Jeff(bigtikidude)

Wow!

This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.

bigtikidude wrote:

2 things about next year,
10th annual convention.

First, tiki oasis is moving forward a week,
So I will move forward a week.
So plan for August 4th 5th 6th weekend.

Second, the Convention will be 2 nights!
And probably 6 international bands!

Wow!

I guess maybe HOT ROD HULA HOP has to move again also - it was nice for an Ohioan to attend both events this year.

surfbeatslbc wrote:

Can't wait to see Bambi Molesters, etc... next year. Let the speculation begin. So are you going to skip the pier show that month next year, or do it a different weekend?

Yes, BAMBI MOLESTERS and I'm there dude!

Thanks again to Ran , BTD , Marie and crew and front table help --- all of them as this year's event was fantastic times two and definitely left one grasping for more stamina.,but well worth it.

The new guitar is very nice, was writing some new stuff with it today and I may change the strings to heavier gage flat wounds. Very nice ...thanks to all that made that happen.

I happen to agree with the other reviews about surprise , quality and positive comments comments and as to why it took a while to respond —

The mighty KAHUNATONES
Don't Fear the Reverb ! Grateful Surf ! SURFIN' Tiki Bandits !
I can be reached through the following or at don@donschott.com. :

www.donschott.com
www.eyerecords.com
www.dontfearreverb.com
www.kokopellistages.com

I’ve been attending these conventions every year since it started, which would make 9 years. I was even fortunate enough to play at 6 of them, a great honor and I appreciate very much being included. There are many wonderful aspects to this yearly ritual that have helped it become one of the key events in my life. Below my post is the list of acts that have played. Let me know if I missed any.

I’m not blessed with detailed memory like most of our reviewers here, I tend to take things in as a whole. I can say that the vast majority of these acts are wonderfully talented people who clearly love what they do. I think that’s the secret behind our surf community. There’s obviously no financial gain for this, it’s all done for the love of the music and increasingly the fondness many have developed for each other in the community, both fans and musicians.

There are different kinds of talent at work here. Some are blessed with high levels of musicianship and to hear how they apply that to the surf music paradigm is endlessly fascinating. But equally interesting is how those of us with a modicum of talent ( I include myself in this category ), use our creativity and personality to carve out our own unique variants. To have both of these play side by side in an egalitarian setting to me is one of the real strengths of the convention.

My favorite part of the convention is just getting to spend time with all the friends I’ve made over these years. I’ve never been a social butterfly, so to have met so many lovely people and to have something in common, and to develop strong relationships with many of them, is a debt I owe to Jeff, Kristena, Jonpaul and Marie,Ran, Josh and all the others who work so hard to put this together every year.

I hope it continues to grow and that those of you who have put off attending finally get off your duffs and make the pilgrimage, you won’t be sorry.

List of acts who played the convention:

Eddie Bertrand w Eliminators (SoCal)
The Boardwalkers(SoCal)
Outterwave,(SoCal)
The Aquasonics(Colorado)
Secret Samurai,(San Diego)
The Madeira from (Michigan,Indiana)
Pollo Del Mar from (NorCal)
Insect Surfers (SoCal)
Detonators (SoCal)
Slacktone(SoCal)
The Ghastly Ones, (SoCal)
The Longboards, (Spain)
The TomorrowMen, (NorCal)
The Verbtones, (Portland)
The Surge, (Atlanta)
Secret Samurai, (SoCal)
The Sand Devils, (SoCal)
The Reventlos,(SoCal)
Paul Johnson and Eddie Bertrand (SoCal)
The Chanteys (SoCal)
The Duotones (SoCal)
Space Cossacks (Washington D.C.)
Frankie and the Poolboys (NorCal)
Atomic Mosquitos (Baltimore)
The Space Rangers (Germany)
Wadadli Riders(Antigua)
The Surfside IV(Phoenix)
Men of Mystery (SoCal)
Satan’s Pilgrims (Portland)
The Razorblades (Germany)
The Bradipos IV (Italy)
The Cocktail Preachers (Chicago)
Daikaiju (Alabama)
Meshugga Beach Party(NorCal)
The Deadbeats(NorCal)
The Blue Demons (Canada)
The Tequila Worms (SoCal)
Jon & the Nightriders (SoCal)


El Ray (Denmark)

Los Venturas (Belgium)

The Exotics (Wisconsin)

The Dynotones (SoCal)

9th Wave (New York)

The Intoxicators (Florida)
Martin Cilia (Australia)
Surfer Joe (Italy)
The Pyronauts (NorCal)
The Aqualads (North Carolina)
The Mystery Men (Atlanta)
3 Balls of Fire(SoCal)
Glasgow Tiki Shakers(SoCal)
Astronauts tribute
Penetrators tribute
The El Caminos (Japan)
Boss Martians- Seattle, Wa.(reunion of 90s line up,& music)
The Surf Coasters- Japan
The Kilaueas- Germany
Threesome- Serbia
The Supertones- N.Y. N.Y.
The Surf Kings- Oceanside, Ca.
Frankie & the Pool Boys- S.F. Ca.
Atlantic Tribute
Davie Allan and the Arrows (50th Anniversary show)(USA)
The Eliminators(USA/So.Cal.)
Els A Phonics(Spain)
The Longboards(Spain)
The Volcanics(USA/So.Cal.)
The TomorrowMen(USA/Nor.Cal)
Boss Fink(USA/So.Cal.)
MoonBase(USA/Atlanta,Ga.)
Jim Messina and the Jesters tribute set.
The Phantom Four, featuring John Blair (Netherlands/U.S.A.)
Messer Chups (Russia)
The Bradipos IV (Italy)
George Tomsco of The Fireballs (New Mexico)
The Space Cossacks reunion (DC)
The Mach IV reunion (NorCal)
Tikiyaki 5-0 (So-Cal)
Crazy Aces (Tennessee)
Kelp (Santa Barbara)
The Secret Samurai (San Diego)
Original Surfaris Tribute

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

Last edited: Aug 28, 2016 11:38:10

Part II - starting at 10:30 pm, the Convention!

All of us in the Cossacks were very happy with our set at the convention - it was probably one of if not thee best one we played (well, Doug said he played better the night before - but I couldn't tell! He really was fantastic both nights!) I gotta say that it was a true pleasure to play with the Cossacks again for these five reunion shows, and playing the convention again was a real privilege. I was worried about the attendance after a long day of surf music, and while some had left, there was still a very large and HIGHLY enthusiastic audience that gave us an amazing reception! Thank you all VERY MUCH! (One special memory - Phantom Frank actually came up to the stage, right in front of me, during the song Tsar Wars and gave me a big smile and an upraised fist - wow! )

Once we finished I was able to finally just relax - thank goodness, since the Phantom Four with John Blair were next, and for me, the greatest attraction of the whole convention. I wrote at length about their convention set here, so I'll just say that despite my expectations being extremely high, they surpassed them. Frank has been one of my greatest inspirations in surf music since I first really got into it in '94, and it was an immense pleasure to FINALLY see him in action, after 22 years of being such a big fan. And having my compadre John Blair on second guitar made the whole set even more special - especially when I saw him joining Frank in jumping on stage! I NEVER thought I would see that! But it was awesome! Great job, John! The crowd was SERIOUSLY into them, too - Frank has an on-stage presence the like I've never seen and he was able to really connect with the audience - who after a few songs were all jumping up and down right along with him! (Even Danny and Tony, standing right next to me - heck, even me, and I never do that!) It was probably my favorite set of surf music I've seen in many, many years.

There was another hour of so of camaraderie between the bands after the convention ended, which was very special for me. In particular, Messer Chups, the Bradipos IV and the Phantom Four were all milling about, and there was a lot of hugging and congratulating. Just wonderful.

Sunday was almost as special as Saturday. The Original Surfaris Tribute, Crazy Aces, the Mach IV, the Bradipos IV, George Tomsco, Messer Chups, the Phantom Four and the Space Cossacks - I think that's everybody. I got to see full sets by the three bands I missed the day before, the Mach IV (a total blast, those guys were having enough fun for all seven bands - sounded really great, too! Was so impressed by Tony's drumming in particular. He's turned into a total monster!), the Bradipos IV (a powerful, moving set, many songs from their new album of old Italian classics, they REALLY shine live - somehow that elusive quality they have live doesn't completely come through on their recordings, IMHO, but it only makes their live performances so much more special), and Messer Chups (man, what a great set! I saw them play at Surfer Joe last summer, but they really clicked with me this time around. Oleg is a fantastic guitarist with an exquisite touch on guitar, while Boris is another drumming monster - his solo during the final track, Peter Gunn, left me just stunned! And then of course, Svetlana adds a massive layer of cool and sexy on top of everything - and such a nice and warm woman in person! It was a privilige to be able to share the stage with them at these two shows). I got to see and enjoy only about 20 minutes of the Phantom Four set since I had to go change, get my stuff ready for our show and warm up - that was disappointing, I so BADLY wanted to watch their entire show, but you gotta do what you gotta do. Was really DREADING following them, too! But again, you gotta do what you gotta do!

We played another good - and FUN - set, though Mark had issues with a bad high-E string which kept unraveling at the ball-end, constantly throwing his Jaguar out of tune, and finally snapping just a couple of songs before the end of our set - it's one of those weird things where you can tell on stage that something is out of tune and you keep thinking it's YOU. So, there were many tuning breaks! Once the string broke, Oleg blessedly came to Mark's rescue, lending him his Jazzmaster - thank you so much, Oleg!! But despite this mini-crisis, it was a lot of fun, and I know that it was a particularly special show for Catherine and Doug, their first time playing at the HB pier, and like all of us, they were really struck by the beauty of it all.

We mingled for a while afterwards (really hard to say goodbye! I HATE that part!) and then went off to Surf Dog's for the final jam. Tomsco was already playing and sounding clean and gorgeous, with occasional backing by PJ. Don Schott was in charge of organizing the jams (and playing a few, too), and Maxx Kominsky was very active in many of them! He's turned into a truly fine surf guitarist, I am impressed more and more with him each passing year! We got some food and were able to catch up with the Atlanta contingent - Chad Shivers, Bob Walk, Jamie Galatas, Suellen Germani and more - and also my brothers Jeremy DeHart and Jonpaul Balak with Marie - what a pleasure to talk to all of them! And also Chris Fesker from Colorado - really good to see him! A ton of other people around, Doug of the Cossacks, Fady, Noel S., Mike Vernon, and many more that I'm forgetting right now - and then a bit later we were joined by none other than Niels Jansen of the Phantom Four! The rest of his band was resting at John Blair's house, but Niels took the car and came over, just to have more chance to talk to surf music people! I met Niels at Surfer Joe last year, and after just those two days and then again these two days, I feel a connection with him as though we've known each other for 30 years. But then, there is an astonishing number of people in this scene with whom I get this feeling. It's truly a family.

I was talked into playing Apache and the Savage, with Doug on drums, Jeremy on bass and Fady on rhythm guitar on the former and Chris F on rhythm guitar on the latter - great fun! Then a bit later on we were able to get Niels on drums, Jeremy on bass and me on rhythm to back Maxx on the Phantom Four's Ramgaya - and Maxx just KILLED IT!! You can see a video of it on YouTube - wow! (Actually, here it is: https://youtu.be/EHnwqy2aleU ) And now I can say I got to play with Niels, too! Whoo-hoo! As soon as it finished, Maxx talked me into playing Intruder with him on rhythm and Jeremy on bass, but who to drum?? Doug stepped up - but he had never heard the song! So, I told him, it's a typical Dick Dale thing, just follow me. Well, you could have knocked me over with the feather, but he picked up on EVERY cue exactly right until the breaks at the very end (which were tricky to communicate on the fly), and pulled it off like he had been playing the song for years! Just unbelievable, and it drove home what an incredible drummer he really is. Thank you, Maxx and Jeremy, that was a freakin' blast! And with that, it was over. We again milled around for a bit, but most of us had flights to catch in the morning, and we said our goodbyes with heavy hearts - and ringing ears!

Special thanks for my Cossacks bandmates, playing these three shows was truly an honor, and everybody played incredibly well! I'm so grateful we got to do that! Also special thanks to my travel buddies Brian Neal and Danny Snyder (and also Doug part of the time, too) - it's a true treat to be able to share these few days with you every year and bask in the glow of your good friendship!

Most importantly: HUGE THANK YOU to Jeff, Kristina, Ran, and EVERYBODY else who makes these weekends possible! You've truly outdone yourselves this time! This one was definitely the best one yet, and one for the record books! Alpine Village was a big hit, and it's a perfect place for the convention. As Jeff said at the end of the evening, this is our new home! Very exciting!

Whew!! How much longer till the next one?? Time to start counting the days! And that may be the best way to close all this: folks, if you've not gone yet, PLEASE PLEASE do everything you can to go next year! I guarantee you will have an unforgettable and inspiring time! All real surf music fans, at least in the US, must start thinking of the Surf Guitar 101 Convention as a true annual pilgrimage, something not to be missed, a very special event. Jeff is working REALLY hard to make it an incredible experience for surf music fans, and given how few we are in numbers, the more support he gets the more amazing he can make it. And believe me, being there in person is VERY different from watching it on video! The camaraderie and new friendships are as important as the music. I really can't overemphasize how wonderful it is to be there - and it gets more wonderful with each new visit due to seeing more and more old friends. It's truly a family! I hope in the future we get to the point where this will really be a can't-miss event for all American surf fans!

Great to see so many of you again and love you all!!!

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

Ivan,
Wouldn't be a review from you, if it wasn't a long epic tale.
Awesome Thank you, and Thank you for your kind words and trying to convince more people to come next year.

Jeff(bigtikidude)

Thanks for the detailed review, and I really appreciate the shout-out!
When's the next time we're seeing you here in one band or another?
Ran

IvanP wrote:

HUGE thanks to Ran for making this incredible amp and reverb unit collection available to all of us! I know that he really paid a personal price in doing that - having to be there very early both on Saturday morning and Sunday morning, and pretty late on both nights. Your generosity is deeply appreciated, Ran!

The Scimitars

CrazyAces wrote:

Yes indeed, thank you Ran!
That's a good deal of hauling and work and we're very appreciative.

If I'd seen a load consolidated like that I'd have put a 10-person route clearance team out for security. Wow!

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.

Thanks for the kind words Brian and great review! It was so great to see you again my friend!

Ryan
The Secret Samurai Website
The Secret Samurai on Facebook

Hey Everybody:
I'm still slowly recovering from the 1-2 punch of the Surf Guitar 101 Convention and Tiki Oasis weekends.
I'd like to thank all of the people that came, the bands that played, the volunteers who helped. And of course a Huge thank you to Ran aka (Kick the reverb)for the amps,and Dusty for the Drums.
And the great staff at the Alpine Village. Great Venue (hope to keep the event there for many years)

Since Tiki Oasis is moving 1 week earlier next year.
I'll be moving the Surf Guitar 101 convention earlier also.
2017 will be the 10th year anniversary of the Convention.
So it will be a 2 night show. Friday August 4th will be all the best So. Cal. bands.
And Saturday August 5th will be a huge all star line up of many International bands,
and bands from around the USA, And hopefully a few really big name bands from So. Cal. as headliners.

I hope many people will consider coming, As it will be the biggest and best Surf Guitar 101 convention yet.
And possibly make it a 2 weekend trip, as the Tiki Oasis theme "International Espionage" will surely
Make it a not to miss event also.

I hope to announce the band line up shortly after Jan. 1st.
But I just wanted to give everybody a heads up on the date change for next year.

Thanks to all the loyal yearly attendees,and to all of the 1st time attendees this year.
Jeff Hanson(bigtikidude)
Founder & Organizer of the Surf Guitar 101 Convention.

Jeff(bigtikidude)