Photo of the Day

Inland though it is, the Rec Center at Barnes Park in Monterey Park CA was a hot spot for instrumental surf bands in the mid 60's. The Lively Ones and The Surfaris traded off weeks as the main event of the night...Dick Dale even played there now and then.. Sometimes another band or two would be brought in to fill when they couldn't make the gig. One night I remember a three piece band played that consisted of a very nervous young man with a brand new pearl white Jag, a drummer and...the guitarist sister on the.....accordian! The young guy on guitar was having a rough time of it trying to get tuned up...after a bit his Dad came out on stage, took his guitar and tuned it up for him. As you might imagine the band started their set with two strikes againist them. As they broke into the first number, the crowed booed, heckled and otherwise would not give them a chance. At last, the promoter came on stage and after the band left, told everyone to sit tight as they were trying to get The Lively Ones to come in.....no luck. Announcing the situation to the unhappy crowd our moderator stated that there was no one else to call and that the young band wanted to come back out and "do their best" to entertain. Now, how many of us would have the guts to do that? To end this long recollection, they came back out fired up and rocked the place...they had the crowd yelling for more when they were done..the kid played a cover of Miserlou that burned up the joint. They left the stage to cheers not jeers. I don't remember their name..never saw them play again...but anytime I want to feel sorry for myself for dropping a note or two I remember these guys...it's why we play.