goosebump moments as I was up front with everyone else, dancin' and groovin' to their early material. They even played two of the four songs from our Intoxicating Sounds 7", including "More Booze, Less Ice", a title I gave to Evan nearly 20 years ago.... They played a few vocal tunes, like they always have, and for a couple of seconds it was a little jarring after all of the instrumentals of the day, but man, the vocal tunes were awesome, especially with his brother harmonizing throughout.

Slacktone and Surf Coasters were absolutely amazing as well - I was back at the merch table since Threesome really wanted to watch Slacktone play. I've been fortunate enough to see Slacktone many times over the years so I sacrificed to allow Uros and Jovana a chance to see a band they have idolized for many years. And I knew I'd be seeing the Surf Coasters on Sunday. Plus, I could still hear the bands from the back, so it was all good.

I feel like I'm missing some of the details, but the main thing was that it was a stellar day of music and meeting and talking to lots and lots of amazing people, all together for a common love of surf music.

The evening show at the Pike was good - we were all very tired from the daytime show, but it was great to see the El Caminos and the Dynotones perform. The stage was kinda funky though, and there were no lights at all for the Dynotones 2nd set - not sure if that was intentional or not. They played more fuzz tunes than in the past, but their 2nd set was a good mix of everything they're capable of delivering. The El Caminos were just as fun and entertaining as last year - such a fun band!

Sunday was another great, great day at the beach. The bands played sets similar to what they played the day before, but it's just a fun atmosphere there - lots of sun, great friends and the surf and pier as a perfect backdrop (wonder if there's any way they could knock out that back wall to the stage though - probably not, but it'd be cool to see through the stage....) Anyhow, it was the perfect ending to a perfect weekend. Sadly, I had to leave right after the show to head home, but got some group photos taken and said goodbyes before the trip home.

Thank you to everyone that attended for supporting the bands and surf music in general. And thanks to everyone that worked so hard to make this event the best yet. Can't wait to see what's in store for next year!!!

Sean
Double Crown Records
www.doublecrownrecords.com

Surf CD's / Vinyl / Fanzines / DVD's
Aloha Screwdriver - Lunar Wobble CD
The Nebulas - Euphorion LP / CD
Supertubos - The Fourth Drive CD
Continental Magazine - Issue #37 w/17 Song CD

Simply fantastic!

I drove to Santa Barbara for the Wednesday show. Heard the vibe about Threesome and The Kilaueas and they were playing along with Kelp. I've seen Kelp a couple times at the pier and knew they were great as well. Fun show but lightly attended.

Decided to skip Thursday, wish I hadn't…Heard great reports on the Thursday shows...

Friday I left early for the usual 3 hour drive to the LA area and it was slammed, I guess a lot of people were coming to the show, hah! Anyway, got to the hotel and then decided to catch some of the Blue Hawaiians before any of the official surf shows. Raced from that show to the Barkley because I really wanted to see the Surf Coasters. Frankie and Pool Boys opened, I got there a tad late so only caught the second half of the show, just love seeing these guys (and gal) play. Then the Surf Coasters and can only say this is a must-see band for any surf music fan, unbelievable! Every song is perfection. The Barkley show finished with Casino 66 who I've been wanting to check out and I really liked their set although I had to sneak out a little early to prepare for the big day.

Got to the Starting Gate on Saturday morning and the crowd was big from the beginning. The member jam was fun, as was mentioned everyone sounded great. Some obscure stuff too, at least one song I did not recognize. So my highlights: The Atlantics Tribute was fantastic. Ivan might have melted another pick for that one, what a powerful set! The energy of Threesome was a whole lot of fun, can't wait to listen to their CD's that I picked up. Paul Johnson and friends, great to hear these classics by the creator. Surf Kings had their original drummer and bass player back, definitely a heavy rhythm going there. Frankie and the Pool Boys, this weekend was the first time I've seen them with Dusty playing so even that much better, fun stuff. I have to confess I was not familiar with the Supertones, but am a fan now, picked up a few CD's by them and can't wait to listen. The Kilaueas having a fun time on stage, what a joy to watch and listen to these guys, showmanship and great music. I confess that for the Boss Martians that's when I went back to the vendor area to do some CD shopping, so I didn't see as much of them as I should have. Once again the Surf Coasters blew everyone away. They sound perfect and make it look easy. Had Ferenc join them for one song and also Ruiko for another. Finally for Slacktone I had to get as close as possible to get the full effect, it was fun!

It was so amazing to see Danny get presented a beautiful Jazzmaster and of course Jeff to get a computer and a trip to Italy. Two more deserving people do not exist.

I got lucky, sitting up front for the Surf Coasters and my ticket gets picked for the Eastwood guitar! So excited to try this bad boy out, first guitar with P-90's and I've wanted one! Also glad to see Jon Paul win the Jaguar and Josh the Atomic Brain, way cool!

Went to the after party, really wanted to see the El Caminos again and they did not disappoint. The Dyno-tones were on fire as well, love their version of High Wall.

In the past I've always had to fly for business on Sunday but this time the stars aligned and my Sunday was free. Pier show was fantastic with perfect weather. Biggest crowed I've seen there. Ferenc invited a few friends up for Surf Party and this was all the band members attending, what a riot! When the Surf Coasters played Baja I think everyone was thinking of Baja Marty. Their version is so beautiful and played with such a delicate touch, wow! In some ways the end at Don's was the best. Just seeing everyone get together and play. Paul Johnson and Mike Vernon opened with Guitars Inc while Jeff and Emilio set up gear behind them. Then an impromptu jam ensued. They got the Japanese women together to play a couple songs and they were fantastic! Ivan and Shigeo joined for a song or two. The bass player for the Supertones (Simon?) wailing on an upright bass. The El Caminos finished the evening playing their third (and third different) set in two days.

Anyway, thanks to everyone who worked to put this together, what a perfect weekend and great to see everyone again!

I made it home late last night. I have a ton of stuff to do but I hope to post more thoughts in the next couple of days. In the mean time I'll post what few pictures I have. First is the amazing ATLANTICS TRIBUTE after completing their 2nd and last rehearsal at Jonpaul's practice space. (Sorry, almost all of these are blurry).

Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me

"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea

Last edited: Aug 12, 2014 12:37:51

And I thought they blew us away two days in a row without any rehearsals. Now that I know that they rehearsed together twice I'm not as impressed.... LOL! Seriously, I've been on an Atlantics kick since returning home and I have to say, these guys did The Atlantics BETTER than the recordings. Sacrilege perhaps, but they really breathed new life and energy into the songs, while still being completely faithful to the sound and arrangements of the original recordings. Thanks for the photos - wish I could have been there at the rehearsals!

Sean

Sean
Double Crown Records
www.doublecrownrecords.com

Surf CD's / Vinyl / Fanzines / DVD's
Aloha Screwdriver - Lunar Wobble CD
The Nebulas - Euphorion LP / CD
Supertubos - The Fourth Drive CD
Continental Magazine - Issue #37 w/17 Song CD

Thanks very much to all for the nice words about the Atlantics tribute. That was one of the highlights - probably of my life! I'll have a lot more to write soon, but I did find this video - a snippet of us playing "Giant" at the Convention on Saturday. Enjoy!

Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube

EAA air show is 20 miles from where I grew up! Maybe a wind surf band will pop up in the future... I think some bands play there... haven't been to one of the shows in years.

I'd really like to see a photo of the F&PBs closing number at the HB Pier, anybody got one?

Buy Speed of Dark @ Bandcamp
Buy Spin the Bottle @ Bandcamp
My Blog- Euro Tour Blog
Pool Boys on Spotify
INSTAGRAM
Frankie & The Pool Boys on FB
Pollo Del Mar on FB
DJ Frankie Pool Boy on North Sea Surf Radio

Jeff(bigtikidude)