IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
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Posted on Aug 12 2014 12:32 PM
Huge congratulations to Jeff! Once again, deeply deserved, and the outpouring of love from so many people was really something to see - truly heartwarming! I love how SanchoPansen put it - faith in humanity restored indeed! Jeff has been working his tuckus off for seven years now with all the conventions (and for many years before that setting up so many shows and tours for bands coming from outside of SoCal), and his generosity and good spirit are limitless. He'd give a visiting surf band a shirt off his back! One personal anecdote: the first time I met him was in the summer of '98, when the Space Cossacks toured the west coast, and the final gig of the tour was the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum. I asked if they could arrange for a surfing lesson for me, which they did - at 7 am the morning of the show! We were playing a late night gig in Costa Mesa or something (maybe even San Diego) the night before, so there was going to be little sleep - but Jeff offered not only that I spend the night IN HIS BED but also to drive me at 6:30 am to HB for the lesson - and that was the first time I met him! Who does that??? It's just unbelievable. I'm sure most bands that have toured SoCal have stories along these same lines, too.
I've known Jeff now for 16 years, and it's been incredibly rewarding to see him become one of the leading surf impresarios in the world. And especially after this last convention, which was definitely the best - and certainly the most financially successful one - yet. He's really making it all happen. Jeff, you simply rule! Well done, my friend, and thank you for EVERYTHING you've done for my bands and me and - most importantly - for this music we all love so much for the past decade and a half! (And huge thanks to Danny for coming up with this idea and making it all happen - proving that he also has a heart as big as all of California!)
— 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
Last edited: Aug 12, 2014 13:40:54
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25538
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Aug 12 2014 01:20 PM
Freddie and Ivan,
Wow!!
You got me all choked up.
Thanks for the very meaningful and moving
Words.
Freddie,
There were many times this weekend I thought
Of you and Baja Marty, and wished you were both here with us.
Please get well my friend.
As for the computer.
I will get to it after tiki oasis weekend.
Sg101 convention for me is not a one day event.
It's shows in bars from Wed. Before to tues after.
While still working every day, and then 3-5 hours sleep.
I just haven't had time to open the box yet.
But it will get used I promise you.
All in due time.
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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revmike
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3797
North Atlantic
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Posted on Aug 12 2014 01:37 PM
Though I have never met Jeff face to face, I feel like I have known him for years. He is truly a great champion of surf music, and a scene maker. I believe the surf music world is indeed better with Jeff being a part of it. Well deserved BTD.
Rev
Someday we will meet face to face.
— Canadian Surf
http://www.urbansurfkings.com/
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wfoguy
Joined: Dec 11, 2011
Posts: 2118
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Posted on Aug 12 2014 04:38 PM
Jeff, if respect from your peers means anything, than you know where this ends. My contact with you has been in the chat room during Jonpaul's show. I'm sure you will treasure that moment on stage forever. Best wishes to you with your new 'puter and I hope you have a great trip next summer. To all who donated, congrats on a job done in a most excellent manner. It's great to be a member of this forum.
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19265
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Aug 12 2014 04:48 PM
I've known Jeff online going back to (guessing here) 1999 or 2000 back on the Cowabunga list. I got to meet him and Baja Marty in 2004 at the Brookdale Lodge on the 1st Surf Coasters USA tour. Jeff's friendship and his conventions have literally changed my life, infinitely for the better.
I was absolutely thrilled when Danny proposed we buy Jeff a new computer. We started passing the hat on Facebook and HOLY SH*T the money just poured in from so many people who love our favorite Big Tiki Dude. One thing led to another and Lorenzo suggested seeing if we could get him to Surfer Joe. I was absolutely astonished when we handily met that goal. So many people care deeply about Jeff and his efforts over the years!
Thank you so much Jeff for everything. I hope you finally get some rest after Tiki Oasis and you can start using your new computer. I hope you can start making some podcasts or other interview projects with it. I'm sure many folks would love to help you learn it and figure it out. I hope you do great things with it. And I hope you have the time of your life at Surfer Joe 2015. I talked to several people who are now considering going to Surfer Joe 2015 just so they can experience it with you (myself included).
You are one of the good ones Jeff. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
— 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
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Aug 12 2014 05:04 PM
I'm so happy for Jeff I could bust! And, Brian's right about seeing Jeff at next year's Surfer Joe Festival. Won't that be something? I'm grinning from ear-to-ear just thinking about how much fun Jeff will have there.
They say you have to be a friend to make a friend, and that your friends reflect a lot about your character. They also say you're not truly wealthy until you have at least one true friend. Looks to me like Jeff is one of the wealthiest people I know. He has a lot of good and true friends.
Congratulations, Jeff! This couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25538
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Aug 12 2014 06:08 PM
Yer killing me guys.
I'm tearing up over here.
But seriously, thank you thank thank you.
I am so overwhelmed.
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Aug 12 2014 07:09 PM
bigtikidude wrote:
Yer killing me guys.
I'm tearing up over here.
But seriously, thank you thank thank you.
I am so overwhelmed.
Because you are the best?
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25538
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Aug 12 2014 09:05 PM
No, I'm the beast.
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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kick_the_reverb
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 1335
Escondido, CA
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Posted on Aug 12 2014 09:39 PM
I should renew your magazine subscription, as well, while we are all in a giving mood
Ran
— The Scimitars
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11046
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on Aug 12 2014 11:39 PM
eltwang wrote:
I can't see my name in the list apart from 'El Ray' which is probably the contribution. Anyways - congrats Jeff!! So happy to see this was pulled off. Great video :-)!
Fixed Lars. Thanks again!
— Danny Snyder
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party
Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25538
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Aug 13 2014 12:06 AM
kick_the_reverb wrote:
I should renew your magazine subscription, as well, while we are all in a giving mood
Ran
That's quite alright.
You've given more than enough.
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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BoardwalkerJeff
Joined: Jan 24, 2008
Posts: 376
Santa Monica, Ca.
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Posted on Aug 13 2014 01:18 AM
NICE! None more deserving...
— Jeff Utterback
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Badger
Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4536
Wisconsin
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Posted on Aug 13 2014 06:22 AM
Big congrats for a giant-heart of a person!
So well deserved.
— Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel
DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.
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MadScientist
Joined: Jan 17, 2008
Posts: 2188
Atlanta, GA
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Posted on Aug 13 2014 11:10 AM
I am so thrilled that I could help be a part of this! I can think of no better way to say thank you to the dude that worked so hard for us all.
I hope you make the very best out of both the computer and the trip!
—
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DonBale
Joined: Feb 24, 2014
Posts: 156
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Posted on Aug 13 2014 11:53 AM
WOW Guys, I just can't believe all this....The whole thing made my eyes wet ........not an easy thing to do......what can I say, this community fuckin' rocks, you guys rock !!! I'll be honored to hug Jeff at Surfer Joe Festival 2015.............THANK YOU JEFF FOR BEING WHAT YOU ARE AND THANK ALL OF YOU GUYS WHO ORGANIZED THIS BEAUTIFUL THING...................I LOVE YOU
— Not surf but you might like it:
http://donbale.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA0g6Sn3e9FULMN0owd9YGw
https://soundcloud.com/fatalamanga
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11046
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on Aug 14 2014 09:48 AM
Some more fantastic photos taken by Darren Kruger. They really capture the moment…
— Danny Snyder
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party
Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25538
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Aug 14 2014 11:08 AM
Thanks Darren, and Danny for posting here.
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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Ruhar
Joined: Jun 21, 2007
Posts: 3909
San Diego, CA
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Posted on Aug 14 2014 12:51 PM
It's so great to see Jeff get the recognition he deserves!
— Ryan
The Secret Samurai Website
The Secret Samurai on Facebook
Last edited: Aug 14, 2014 12:51:41
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19265
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Aug 14 2014 01:04 PM
These photos have just caused an uncontrollable amount of smiling on my person.
— 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
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