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We are pleased to announce that the 8th Annual SurfGuitar101 Convention will be taking place on Saturday, August 8th, 9am to 8pm, at the Garden Grove Elks Lodge in Garden Grove, California! Please note the venue change this year!
Once again we have assembled an amazing lineup and have continued our tradition of hosting international bands. This year we have the incredible King of Fuzz Guitar, Davie Allan, celebrating the 50th year of his musical career! We have two bands from Spain: The Longboards and Els A-phonics (who knocked them dead at the Surfer Joe Festival in June). Also on the bill are California legends The Eliminators, the young and brash traditionalists The Volcanics, and the new hotrod surf band Boss Fink (featuring members of The Ghastly Ones and the Huntington Cads). Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia we have the progressive instrumental band Moonbase. From a time and place unknown we have the sci-fi stylings of The TomorrowMen. And it wouldn’t be a true surf guitar convention without the legendary Paul “Mr. Moto” Johnson of the groundbreaking 60’s band The Belairs. Finally we have an all-star tribute to Jim Messina and The Jesters featuring John Blair (Jon & The Nightriders) and Ivan Pongracic (The Space Cossacks, The Madeira).
Also new this year will be a live broadcast and stream courtesy of KFJC and Cousin Mary! KFJC will be broadcasting on 89.7 FM in the Los Altos Hills area as well as streaming audio and video on the ‘net at kfjc.org!
Be sure to get there early for the SG101 members jam (see the links below to sign up).
Once again here is the lineup followed by the venue details:
Garden Grove Elks Lodge #1952
11551 Trask Avenue
Garden Grove, Ca. 92843
(714) 534-0226
Doors open at 9am, music begins at 10am and runs to 8pm. Cost is $30 at the door. The Elks Lodge is an all-ages, family friendly venue that will have food and beverage available all day!
In addition to the music we’ll have vendors selling surf music and surf related items. Check out these raffle items thanks to our generous sponsors:
For more information please see these links:
As usual there will be plenty of amazing shows before and after the convention, including a convention after party and a Huntington Beach pier show the following day.
Saturday, August 1, 1pm: The Longboards, Brodaddy at Little Louis BBQ, 2455 Winchester Blvd, Campbell, CA, littlelouisbbq.com
Saturday, August 1, 7pm: The Longboards live on KFJC, 89.7 FM in Los Altos Hills, CA, and live streamed at kfjc.org
Sunday, August 2, 3pm: The Longboards, The TomorrowMen, The Neptunes, Forbidden Island, 1304 Lincoln Ave, Alameda CA, forbiddenislandalameda.com
Tuesday, August 4, 8pm: The Longboards, Fascinating Creatures of the Deep, The Crow’s Nest, 2218 E Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA, crowsnest-santacruz.com
Wednesday, August 5, 9pm: The Longboards, 3 Balls of Fire, The Tiki Creeps, The Redwood Bar & Grill, 316 W 2nd St, Downtown Los Angeles, theredwoodbar.com
Thursday, August 6, 8pm: The Longboards, The Tomorrowmen, The Pike, 1836 E 4th St, Long Beach, CA, pikelongbeach.com
Friday, August 7, 9pm: The Longboards, The TomorrowMen, Moonbase, Insect Surfers, The Purple Orchid, 221 Richmond St, El Segundo, CA
Friday, August 7, 9pm: The Phantom Surfers, Els A-phonics, The Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Ave, Albany, CA
Saturday, August 8, 9pm, The Official SG101 Convention After Party w/Tikiyaki 5-0 and Los Venturas, Surf Dogs, 5932 Warner Ave, Huntington Beach, CA, surfdogshb.com
Sunday, August 9, 11am, The Reventlos, Jim Messina & His Jesters Tribute, Moonbase, The TomorrowMen, Els A-Phonics, Los Venturas, The Longboards, Huntington Beach Pier
Sunday, August 9, 7pm, The Official SG101 Convention Wind Down Party and Jam Session, Outerwave at 7pm, Jam session at 8pm, Surf Dogs, 5932 Warner Ave, Huntington Beach, CA, surfdogshb.com
Thursday, August 13, 9pm: The Phantom Surfers, Els A-phonics, The Unclaimed, Viva Cantina, 900 W Riverside Dr, Burbank, CA
Many thanks to our sponsors: Reverb Junkies, Double Crown Records, D’Addario, Dionysus Records, The Surf King Surfwear, Radio Free Bakersfield, MuSick Recordings, Eastwood Guitars, North Sea Surf Radio, The Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum, Kustom Deluxe, Surfer Joe Music Festival, Nocturne Pedals, KFJC 89.7 FM, Fiberglass Jungle, Green Cookie Records, Surfy Bear, Caveman Vintage Music, and Lee Joseph Reverberations Media.
There is more to this story, continue reading ...
This year's mp3 compilation is now completed. Thanks to everyone who contributed! Just like in prior years I have placed a copy on archive.org for easier access. You can stream or download the entire collection here:
SurfGuitar101.com 2014 MP3 Compilation on Archive.org
Enjoy! Happy Holidays!
Now is your chance to own an official SurfGuitar101.com t-shirt designed by the legendary Fred Lammers! Multiple sizes are available in the following styles: men's, women's, and a men's long sleeve.
To reserve your shirt visit the SG101 Teespring page!
We are using Teespring to produce the shirt, and the shirts will only be produced if enough people reserve orders. Please see the Teespring FAQ for any questions if you've never used them before. The campaign will run until mid-December, and if successful, the design will be sent to the printers then. A short time later the shirts will ship to you.
If you have any questions, leave a comment or visit this forum thread.
Surf Guitar 101 is extremely happy and honored to announce that Alex Anthony Faide, the lead guitarist of the highly-acclaimed modern surf band Los Twang! Marvels, has been named the official SG101 Master Surf Guitar Instructor! We encourage SG101 members looking to improve their playing to consider signing up for Skype lessons with Alex. You will get full access to his prodigious talents and massive knowledge, and will receive instruction unique in its focus specifically on surf/instro music.
Who is Alex Anthony Faide: Alex is one of THEE most talented and celebrated guitarists in all of surf music and almost certainly needs no introduction in our community, but just in case, here’s his brief bio: As a teenager and young adult Alex played in MANY bands in his native Buenos Aires, Argentina, but the defining period of his musical life came when he studied in - and eventually instructed for - Robert Fripp’s legendary and highly challenging Guitar Craft program from 1995 until 2000. Moving to Germany in 2000, he started Los Twang! Marvels in 2002, touring all over Europe and Latin America for the next decade, even appearing on Brazilian network TV. Los Twang! Marvels’ second album “Jungle of Twang” (2008) was voted by surf music fans #3 in the Top 101 Surf Revival (post-1980) albums, while “Sea of Glory,” the album’s opening track, was voted #2 in the Top 101 Surf Revival songs. Alex was also a professional session guitarist for much of his time in Germany, playing many different genres but specializing in rockabilly, rock’n’roll, country and ‘Americana’. He moved back to Buenos Aires, Argentina earlier this year (which is two hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time zone). Alex speaks fluent English.
A few words about the lessons directly from Alex: “The emphasis will be on the mechanics of playing guitar with a pick rather than theory (which can be easily studied elsewhere on the internet). We will work on the student getting better through a body of exercises and quality practice concepts. Some of these exercises may seem very simple on the surface, but are quite difficult at the proper intensity (determined by the student’s current abilities). The possibilities are endless, and all skill levels are welcome. (My coaching can also lean towards learning repertoire rather than particular techniques.) There will be a focus throughout the study on generating good guitar tone, and I can also aid in the search for the right gear, effects, accessories and general surf-music paraphernalia, as well as sounds and bands, old and new. The regular program of study would consist of (roughly) a lesson every two weeks, which should leave enough time for the student to practice and experiment using newly learned techniques. Particular requests and wishes are welcomed, naturally!”
How much: $45 for an hour of coaching/instruction. Alex is offering the first half-hour session for free, during which the student’s capabilities and needs can be assessed, and an appropriate program of study calibrated. Payment would be made through Paypal to alexanthonyfaide@hotmail.com
Testimonials: There have been three Surf Guitar 101 members who have taken Skype lessons with Alex and here is what they say about their experiences:
Noel Squitieri: "Alex Anthony Faide is a guitarist's guitarist. As a guitarist, he is thoughtful, powerful, sensitive, inventive, hard-working, musical, artistic, and dedicated. In a word, brilliant. As a guitar teacher, Alex is patient, diligent, kind, generous, enthusiastic, and encouraging. Alex has been my guitar teacher since March 2014. Despite some concerns, there really isn't a limitation to taking guitar lessons using Skype. I enthusiastically and without reservation recommend Alex to anyone looking to study guitar."
Jeremy DeHart (The Monterreys, ex-Aqualads): “I started taking lessons with Alex and he immediately corrected some fundamental issues with my guitar playing that has led to a better foundation for my tremolo picking and a more robust ability to produce a better tone. He is very concise and extremely knowledgeable about all areas of the guitar, and I can't recommend his instruction highly enough. He has fundamentally changed the way I approach the guitar and practicing, and it has vastly and quickly improved my capabilities as a guitarist.”
Ben Johnson (The Deadbeats, ex-The TomorrowMen): “I've only taken a few months' worth of lessons from Alex, but even just an introductory round with him has been hugely helpful and illuminating! Alex's self-admitted approach is to teach "how" to play rather than "what" to play, and so my focus with him has been more on technical exercises than songs, but everything I've learned has been deeply applicable to more musical pursuits - both in playing and writing. If you want to get better at playing the guitar, and want to really get to know the instrument better than you do, talk to Alex. His help has already introduced me to an array of important details I might have otherwise missed or ignored - things ranging from how to milk the most tone out of both your hands (yes, both matter!), to developing a much more musical feel for the entire fretboard. After a few months of work, I can feel that my left hand is more limber, with my fingers more independent of each other, and my right hand is more steady with a more confident attack. And, just as important, my ears are more open! Not only is Alex an incredible technical talent to help your fingers, he's also an astute and inspired musician with a perceptive emphasis on the feel of what you're playing and hearing. It's a very holistic approach to the guitar, and he does it well enough that it even cuts through the technological limitations of Skype. It's helped me greatly as a player, listener, and writer. And he knows enough to school just about anyone on all fronts - you're bound to learn something, you can't lose!”
The future: There are early plans to develop a packaged curriculum (in both text and video forms), a guitar study class aimed directly at the surf community, to be sponsored and hosted by SG101, and initially aimed at two areas: tremolo picking speed and scale dexterity enhancement. Stay tuned for further announcements.
What to do next: If you wish to take advantage of your first free lesson, contact Alex through email at alexanthonyfaide@hotmail.com, Facebook at www.facebook.com/alex.a.faide or Skype at instrofreak.
I am pleased to announce the SurfGuitar101 2014 MP3 Compilation! Our 10th one! Just like before, this is a way for members to share music, recording tips, and to just have fun. The main emphasis is fun, so please send in an entry no matter what your skill level is. Here are the rules:
I have created an Official 2014 MP3 Compilation Forum Thread. Please use that thread to discuss the compilation and to get information on how to submit an mp3. Please use that thread if you'd like to find a fellow member to work with on the project. With the magic of digital recording and the Internet, remote collaborations are possible. Make your own virtual surf band! Let the comp begin!
Please check out our prior compilations if you haven't seen them already: 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013.
Inspired by the map created by Kahuna Kawentzmann, we now have a surf band map of our own. Any member of SG101 can add a band to the map by filling out a form. Our map allows one to tag a band as either "active" or "inactive", and you can filter the results accordingly. This lets you view all bands, only active bands, or only the inactive bands.
Our map is only a few weeks old and we already have 277 bands on the map from all around the world!
I personally enjoy seeing where all the 60's surf bands were from. And it is really great to see all the modern bands. I hope you enjoy this new feature! Do you know of some bands that we are missing? Please add them.
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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SurfGuitar101.com is giving away 3 copies of the Electrohúmedos album! Head over to the contest page to enter today! The deadline is noon (CDT) July 20. Good luck!
Our latest contest is a drawing to win The Concussions' "Fall in Love With..." CD. The drawing is open to all SG101 members. Head on over to the contest page and enter today! The winner will be selected on May 31, 2014.
Reminder to bands and record labels: if you would like give away albums or merchandise here please shoot me an email or private message.
3rd Annual WINTER SURF FEST
Saturday, January 18, 2013
12 Noon - 7PM
The Starting Gate
5052 Katella Ave.
Los Alamitos, CA 90720
While the weather in Southern California might be getting colder this time of year, it certainly doesn’t affect the spirit of the thriving instrumental Surf Music scene. For the 3rd year in a row, the organizers responsible for one of the largest Surf Music events of the year, the Surf Guitar 101 Convention, have assembled some of the world’s best contemporary live Surf Music bands for an incredible seven-hour extravaganza of reverb-drenched guitar goodness.
From the San Diego area comes Jason Lee and the R.I.P. Tides, a hard-edged trio that will be promoting the debut of their first full length LP on Dionysus Records. From Northern California comes the masters of traditional Jewish tunes gone Surf, Meshugga Beach Party, complete with beards, outfits and shtick. In a special reunion performance comes San Diego’s The Sand Devils, who bring their unmistakable brand of dark and ominous Surf. Local San Gabriel Valley favorites The Volcanics will don their trademark sweaters, take the listeners into a 60s time machine and perform many of the newer tunes from the recent release of their second album The Lonely One on Double Crown Records. Out of the ashes of one of the most influential of the 90’s Surf revival bands, The Ghastly Ones, comes Boss Fink, a Hot Rod-themed romp including former members of The Huntington Cads. And, rounding out the bill comes the day’s annual opener, High Tide, an all-star band featuring some of the best veteran players from the scene including members of The Torquays, The Planktones, The Reventlos and Insect Surfers.
In addition to the exceptional talent on stage, the event will feature a shopping area spilling over with specialized vendors selling Surf Music records, CDs, posters, t-shirts, books, magazines, musical instruments and other related accessories and collectibles.
The venue offers a full kitchen and bar throughout the show, so prepare to settle in, relax and enjoy an entire day of some of the very best pounding drums, throbbing bass, and dripping with reverb twangy guitars anywhere!
