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The best plan is to be in Pacifica, California on Sunday August 3 to enjoy international surf live. But if you cannot be there, you can listen and watch thanks to KFJC.
Audio: Tune in 89.7FM or click on Netcast at kfjc.org or find KFJC Internet ->Eclectic on iTunes.
Audio and HD video: http://kfjc.org/live
Featuring -
The Kilaueas (Germany) 
Threesome (Serbia)
Frankie & The Pool Boys
and DJ Sid Presley!
7TH ANNUAL SURF GUITAR 101 CONVENTION
Saturday, August 9, 2014
8AM-8PM
The Starting Gate
5052 Katella Ave.
Los Alamitos, CA 90720
These days, just about everyone is familiar with the twangy, reverb-drenched plunk, undulating whammy bar and machine-gun staccato commonly known as “Surf Guitar.” It’s become one of the staple sounds chosen to set the mood for commercials, television programs and feature films by music supervisors and sound designers the world over. Whether it’s conjuring the feelings of Summer, the beach, the old West, outer space, a desolate desert, or the adventures and intrigue of an international super spy, that quintessential “Surf Guitar” sound is somewhere in the background.
Lesser known, however, is the fact that there are legions of fanatics spanning the globe that share a deep passion and sometimes obsession for this 50-plus year old Southern California art form. These die-hard fans keep the genre and its associated culture very much alive and thriving through internet communication, annual meetings, specialty radio programs, and an ever-growing network of performers, collectors and instrument aficionados. Since 2006, the single most important internet resource for everything Surf guitar has been Surfguitar101.com, and for the past 6 years, its official annual convention has been the most important gathering in the United States for anyone interested in this very specific musical style.
2014’s 7th annual Surf Guitar 101 Convention is slated to be the greatest and most well-attended to date. Headlining this year is none other than local Southern California legends Slacktone (slacktone.com), the Surf trio considered by many to have set the bar for all modern Surf bands with their jaw-dropping display of technical proficiency, attention to tone and sheer power. Making their way down from Seattle for a very special reunion performance comes The Boss Martians (facebook.com/bossmartians), who exploded onto the scene in the early 90s with their traditional sound featuring organ. From Japan, for the first time in many years with another historic reunion performance is The Surf Coasters (surfcoasters.com), one of the most prolific of all Surf bands, releasing upwards of 25 recordings since their formation in 1994. Debuting their brand-new full-length album Wiki Waki Woooo comes The Kilaueas (facebook.com/thekilaueas), all the way from Germany, who have been thrilling audiences with their energetic live shows and impeccable vintage tones. Making their California debut is The Supertones from New York, one of the longest running modern Surf bands, a staple of the East Coast scene since 1988. Back to the convention from Northern California to wow audiences once again comes instrumental supergroup Frankie & The Poolboys (facebook.com/frankieandthepoolboys), whose latest album The Adventures of Cap’n Coconuts has been consistently high on international critics’ lists. Up from the San Diego area comes first-wave legend Tom Stanton leading his trio The Surf Kings, who’ll present their special brand of heavy, moody Surf. And last, but certainly not least comes the intensity of power Surf trio Threesome (threesomeband.com), fresh off of a European tour in support of their latest EP, On Tour. Live performances will also include an all-star tribute to first-wave pioneers The Atlantics of Australia, featuring members of The Madeira, The TomorrowMen and Insect Surfers, and a special showcase by one of the originators of Surf music, the creator of “Mr. Moto” himself, Paul Johnson.
In addition to the live performaces, the all-day event will feature a Surf music marketplace, with one of the greatest vending areas of Surf-related CDs, records, books, magazines, posters, clothing, instruments, accessories and other collectibles anywhere! Of special note will be in-person signings by Sven Kirsten, who’ll be signing his new Taschen book Tiki Pop, and Dominic Priore, who’ll be signing his new book Pacific Ocean Park: The Rise And Fall of Los Angeles’ Space Age Nautical Pleasure Pier. Confirmed vendors also include Double Crown Records, Surf King Surf Wear, Dionysus Records, MuSick Recordings, Reverb Junkies DVD, Pounding Surf DVD, Paul Johnson and many more!
And, true to the old saying that there’s something for everyone, thanks to the generosity of major sponsors such as Fender, D’Addario, Eastwood and others, attendees will not only have the opportunity to receive free products, but also enter raffles to win exceptional prizes such as actual Surf guitars! Up for grabs will be a Fender Classic Player Jaguar set up by Slacktone’s Dave Wronski, an Eastwood Sidejack DLX in greenburst, a custom Atomic Brain pedal by Nocturne, and a deluxe accessory package from D’Addario, among many other wonderful prizes!
Bring the kids, listen to the amazing live music, shop ‘till you drop and meet and greet some of Surf music’s most important personalities, all within steps of a full kitchen and bar, in the air-conditioned comfort of Los Alamitos’ Starting Gate. It’s reverb-drenched fun for the whole family! Tickets available at the door.
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Frankie & The Pool Boys - The Adventures Of Cap'n Coconuts CD (Double Crown)
And just who is “Cap’n Coconuts”??? Simian spy turned Hollywood cad, now a bouncer at a bar in San Francisco? Or star of a 60’s TV sitcom that apparently only Pool Boys leader Ferenc Dobronyi remembers. “He was my muse for this record. I wanted to write instrumentals that evoked the feelings that I get when I remember the music of my early childhood."
But what will Cap’n Coconuts do for you? Drop the needle on side one and hear the full on, spare no expenses production of a Wrecking Crew session. Vintage Fender guitars and amps, B-3 and Vox Continental, Beatle bass and Ludwig Black Beauty. Horns, strings, glockenspiel. Tank reverb, tube compression and U-41s. The Pool Boys know you can hear the details. Thirteen originals and one cover song that strive for an individual tone and mood on each track.
Basic tracks for the Cap’n Coconuts sessions were cut with the core group of Dusty Watson (The Sonics, Dick Dale, Agent Orange) on drums, Danny Snyder (The TomorrowMen) on rhythm guitar, Tony Bald (The Gregors) on bass and percussion, Karen Dobronyi (Meshugga Beach Party) on keyboards and Ferenc Dobronyi on lead guitar. But, the Pool Boys continue to have an open membership when it comes to recording. The guest list on these tracks is a mile long with musicians from bands such as The Surf Coasters, The Exotics, Tikiyaki Orchestra, The Deadbeats, Pollo Del Mar sitting in. Insect Surfer David Arnson works his signature mojo on “Rattler Ranch” and the man responsible for the surf revival, John Blair of Jon & The Nightriders trades leads on “Cat Fight”.
Tracks: Cap'n Coconuts TV Theme - Skinny Dippin' - Ripley In Love - Cat Fight - The Golden State - Manx! - Sundial Suite - Tic Toc - Dead Man Surfin - Paniolo - Organic Matters - Rattler Ranch - Surfacing - Monkey Pod
Order from Double Crown Records: Frankie & The Pool Boys - The Adventures Of Cap'n Coconuts CD - DCCD51 - $12.75
In case you haven't heard, San Francisco Bay Area bands The TomorrowMen, Meshugga Beach Party and Frankie and the Poolboys head out on June 20 to headline at Italy's Surfer Joe Surf Music Festival. After which we are touring the entire country from the top of the boot to the heel. SG101's own Lorenzo Valdambrini not only created the festival, he's managing our tour and playing drums in Frankie. The man's a powerhouse of talent!
All the information on the tour can be found at this link. Hope to see some SG101'ers at the festival, be sure to introduce yourself to us.
Ciao!
On May 14, KFJC presents The Fifth KFJC Battle of the Surf Bands. In keeping with the tradition of the legendary Surf Battles of the early 60s, bands are given 15 minutes to present their best material and show, making for a fast paced and exciting 4 hour event. The biggest change this year is a move from the beloved Hotel Utah in SF, to The British Bankers Club in Menlo Park. The BBC is a big, full service restaurant and will easily hold the expected crowd, and will allow minors. Menlo Park is also much closer to KFJC's home.
Read on...
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