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got this email from BLUE STING RAYE re: last night's SURF-ROCK
SHINDIG starring THE 9TH WAVE, SHARKSKINS, and VENICE BEACH MUSCLE
CLUB
thanks to everyone who turned out (esp. Blue Sting Raye, Bob D., Bill
Moffat of the Fin-Dicators), Michael of the Shinto Kings; juding
from the $$ I was able to pay each band, it seems at least 75 paying
customers came thru the doors, which is pretty strong - filled the
place to near capacity, and Red Hook is situated in a place where if
U don't have a car, U don't get to the place....
Lillie didn't arrive to open up the place to around 9:30-10 pm
in the end, it was a total blast
been asked back again -- a date will be confirmed for NOVEMBER this
week so stand by for that
Unsteady Freddie
the email:
There's not much I can say about last night except that NESMA
(www.nesmasurf.org) and Unsteady Freddie(www.catch-the-waves.com) are
an unbeatable combination. Just add one very generous club owner
named Lillie, shake briefly, and pour out one a helluva party. I will
only ask for your patience as my notes and pen disappeared in last
night melodic melee and I write this from memory.
The night began a bit slow, but the 9th Wave (www.9thwavesurf.com)
had time and space to set up the backline that all 3 bands (9th Wave,
The Sharkskins, and Venice Beach Muscle Club) used for the night. By
the way, Negative Ed has one sweet loud-ass bass rig. It added so
much to the night. By the time 9th Wave was ready to hit the stage
the bar had at least 25 people gathered at the bar AND in the outdoor
tiki garden in the back. I love Lillie's tiki garden or is it an
octopus' garden??? Oh, well I digress...
9th Wave came out in a crash of reverb and twang with Caught in the
Whitewater, followed by the hot rod hell-tune Fueled For Surf.
Staccato Rosado played so fast he melted his pick(no lie, he really
did!) After a hand of hot rod instros it was time for an original
surf vocal, Big Black Cadillac Hearse, sung with creepy under tones
by Negative Ed. Phearsome Phred kept a solid fast hard beat
throughout. I haven't heard a full 9th Wave set in quite some time
and I was so excited to hear no less than 4 new tunes: Movin' , Tidal
Wve, Creepster Stomp, and Hotline. The majority of the set was
originals with a few covers thrown in, but even the covers had a
distinct hot rod thrasher surf sound, heavy on the reverb, with
Oceana's unrelenting and distinctive Farfisa grinding away. 9th Wave
ended with their signature finish Hurricane, but were forced back on
stage for an encore, the cover tune Hotline. A great set from a great
band! Pity this will be the last time I see them in this form. Phred,
we love ya'. Good luck in the ole FLA.
Next up were the boys in blue, The Sharkskins (www.thesharskins.com).
Some of you may recall that I wrote them up just 4 short weeks ago
when I saw them at an outdoor festival in Joisey. The Sharkskins
are...fuc*ing amazing. A definite highlight had to be Miserlou when
Buddy LoveGoo pushed his guitar aside and picked up the trumpet. The
bar erupted. Lillie, the owner and bartender, refused to fill any
glasses until the dance floor filled up. Needless to say, The
Sharkskins had the place rocking with Pacifica, Watch the Tram Car
Please (org.), Batmobile (org.), and My Favorite Martian. In honor of
Halloween the boys kept it lively with the Ghastly Ones creepy
Hangman followed by the equally fiendish Boneyard, which can be found
on the The Sharkskins CD - A Night of Neverending Reverb. Once again
they played an Unsteady favorite Tailspin (Los Straight Jackets).
Dash's guitar playing was just phenomenon on this tune. In fact the
follks stopped dancing just to watch his hands fly up & down the neck
of his guitar. The Sharkskins also had a hard time leaving the stage
and were called up for one more, an encore, the infamous Wipeout (put
down that t.p. Freddie).
The Venice Beach Muscle Club ( )
were up next and this band is not only a nice bunch, but very
professional performers. They were supposed to play at 1 am, but
didn't start until 1:45 am and never complained or asked either band
before them to cut their set short. Not only that, when Evan, Melina,
Steve, and Todd (VBMC) opened their set they had just as much energy
and enthusiasm as if they had played at 10 pm. This is my 3rd time
seeing VBMC and I had the same reaction as many others...WOW!!! VBMC
has always been a fun trad surf band, but they have grown together
musically over the past 4 months and it shows. The band did one
helluva job on "Theme from a Summer Place", beautiful haunting melody
which Evan played with an old soul and a young heart. And yet again I
noticed that Todd and his skins drive that band, especially during
originals like Coney Island- Here I Come, Planet Claire ( cover, but
new for VBMC) and I was reminded once again why I think vocals are
over rated when I hear the way VBMC tears into Paint it Black.
Unfortunately I had to leave before the set was over as my escort,
the gentleman-y Bobby D. and coach were about to turn into pumpkins.
Many thanks to Bill Moffit from the Fin-Dicators for all the pictures
of another successful Unsteady Freddie Surf Shindig. How wonderful it
is when a show comes off as fine as this one did. All the hard work
and effort paid off in the smiles, the applause, and the good cheer
that always fills the room to capacity at an Unsteady Freddie
Production.
Well, wahines and hodads, till we meet again, I remain your vigilant
surf vixen.
Aloha, mahalo
Blue StingRaye
Official NESMA Reviewer
