Tuck
Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
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Posted on Jul 26 2013 05:10 PM
As it happens, it was my pleasure. 
I'd say they don't really do half and half vocals and instrumentals as I think was suggested. Mostly the songs are vocals in any pure sense, though there were at least two, maybe three instrumentals. What is making it hard for me to remember and count before I've finished studying my video, and what is probably throwing other people too, is that their vocals range from fairly standard formats, usually with a sizable break, to forms in which there may be long instrumental segments initially and/or finally. So you get a a feeling you are hearing lots of instrumental material.
The instrumental technique has points in common with surf music, but it doesn't do a lot with tremolo picking, and the other instruments aren't really in the usual surf veins at all, which, combined with the melodies, tends to give it a quality that I compared above to rautalanka. As ignorant as I am of rautalanka, I suspect it might be safer to say non-surf instrumental music instead. Maybe non-American, non-Asian instrumental music. It feels like it's more in the British - (non-Atlantics) Australian - Finnish range, anyway. Folk or pop, sometimes played aggressively, but not rock & roll. It might fit pretty well with a lot of South Bay material.
Last edited: Jul 27, 2013 20:48:16
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brandonio
Joined: Jan 23, 2007
Posts: 885
Indianapolis, In
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Posted on Jul 26 2013 08:57 PM
Thanks for turning me on to these gals.I really dig the surf vibe going on with their music.I suspect that guitar player could really make it in a real surf band if given the opportunity.
— Reverb, It's A Way Of Life!
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Emilien03
Joined: Jul 16, 2008
Posts: 1377
Coyoacán, Distrito Federal
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Posted on Jul 27 2013 09:38 AM
Is that a Magnatone amp with vibrato?
Tuck wrote:
OK, an instrumental.
— When you have to shoot ... shoot! Don't talk.
"Los Grainders" > https://losgrainders.bandcamp.com
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FritzCat
Joined: Sep 11, 2007
Posts: 687
Sonoma, CA
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Posted on Jul 27 2013 06:55 PM
When I saw them last month she had an Ampeg with a Gibson Reverb III.
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19361
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Jul 27 2013 07:15 PM
Tuck wrote:
Instrumental, Damp Face. Reminds me of rautalanka more than surf.
I really liked that. Yes it has that big echoey sound of Rautalanka.
— Site dude - S3 Agent #202
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"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea
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Tuck
Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
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Posted on Jul 27 2013 08:39 PM
More rautalanka from La Luz:
Sunstroke
So, yes, it was just those two instrumentals. Three others that sort of feel instrumental except when they aren't.
I Wanna Be Alone
Clear Night
Pink Slime
Cleveland was definitely using the Gibson reverb unit.
image
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Tuck
Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
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Posted on Jul 27 2013 08:41 PM
Cleveland has a very Stratocastery sound.
And, Brian, they were trying to hustle a show in Iowa on Tuesday, even a private party gig. I thought of you immediately, but I didn't see that til Wednesday.
Last edited: Jul 27, 2013 20:47:08
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tonewoods
Joined: Nov 21, 2011
Posts: 112
Orcas Island, Washington
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Posted on Jul 28 2013 12:32 PM
Listening to their Boise show as we speak...
They've really dialed things in over the past 6 months...
Great tone through that Gibson tank....
— Download (for free!) "Overhead At Darrington"--fiddle tunes arranged for surf-style electric mandolin--by Bruce Harvie and The Sandfleas here...
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Tuck
Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
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Posted on Jul 28 2013 04:28 PM
Band's own video of Damp Face.
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tonewoods
Joined: Nov 21, 2011
Posts: 112
Orcas Island, Washington
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Posted on Aug 12 2013 11:16 AM
Doe Bay Fest...
8/10/13.
— Download (for free!) "Overhead At Darrington"--fiddle tunes arranged for surf-style electric mandolin--by Bruce Harvie and The Sandfleas here...
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Las_Barracudas
Joined: Apr 24, 2011
Posts: 1087
Surf City, NC
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Posted on Aug 12 2013 04:51 PM
I really dig the band. Great live sound, dynamic, well rehearsed. A very good mix of cool Instro sounds with neato harmonies / vocals.
If they ever make it to the East Coast I'll def go see them.
— METEOR IV on reverbnation
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Tuck
Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
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Posted on Aug 16 2013 06:49 PM
You mean, if they ever make it to the East Coast again? 
I like them too. I think they are not at all interested in appealing to a bunch of "weird old guy" surf music fans, but they'll just have to put up with it. If I have to listen to something that some idiot noo-nah reviewer thinks sounds "surfy," I'd definitely prefer listening to something that sounds good even though it isn't really particularly surfy. Instrumental is a definite plus.
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JObeast
Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
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Posted on Aug 23 2013 12:04 AM
As a Gibson Reverb III user myself, I find all these pics and vid of these awesome chicks (is it OK to use that term here?) using one mightily gratifying. I just got mine fixed up in Burbank at The Rock Doctor for $93 and am very happy with its sound. The Doc poo-pooed it saying it will never sound really good because it's just solid state. He also hates Kustom guitar amps from the cust of the 70s but I used to have one and loved it, esp in tandem with a tube amp. I just don't hear what's so awful about vintage solid state.
tonewoods wrote:
Doe Bay Fest...
8/10/13.
— Squink Out!
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clepak
Joined: Jun 11, 2006
Posts: 551
Liege (Belgium)
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Posted on Aug 23 2013 02:15 AM
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Tuck
Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
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Posted on Aug 23 2013 12:36 PM
I have to confess that phrases in that article like (the title) "La Luz’s Shimmery Surf Rock ..." and "These sultry, dark songs ... are packed with breathy, bell-like vocals" made me feel that when it goes beyond simple information on releases to talk about music this article is pretty much useless. It's more of a hymn of adoration than an actual evaluation. I'm not sure the author would recognize surf music if it walked up and kicked him/her in the tank. This is the school of modern musical writing that applies the adjective "surfy" to everything with a melody and/or vocal harmonies that doesn't sound like c&w.
Shimmery does apply. That's the Gibson.
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SURFmole
Joined: Nov 22, 2007
Posts: 901
Portland, OR
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Posted on Aug 23 2013 10:22 PM
I like them. I'd buy their EP if it was easily available in a format other than itunes.
— www.apollo4.com
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HockeyPuck
Joined: Sep 11, 2012
Posts: 117
Sierra Vista, AZ
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Posted on Aug 26 2013 11:42 PM
They showed up on one of my Pandora surf stations tonight. First time I've heard them there. Definite thumbs up.
— All I wish I knew what they were talking about
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Ruhar
Joined: Jun 21, 2007
Posts: 3909
San Diego, CA
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Posted on Oct 08 2013 11:52 AM
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tonewoods
Joined: Nov 21, 2011
Posts: 112
Orcas Island, Washington
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Posted on Oct 08 2013 12:55 PM
Ruhar wrote:
Their new LP is now streaming at SPIN magazine:
http://www.spin.com/articles/la-luz-its-alive-album-stream/?utm_source=spintwitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=spintwitter
I love how they leave the amp hiss in on the tails of the tunes...
— Download (for free!) "Overhead At Darrington"--fiddle tunes arranged for surf-style electric mandolin--by Bruce Harvie and The Sandfleas here...
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sonOsea
Joined: May 27, 2012
Posts: 85
Northern California
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Posted on Oct 09 2013 10:41 AM
Reminds me of "Mazzy Star" in a way... Just a bit happier.
I will definitely be buying this!
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