Shoutbox

sysmalakian: Birthday month starts now!
362 days ago

diceophonic: Vampiro Classics 2024 reissue
343 days ago

SabedLeepski: Sunburn Surf Fest for some scorching hot surf music: https://sunb...
300 days ago

skeeter: I know a Polish sound guy.
228 days ago

skeeter: I know a Czech one too!
228 days ago

PatGall: Surfybear metal settings
147 days ago

Pyronauts: Happy Tanks-Kicking!
126 days ago

midwestsurfguy: Merry Christmas!
94 days ago

sysmalakian: HAPPY NEW YEAR!
88 days ago

SabedLeepski: Surfin‘ Europe, for surf (related) gigs and events in Europe Big Razz https://sunb...
49 days ago

Please login or register to shout.

Current Polls

No polls at this time. Check out our past polls.

Current Contests

No contests at this time. Check out our past contests.

Donations

Help us meet our monthly goal:

100%

100%

Donate Now

Cake March Birthdays Cake
SG101 Banner

SurfGuitar101 Forums » Music Reviews »

Permalink The Monterreys Self-titled EP - Review by Noel

New Topic
Page 1 of 1

The Monterreys Self-titled EP - Review by Noel

I met The Monterreys at the 2012 Instro Summit in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. More accurately, they saw me wandering around the motel grounds looking for someone to talk to, and called me over to talk to me.

The Monterreys are Johnny Stewart on guitar, Leon Daniel on bass and Jason Dickey on drums. They’re terrific musicians. The set they played at the Summit was loud, raucous, vibrant, reverb-filled and hard-driving. So is this EP.

There are five tunes on the record, and only the first, Malaguena, is a cover. It’s a great choice to open with. If any tune is going to show a guitarist’s strengths or weaknesses, or a band’s for that matter, it’s this one. They rip through their driving version of Malaguena with confidence, verve and precision; this is fine ensemble playing, balanced and tight. The guitar playing might lead the listener to think Johnny plays flamenco guitar. He does. Builds to a terrific climax too.

Machete! Is a real cool tune that conjures images of a dangerous Mexican back-alley and someone running away at the end. I have a vivid imagination that I let music play with; what can I say? Again the performance is perfectly matched to the music.

Rampage is very Dick Dale-like, in a good way. Powerful double-picking and roaring glissandos combine with tight bass playing and frenetic drums to sound like something Dick could have written if he’d thought of it. Very catchy and lots of fun to listen to.

Waves of Kauai is a complete change of pace. Its’ melody is as exotic as anything and the performance suits the music nicely. I listen to this with my eyes closed and think about Hawaiian beaches at sunset, with waves gently lapping the shore, and I’m swaying to the music while holding my girl close. It’s just fast enough to dance to and just slow enough that I might not want to. Not yet anyway. Maybe later.

The first time I heard Zeta Reticculi I thought I was listening to a different band. Maybe something by the men of tomorrow? Nope, but sort of. Something ghostly or ghastly? Nope. Something with coffins or daggers? Again, no. It’s at once very familiar and unfamiliar. I like it! It’s a lot of fun and would play great at a Monster Mash.

The Monterreys are very versatile musicians who are able to blend different voices into their music that results in something at once both familiar and unfamiliar. This is a very good EP and I have only one quibble with it; it’s far too short. May I have some more, please?

Johnny Stewart is on SG101 as bangbang
http://surfguitar101.com/profile/view/bangbang/

The Monterreys are on YouTube here
http://www.youtube.com/user/THEMONTERREYS?feature=mhum

The Monterreys are on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/themonterreys

Monterreys is released on KBK Records and is available at

CD Baby
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/monterreys

Deep Eddy Records
http://www.deepeddy.net/merch.html

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

Last edited: May 21, 2015 13:03:02

I believe that Double-Crown has some of these as well. If they don't, Sean, drop me a line.

The classic complaint about EP's...they are too short. I don't disagree. I could have certainly taken in more from this great release. But the 'EP' really is a great way to introduce the world to a new band. And, despite having been together for a while when this was released, The Monterreys were very much a 'new band' at the time. They had just, in the handful of months leading up to this release, completely reinvented themselves. They went from a freakin amazing cover band(one of the best surf cover bands I have ever heard) to a well defined and powerful garage surf original combo.

THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary.

www.thekbk.com
http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/
www.reverbnation.com/thekbk
www.facebook.com/thekbkal

I did look on Double-Crown and couldn't find it.

EDIT: May we expect something new from The Monterreys on KBK Records any time soon?

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

Last edited: Mar 08, 2013 15:39:11

Hey Noel ,
Thanks for the great write up on the Monterreys . We have not played out as
much as we'd like with me working 2nd shift and my days off being Sunday &
Monday . I have tons of new material we just have to get the time lined up
to get them down and set on plastic ....
Also I haven't been on the SG101 site in a while with so many other things
going on . BTW I'm a grandfather..... A rockin Grandfather that is !
Much abliged by the kind words Noel and we look forward to seeing everyone
at the Instro Summit !!!!!

Johnny Rocket
The Monterreys !
http://www.youtube.com/user/THEMONTERREYS?feature=mhum

Noel wrote:

I did look on Double-Crown and couldn't find it.

EDIT: May we expect something new from The Monterreys on KBK Records any time soon?

I have some copies for sale.

Regarding Kill, Baby...KILL!, they're hard at work on their new CD. Stay tuned...

Ted James
Deep Eddy Records http://www.deepeddy.net
The Nematoads http://www.nematoads.com

Noel wrote:

I did look on Double-Crown and couldn't find it.

EDIT: May we expect something new from The Monterreys on KBK Records any time soon?

KBK Records, as it stands, is on hold. My life took quite a turn right after I decided to commit myself to doing the label. Frankly, I just don't have the spare time between by obligation to my kids, band, and job to give bands what they deserve in regard to promotion.

I do hope to release other things in the future(most likely Kill,Baby...Kill! related EPs and/or 7" vinyl), but for the time being I believe Monterreys and other bands could do just as well, if not better, for themselves in pushing their own releases.

THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary.

www.thekbk.com
http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/
www.reverbnation.com/thekbk
www.facebook.com/thekbkal

Page 1 of 1
Top