Photo of the Day

New Gandy Dancer - Issue 97: "All originals little album Stateside . . . and this is the sound we like! Crystal clear, sixties style playing on stuff we haven't heard before. Bit of Ventures, bit of surf but in a flow of their own. Well performed and written (did I say all originals?), the best track of which is "Link Man" a rousing 12 bar delivered with panache. **** (Davy)

The Reigning Monarchs have reformed after a brief split and are once again doing shows around the Los Angeles area. They recently tore the roof off Molly Malones in Hollywood and are set to return to the Doll Hut in Anaheim May 11th. Go see what all the fuss is about as these instro monsters rip up the OC with their skanky cowboy surf noir jams and their sweater wearing ways.

In North Carolina, ‘round about the last weekend in April, some 18 to 20 bands from all over the country gather at the Cave, a tiny basement venue in downtown Chapel Hill, and play music for the crowd of eager patrons and each other. Musical styles range from rock, surf, soul, country, western, lounge, spacey, rockabilly, and few harder to define. What do these bands have in common? None of them sing!

Instro Summit 2011 is our third annual event, held from 7pm Friday, April 29th to 1am Sunday, May first. Currently the largest festival of its’ type in the Southeast, it features bands from as nearby as Durham to as far away as Ulm, Germany, all eager to share their lyric-free music with fans–and bands–that appreciate the genre.

Highlights this year include our three annual audience participation events. First is our “Can You Play as Wack’d as Link Wray?” contest, in which guitar players come on stage and try to out do and out-weird each other, playing their version of the buh-zarre solo from Link Wray’s song, “I’m Branded”. Second is “The Big Bass-Off!” Which works the same way, but with bass players trying to out-thunder each other with their interpretation of John Entwhistle’s solo from the Who’s “My Generation”. The winner of the former contest gets a suitcase full of Instro Summit swag donated by the band, the latter gets a prize package donated by BestBassGear.com. The third event, the "Rumble Jam", is when we encourage any and all guitarists who have a guitar, amp and know how to play "Rumble" to join us on stage and play said song in one massive, fuse-blowing multi-guitar wall of rockin' goodness. Last year we got 12 guitars players--11 male, one female--to join in the fun. This year, we're hoping for more--MANY more!

Of note to folks who are fans of Eastwood’s products is our first annual Instro Summit Raffle, in which our grand prize is a Brand-new Eastwood Saturn 63 guitar, donated by–you guessed it–Eastwood guitars. The Saturn is already a great-looking, great sounding guitar (as recently evidenced by several local musicians whose hands we literally had to pry away said guitar from after we got it set up at our local music store, the Music Loft of Carrboro), but this particular Saturn will be extra-special, as we’re having the Instro Summit logo custom-etched onto the underside of the Saturn’s clear pickguard, making it a unique one-of-one model. Other prizes include one of two Flip Mino HD video cameras, an Eastwood Classic 4 bass (part of a special raffle for folks who buy a ticket on Sunday, may 1st) and a 70 dollar gift certificate from the Music Loft of Carrboro, NC. All raffle proceeds go to the many hardworking, frequently underpaid bands and volunteers that make the Summit possible.

The Eliminators played for the Dewey Weber benefit @ Sangria in Hermosa Beach. Here is their live version of 'E5'.

Greetings from Canada!

The Falcons' new album Atomic Guitar features 12 original instros plus Sleep Walk. Recorded live off the floor in glorious analogue for that signature Falconesque sound, Atomic Guitar comes complete with a handsome cardboard cover.

Available at:  CD Baby,  Guitar 9,  Amazon mp3.

More info at:  www.falconbeachmusic.com.

Cheers, Mike Beddoes

So my friends, we are finally out with the info about the SJSF2011!

As you see the location has changed but in the end we are still in Livorno. This time at the port, a beautiful fortress right downtown. It is absolutely beautiful!

The place will hold a bit less people than last year, no more than 1100 people at the same time. But we will make it right. So if you are planning to come I highly recommend to PRE-BUY the tickets form the web site. The cost of the ticket is ridiculous.

On the web site you can find the line up. We have as usual great bands and many friends coming to play. It will be fun!

The festival will have an opening party the day before (Thursday 16th June) and an after party on Monday the 20th in Pisa with John Blair introducing his book and work to the bloody Italians!!!

WWW.SURFERJOEMUSIC.COM/FESTIVAL

What else? Merchandise will be available soon including the Bear Surfboards t-shirts especially customized for Surfer Joe. You remember the shirts you have seen in Big Wednesday; some of these will be for sale at the SG101 convention too in August.

I will post news and updates on the forum within the festival's thread.

-Lorenzo