It was a great night indeed (although I should've taken it slower with the Blue Hawaiis)! The Barnyard Burlesque Girls were great, and The Madeira left me stunned! What a performance. I ended up having to leave shortly after, but I don't think Ivan & Co. could have been topped! Can't wait 'til next year!

Yes Jet, that ties you and I. I would have seen them 8 times, but I couldn't afford to swing to Nor Cal to see the 3 up there.

To ISG, or Ivan,
please let me clarify, it was not the crowds in california that wanted them to turn down, but the club owners. ok there was one lady who left the baja cantina, but everbody else wanted it cranked.
I don''t know what else to say.

The Hula Hop sounded like a great event, how was the cars and tiki stuff, and vendors?

Jeff(bigtikidude)

Jeff(bigtikidude)

Last edited: Aug 22, 2006 16:52:37

I thought the whole thing was great. The vendors had some really cool tiki stuff; I got a tiki mug and a tiki puzzle. There were a bunch of people with large wooden tikis as well, and the Roller Girls were nice. The food was great, the drinks were awesome, the cars were cool, and the atmosphere was good. I didn't get to see all of the bands, but what I did see was fantastic.

That's my recap.

Hot Rod Hula Hop 2 was a BLAST!! Quite literally for me, as the talkback mic shocked me so badly at one point during the show that it momentarily shorted the electricity for the entire club. Man, my lips and teeth hurt for the next two songs! If we were in Europe, with 220V, I probably would have been killed! Yikes!

Notwithstanding the bad electric grounding, the whole event was just fantastic. The club was very cool, with a decent stage and great acoustics. A lot of people were there, probably 100-200, something like that, and they were INTO it. Many excellent vendors before the show, really tasty food, and everything ran smoothly and professionally. The entertainment started just before 8 pm, with a short burlesque skit, three girls in native island costumes that they systematically shed - one girl going a bit too far, and losing her nipple pasty! I missed it, though, as I was getting changed. When I got on stage following that act, I saw my beautiful clean blonde Showman head and cab with blood streaks on the grill cloth! I actually thought it was real blood, that there was some kind of an accident, and was not amused! I looked over at Dane's drums, and there was blood all over that, as well. Turns out later that it was just cherry syrup, and that it was part of the act, but the dancers got a bit too enthusiastic. Fortunately, I was able to get it all out, or there would have been real blood spilling! Nobody messes with my Showman, dammit!!

Anyway, the organizers of the event told us we can play as loud as we want, and that in fact, they WANT us to play loud! Haleluia! Sweeter words have rarely been heard by my ears! So, I cranked the Showman to 8 (it crept up to 9 over the next few songs :twisted:) and started Sandstorm. When the band kicked in, they sounded so unbelievably powerful, I felt like I was picked up by a giant wave - and dropped off 45 minutes later. I felt a literal physical push when they started. Wow. Man, I LOVE playing lead guitar in a kick-ass surf band! It's the best. And it doesn't get much more kick-ass than my bandmates, damn, those guys are good, if I may say so! I was just in awe of them on Saturday. I'd look over to my left, and Dane would be grinning llike a madman, pounding the living crap out of his drums, cherry syrup flying everywhere! Patrick strumming so hard his right hand was just a blur (and the guy is a LEFTY!!), and Todd unleashing the earth-shattering rumble with precision and pure cool. I had a good time, as you can probably tell! Repeated electric shocks from the mic, and all.... I think that's the most powerful and intense we ever sounded, slightly exceeding even the San Francisco show (which was a bit more precise, anyway). We played 45 minutes, with only two midtempo songs - which got the least reaction from the audience! These people wanted it fast and hard and REALLY loud, and we were more than happy to oblige. We finished with Intruder, as we usually do, and the response we got was unbelievable, just deafening (or was that from standing in front a Showman with volume on 9 for 45 minutes? I do remember hearing a lot of shhhhhh-khhhhhhraaaahhhh-shhhhhhhhhh which I took for applause and yelling... ).

We quickly packed down, and made space for the Crimson Ghosts - with Gein of Gein & the Graverobbers on drums! I wasn't aware of that until just before their set. And what a set - just awesome! They've got the attitude and the look, with the German WWI helmets and matching jean vests, and though I must admit I don't know a single Misfits songs, they worked REALLY well as surf songs. I was impressed. The guys played very well, and sounded fantastic. The lead guitarist was playing a Mosrite through a reverb unit (I didn't see his amp), and had a very trad, authentic tone - he was a trip to watch, cause he was mouthing all the words along to his lead lines! The rhythm guitarist was using a more distorted sound, I guess to convey the punk edge, but the bass playing (on a Mosrite bass) and drumming was pretty trad, otherwise. Anyway, I dug the hell out of them. And they drove all the way from Boston for this show! Wow. I highly recommend checking them out, if you ever get a chance. They have a cool myspace site, if you want to hear what they sounded like.

I had to go home right after their set, around 10 pm, as I had some college-related things happening on Sunday, and we had a 3.5 hr drive ahead of us (my wife was there with me). I'm really bummed out I missed the other three acts. Alas, duty called. It was great to see Jet Sterling, Guy (MidwestSurfGuy) and Matt (IndianaSurfGuitar) there. Also, Tom Hinders and Nick and Neal from Cleveland, really great guys all. And of course, Kuku Ahu, who organized this whole thing, and did such a fine job. Here's hoping there will be a Hot Rod Hula Hop III in the summer of '07!

Ivan

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

surfneptune
Geeze, don't worry about it... (backing away slowly) Don't even bother... really noooooo biggie.... honest have a great day really!

Well, hey, I'm being defensive now cause you put me on the spot! Just had to set the record straight, because it's easy to get the wrong idea when reading stuff on the internet, and we don't want anybody's feelings getting hurt, right? So, no need to back up slowly, stick around - just remember, don't poke the bear!

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

Don't poke the bear? You gotta earn that bear title mr!!!!

THe NEpTuNeS

I wasn't gonna say anymore on this, And I'm not trying to start or fan on a flame war, but I want to point out that.
At the surf museum(where the Maderia played) and at the Pier gigs there is a legal decible limit. Linda and I thought Ivan was a bit loud for legal limits, but we decided not to say anything about it, and there was no problem. At the Lava Lounge, I can't remember if the Club guy asked them to turn down, but in my opinion, the Maderia and Slacktone were waaaay loud. Also at the Whistle stop where there is supposed to be a bit of restrain in volume, it was extemely loud.
And at the Baja Cantina. Jamie had told them ahead of time it was going to need to be very restrained( so it was no suprise).
The only bummer is the Pitcher House, but they've had legal problems with the Neighbors 100ft from the building for a couple years now.
Its a bummer about it closing, but if bands have to play that quiet,
Good riddence to the venue.
Not that I'm complaining, I love it loud, don't wear ear plugs, and am already getting ringing in the ears, just from going to shows.
As Baja Marty says, let it rip, and let the ears bleed.
amen brutha,
Jeff(bigtikidude)

Jeff(bigtikidude)

IvanP
When I got on stage following that act, I saw my beautiful clean blonde Showman head and cab with blood streaks on the grill cloth! I actually thought it was real blood, that there was some kind of an accident, and was not amused! I looked over at Dane's drums, and there was blood all over that, as well. Turns out later that it was just cherry syrup, and that it was part of the act, but the dancers got a bit too enthusiastic. Fortunately, I was able to get it all out, or there would have been real blood spilling! Nobody messes with my Showman, dammit!

Man, where is the huge sigh of relief emoticon? When I saw that happened, I was sick about it. I am glad that it all came out. Ivan, you guys were incredible as always! Glad to meet Chris and hope we can make it over to the gig in Indy in October!

Jet Sterling, Cosmic Spy
www.surfabillyfreakout.com

The problem with the noise in Ca is that many of the venues are very close residential areas and the noise enchroaches. Bars can & have lost their business licenses over numerous noise complaints from people who live near the venues. At the HB International Surf Museum there are very nice town homes that are across the street & look down on the museum parking lot. Even in Surf City they try to keep the music at a reasonable level to keep from losing these concerts in the future.

I like to joke that if your band is good enough, no one will complain even if you play it loud. Madiera & Outer Wave both played it pretty loud recently at the museum. Not a soul complained.