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I just received all the way from jolly old England the latest version of Pipeline Instrumental Review, #74. I am very impressed with each issue of this magazine, which has been published about 4 times a year since 1989. In this issue is a featured "Ventures vs. Shadows" article, in which they compare, track by track, all common songs from each group's massive catalogs! Very interesting! There is a lengthy article on the Pipeline 2007 convention and the bands that played there. And finally, what Pipeline is famous for, the detailed review section. In this issue they cover releases from SG101 member bands and favorites The Aquasonics, The Mel-Tones, The Thunderchiefs, Los Twang Marvels, and El Ray. Also reviewed are the recent Dick Dale Sundazed releases, The Crimson Ghosts, a Crossfires/Jesters CD-R, Duane Eddy, I Fantomatici, The Spotnicks, and of course The Shadows.

Highly recommended!

Live from the Mystic Theatre featuring Dusty Watson can now be purchased online!

http://cdbaby.com/cd/pyronauts2

Follow the link, and buy buy buy!!!

Check out this interview with TooFastJim of The Nebulas in the Boston based webzine Idle Hands Art!

So which Nebula is getting married?

You can now listen to Los Straitjackets on National Public Radio's World Cafe. Follow this link and click on the red Listen button to hear a very interesting interview and some great music!

Hey folks, you've heard the talk, you've read the rumors, you've probably yawned my antics, but here is the word:  The Lava Rats new CD is finally ready!  The album, "Don't Drink the Water" will be arriving at the Rat Cave tomorrow, and we will be sending out the first batch of discs to those who have already pre-ordered. 

If you want to pre-order your very own copy, send me a PM.  We are running an "SG101" special: from now until July 14th, if you order a disc from us, we will waive shipping costs, and you will have a brand new LR CD (and the accompanying pin) in your sweaty little hands for a mere $10. 

The next bit of news that accompanies the release of this disc is as follows:  we will be playing a CD Release Party here in SF some time in late July.  Details on that to follow.  There are confirmed dates for another exciting bit of news:  The Lava Rats Pac NW Invasion!!!!   We will be playing August 10-12 in the Pacific Northwest - Friday the 10th at Rogue Hero in Bellingham, WA with The 'Verb and The All-Nighters (I think I heard something about The 'Verb releasing a new disc somewhere...), and Saturday the 11th at The Green Room in Portland with The 'Verb and The Verbtones. 

We can't wait for you folks to hear (and see) this new disc -- more info and some helpful reviews to come....

When I decided to move to Mexico, to a place you can only get to by boat, I knew I would have to foresake my huge Fender Twin. But I didn't have much hope of finding a decent small amp that would make me happy. Most small amps sound like crap, the attitude being that you don't need decent tone for practice. But, I wanted a small amp that didn't make me cringe when I played it - and of course, I wanted clean Fender tone.

Fortunately, Fender just released the Champ 600, a 5-watt tube amp that is a tribute to the 50s-era Champ.

Did they get it right? Let's put it this way: when I put it next to my big blackface Twin, it actually added a sonic element to my sound that the big blackface beast was lacking. Of course, that was largely because the Champ 600 has a 6" speaker, meaning that its treble response is very good. But, surprisingly, it still gets a full, round sound that really works well for surf. The amp's power section comes through a single 6V6 tube, while a single 12AX7 completes the pre-amp section.

Controls include a single chicken-head style volume knob, which was the setup for the original Champ. You pretty much have to crank it all the way up to get decent volume, and even then, it is a little paltry. Still, plenty good for practice. There are two guitar cord inputs, one a clean channel and the other a mildly-distorted channel. Really, the distortion is almost non-existent, so I just plug into that channel and use the volume knob on my guitar to vary the drive. Naturally, there is no reverb, so you'll need either a pedal or a Fender reverb unit to get a decent surf sound. The amp also responds well to a drive pedals, but don't expect to get Marshall tone through your ProcoRat or other heavy-distortion pedal. A nice TS-9 tube screamer with mild overdrive is about all this amp can handle.

The two-tone cosmetics are a nice touch - very retro in appearance, with a nice Fender '50s vintage red-on-chrome badge that complements the overall look of the amp. A brown leather handle complements the vintage look.

For $200 bucks, this is a pricey addition to your collection, especially for a practice amp. But if good, clean Fender tone is important to you, this little amp does a good job for the money. I highly recommend this amp for newbies looking for a good surf practice amp and veterans looking for a nice apartment practice amp or even a recording amp.

Reno's own Mighty Surf Lords are back, with Billy Woods on guitar, Mike Warner on bass, and Jeff Campaigne on drums.

Check out our webpages and links  www.angelfire.com/ms3/themightysurflords

Will get more pictures up this week. We will be available for shows in August 2007.

"Praise The Lords"

The Continental Magazine - Issue #14  w/24 song CD - #CT014 - $5.95 (OUT NOW!!!)

The latest issue of The Continental Magazine, featuring interviews with The Ghastly Ones and Wormtone Records, along with a 24 track CD, is now available for only $5.95. Also included in this issue are Satan's Pilgrims, a look at the Scandinavian surf/instro scene, the Double Crown On The Rocks 10th Anniversary Fest and much, much more. 36 pages in all, with a 2 color glossy cover. To order send $5.95 US + shipping ($1.05 to any US/Canadian address, or just $2.05 to any other address) to Double Crown Mail Order. You can also send a Paypal payment to records@dblcrown.com or cash/check/money order or order through the Double Crown website.

Reverberated For Your Pleasure is officially available to buy. We are selling them for $15 which includes the shipping and handling. All you have to do is paypal the money to ptdobner@verizon.net and I will ship one out your way.

Check out some previews at http://www.myspace.com/theverb
The actual recordings are of a much higher quality.

The packaging is in really great digipacks and let's face it those are much cooler to have than a jewel case. Click read more for the album art.

So again, $15 to ptdobner@verizon.net via paypal. Vintage payment options such as through the mail will also work. Contact me about that.

Any questions e-mail me at jacobdobner "at" gmail.com or you can pm me.

Read More...for cover art!

The Pyronauts “Surf and Destroy” California Tour:

The Pyronauts are hitting the road and coming to a town near you in California this summer! Along the way they will be performing with many of their friends in the surf community like Pollo Del Mar, The Detonators, The Longboards, The Sand Devils, and Slacktone!  Will will be within a couple hours of virtually everywhere in CA!  We will also be releasing a new CD entitled: The Pyronauts Live at the Mystic Theatre featuring Dusty Watson.  More info on that soon.  Here is the schedule: