Tuck
Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
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Posted on Jan 02 2012 06:01 PM
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Tuck
Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
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Posted on Jan 03 2012 03:39 PM
From ReverbNation:
Actualmente se encuentra grabando su primer disco "Buenos Aires Go Go Go", donde plasma las sutilezas rítmicas del tango criollo y lo integra al género surf de una manera impecable. Se acerca un disco contundente, sorprendente, que la ubica entre una de las mejores guitarristas del estilo para dejar a los escuchas con la boca abierta.
Podrán sentir en esta placa, los dos grandes amores de su vida: el TANGO y el SURF, un poco de twist, a go go y twang rabioso... "TWANGO" define con sus propias palabras.
Influenciada por grandes guitarristas como Duane Eddy, Link Wray, Dick Dale, Carl Perkins entre otros, estrenará su show en México (Mayo 2012), acompañada por los fabulosos versátiles y multifacéticos TWIN TONES.
The gist of it is, recording a first CD "Buenos Aires Go Go Go" and playing in Mexico [City?] in May 2012 with the Twin Tones. I am not sure why the RN site gives the hometown as Beverly Hills, CA. It makes you kind of wonder if you have the whole story. The songs are tango standards, if you look them up. I think the surf presentation is interesting,
Last edited: Jan 03, 2012 19:53:50
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Tuck
Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
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Posted on Jan 03 2012 06:27 PM
I have a theory ... I've registered it with some compadres. Now I wait and see if I'm an idiot who overthinks everything. Wait. I guess that's probably true either way.
Last edited: Jan 03, 2012 19:58:04
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favicius
Joined: Jan 20, 2011
Posts: 3
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Posted on Jan 03 2012 08:41 PM
Fantástico.La adaptación de Por una cabeza es buenísima.
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Shock
Joined: Sep 23, 2010
Posts: 23
Mexico City
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Posted on Jan 05 2012 06:06 PM
Yes she's a great guitarist! I can't wait to see her here in Mexico City.
I'm sure will be a killer concert.
— Música Inclasificable
Music journalist
http://musicainclasificable.blogspot.mx
https://www.facebook.com/MusicaInclasificable
https://twitter.com/soyshock
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Tuck
Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
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Posted on Jul 31 2013 06:42 PM
Tomo y Obligo With, I believe, Los Twin Tones.
She's moved on to a sort of cabaret act. Still in Mexico City. I guess the tango thing didn't work in Mexico.
Did Wray's name (or something close to it) is Melina Sarmiento. I think I've seen it as Melisa Sarmiento too. Maybe just a typo.
Last edited: Jul 31, 2013 18:44:45
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Emilien03
Joined: Jul 16, 2008
Posts: 1377
Coyoacán, Distrito Federal
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Posted on Sep 03 2014 02:37 PM
That's her real name. She's playing this weekend after a long time without a Surf show, she does other music stuff but I really don't dig it that much.
— When you have to shoot ... shoot! Don't talk.
"Los Grainders" > https://losgrainders.bandcamp.com
"The Strings Aflame" > https://thestringsaflame.bandcamp.com
"Planeta Reverb" > www.instagram.com/planetareverb
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Emilien03
Joined: Jul 16, 2008
Posts: 1377
Coyoacán, Distrito Federal
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Posted on Sep 03 2014 02:38 PM
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— When you have to shoot ... shoot! Don't talk.
"Los Grainders" > https://losgrainders.bandcamp.com
"The Strings Aflame" > https://thestringsaflame.bandcamp.com
"Planeta Reverb" > www.instagram.com/planetareverb
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Tuck
Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
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Posted on Mar 05 2015 10:36 PM
She's back ... Melina Sarmiento with a new group Didi Wray y Su Tango Surfo Combo:
El Firulete
Por Una Cabeza
Besame Mucho
Ginza Lights
Caravan
I think this was about the first show with this lineup. There have been a number since, along with her other stuff,of course, but I haven't seen any more video since then. She was looking for a saxophonist at one point.
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HallmarkSweptWinger
Joined: Jul 27, 2006
Posts: 1284
Berlinesia, Germanifornia
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Posted on Mar 06 2015 01:59 AM
Tuck wrote:
Well, this is different and pretty nice!
Nocturna
Well, I watched this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOJWF1WMT08
Am I the only one who think that this is TOTALLY AWFUL???
My first thought: Omg, this is boring…
Bad sound for my ears… the band is not good imo… They are not really playing together unfortunately.
I would go and leave the room very fast.
…I watched it again for a few seconds: It is the guitar sound which kills me and let me run away. Reverb defect?
What is this????
I like clean sound sometimes, but this is not even a good clean sound…
???
This here is much better:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p998GWtj930
Why???? Easy. It is THE BAND! Watch the band! The drummer!!! Wow!
Ii this video it is not Didi, it`s the band which is good…
My opinion.
— Twang cheers!
Ralf Kilauea
www.kilaueas.de
https://kilaueas.bandcamp.com/album/touch-my-alien
Last edited: Mar 06, 2015 02:02:32
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ElBirkerio
Joined: Dec 17, 2012
Posts: 519
Vienna
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Posted on Mar 06 2015 03:28 AM
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HallmarkSweptWinger
Joined: Jul 27, 2006
Posts: 1284
Berlinesia, Germanifornia
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Posted on Mar 06 2015 03:42 AM
ElBirkerio wrote:
HallmarkSweptWinger wrote:
Bad sound for my ears…
...classical Fender sound, I would say ...
yours
wolfi
Ah, therefore.
I see.
Thanks.
— Twang cheers!
Ralf Kilauea
www.kilaueas.de
https://kilaueas.bandcamp.com/album/touch-my-alien
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simoncoil
Joined: Sep 28, 2012
Posts: 918
Berlin, Germany
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Posted on Mar 06 2015 03:43 AM
I listened to some songs now and always stopped after a minute or so. I won't say anymore about the performance (Ralf already did that), but the songs (especially Nocturna) don't appeal to me at all. They seem like a random sequence of parts that have nothing to do with each other, no dynamics, no catchy melodies or anything, just a stream of notes with the rhythm section playing something behind it. Boring.
I normally don't even bother to comment on stuff like this, but you raise certain expectations when you use the name Wray. There should at leat be some effort to make songs with a bit more structure and variety to them. Listening to this was just disappointing.
— 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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Emilien03
Joined: Jul 16, 2008
Posts: 1377
Coyoacán, Distrito Federal
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Posted on Mar 06 2015 08:45 AM
I agree with Sven and Ralf, I have seen her several times playing live and also know the drummer and bassist. Sometimes sounds like no melody to me only finger exercise and yes, the lack of tone is an issue. Anyway, nothing wrong with telling the truth and supporting the artist, hopefully time and honest comments will help.
— When you have to shoot ... shoot! Don't talk.
"Los Grainders" > https://losgrainders.bandcamp.com
"The Strings Aflame" > https://thestringsaflame.bandcamp.com
"Planeta Reverb" > www.instagram.com/planetareverb
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simoncoil
Joined: Sep 28, 2012
Posts: 918
Berlin, Germany
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Posted on Mar 06 2015 09:34 AM
Sven? Who is Sven?
Emilio, are you confusing me with Sven from Bang!Mustang? I admit there are moments, when I wish I was him, but apart from the level of my guitar playing I am quite content with my own life as Simon.
— 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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Emilien03
Joined: Jul 16, 2008
Posts: 1377
Coyoacán, Distrito Federal
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Posted on Mar 06 2015 11:34 AM
s**t! yes! sorry ... my bad. Too early in the morning ... I saw Germany and thought about Sven, but he is lefleur.
— When you have to shoot ... shoot! Don't talk.
"Los Grainders" > https://losgrainders.bandcamp.com
"The Strings Aflame" > https://thestringsaflame.bandcamp.com
"Planeta Reverb" > www.instagram.com/planetareverb
Last edited: Mar 06, 2015 11:36:08
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simoncoil
Joined: Sep 28, 2012
Posts: 918
Berlin, Germany
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Posted on Mar 06 2015 12:50 PM
No problem!
— 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: Mar 06, 2015 12:50:22
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Tuck
Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
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Posted on Mar 06 2015 06:30 PM
Actually, I'm not sure how much of this show would have been posted if the band had had any say. If I had shot it, maybe none of it, and certainly much less of it. But I would have struggled to find something to post. Or waited impatiently for a better night's recording, because I like the idea. I apologize if I sometimes enjoy a potential as much as a final result.
I acknowledge that all of this show is rough, including the pieces I selected, and that it definitely isn't a standard sound. The roughness is why I tactfully mentioned that it was a first show. However, I do get bored with endless Jaguars adjusted just the same and playing something that is supposed to suggest Pipeline without quite being Pipeline. I will say at least that I'm definitely not thinking of the Kilaueas at all when I say that occasionally stuff that has gotten a lot of back patting here has made my eyes glaze over. It was smoothly consistent with the target, but unimaginative and bland. No, I'm not going to name names, but a name or two come to mind. And there are people who sound great, but write the same song over and over. As far as the Kilaueas, I love them. Not guilty on any of the charges above. Here the approach and arrangements actually do appeal to me. I cringe a bit when I hear the clams, I wish it were more fluid and comfortable, and I know that the band doesn't play together well yet, but I like where it is going.
As far as the song structure (I assume we can omit the Ventures standards) I am not sure how much of what we hear comes from the source material and how much from the adaptations. Por Una Cabeza is a piece from a film score, I think. Nocturna reminds me of ragtime. Which usually does sound like an exercise, probably because it is widely used as finger exercises by pianists. I don't think any of these pieces are originals. I do assume what bothers Ralf here would also bother him for at least a few seconds in things like Wipeout, Bulldog or, say, Movin'. Not everything is Banzai Pipeline. (By the way, I love Wet Girls, though it's not unduly elaborate.)
As far as the rest, I very carefully picked and chose in what I posted. Nocturna was a train wreck, and that is precisely why I very deliberately didn't post it. Dragging it in is a little unfair. Kind of like basing your review of a restaurant on things you found in the dumpster behind it.
Criticize this version. It ain't perfect, but it's more like what you were supposed to hear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC4dxEK-4UA
When I say "not perfect," it's because even though I can't play at all, I do have some feel for what people are aiming for or should be aiming for and some sense of when playing is easy and natural and flows and when hasn't quite gotten there yet.
Los Twin Tones are, of course, a great band of long standing. I wish we could see them at SG101 sometime.
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simoncoil
Joined: Sep 28, 2012
Posts: 918
Berlin, Germany
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Posted on Mar 07 2015 06:27 AM
Tuck, I can in part understand your point of view. Surf music like any other genre music can get repetitive and boring, mostly because there is always a hard core of "traditional" players and listeners, that don't want any alterations to the music. Actually, I think the best route to success inside the surf music community is to have a trad band with vintage gear with maybe a little faster playing, because that would appeal to the most people. For myself, I rather hear a band play something, that brings new ideas to the table. It doesn't have to be perfectly executed or played on vintage instruments, as long as it is interesting enough.
Tuck wrote:
I cringe a bit when I hear the clams, I wish it were more fluid and comfortable, and I know that the band doesn't play together well yet, but I like where it is going.
Could you elaborate on the last point? I have the feeling that maybe I miss something here. Where do you think the music is going?
As far as the song structure (I assume we can omit the Ventures standards) I am not sure how much of what we hear comes from the source material and how much from the adaptations. ... I don't think any of these pieces are originals.
That is part of the problem, I think. It takes a little more to make a good surf tune than a melody or collection of riffs and put a beat behind it. You could probably make decent songs out of the material Didi has in her repertoire.
To end this on a more positive note: When I started to watch the videos of Didi first, the whole setting instantly reminded me of some of the reasons why I got into surf music in the first place: small club, minimal equipment, just some (young!) gals and guys having fun by playing music. I am just guessing, but maybe it's this atmosphere that appeals to you as well, Tuck?
— 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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Fady
Joined: Mar 07, 2010
Posts: 2266
North Carolina
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Posted on Mar 07 2015 07:06 AM
I don't know how long she/they have been at it so don't confuse this with someone thinking we're witnessing the next LT!M in the making, but there is a lot to be said for getting out there and performing. I'm sure we can all appreciate what that takes/took - both those who have and those who never have.
— Fady
El Mirage @ ReverbNation
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