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First off, it was an insanely wonderful party. Thanks you all. I was
really quite overwhelmed by the outpouring. A net-listener flew in from
Ohio... all those LA guys... and Unsteady and his boundless enthusiasm.
MARTY TIPPENS and JOHN BLAIR
John was amazing. He has been a great inspiration to me in many ways,
and his coming AND playing was very special to me. Marty is such a good
player. John and Marty work really well together. They played some
great stuff. I particularly liked "Geronimo." John and I first met
face-to-face at the release party for the South Bay Surf Band Reunion
video. Thanks John and Marty for being there and playing very
heart-felt music.
DAVE WRONSKI
Dave told a couple of funny anecdotes about playing in his room - never
getting out. How could that be? He is one of the few who really play
end and rhythm simultaneously, which is why his surf trio is so hard to
beat. When he agreed tom play "Lift and Separate," I was in heaven.
That song demonstrates exactly why he is so amazing. Dave sent me the
Slackjaw cassette, and from that moment on, I was hooked on what became
the Slacktone sound. Thanks Dave for playing so beautifully.
GLASGOW TIKI SHAKERS
Like I said on stage, that was my first meeting with a notorious
McGlynn brother, but we go back a ways in separate universes. He first
came to my attention via a cassette dub of a cassette of material from
the McGlynn Brothers Band that Rick Johnson (Halibuts) gave to me one
night at Toes Tavern. The Glasgow Tiki Shakers were splendid. The
originals in their too-brief set were extraordinary.
And that Adrian - you're quite a drummer - rising to every new
challenge and every line up! I'm so grateful!
THE AQUAMARINES
Russ and company played their soviet spy hearts out with big grins and
spirit. The music was wonderful and their warmth filled the room. We
had not been able to coordinate a Pitstop before the end came, so this
was my first opportunity to see them in a live setting. Way cool.
Thanks guys!
THE NEPTUNES
What do you say about a band from Fresno? I love those double-necks! I
think if they could find a way, they'd double-neck the drums! The added
guitar has brought a lot of fullness to an already crunchy sound. I
missed the fezzes though! Thanks for trekking all the way here.
THE BEZERKERS
Dino! I've known Dino for a very long time. He's been a good friend.
One dark night way back in the mid eighties, I heard a knocking on the
door at KFJC while I was doing my show. Through the window I could just
barely see the biggest shit-eating grin I ever saw. It was Dino and
Mike and Bruce, then of Da Monz (now there's a rock'n'roll name!). They
had a little homemade cassette. I played "Surfin' In The USSR" and have
not looked back. Once the Berzerkers evolved out of that Cauldron, I
had the distinct pleasure of recording "Sacquito Fria" (their first
song Saturday) and "Chummin'" (the last song) in Dino's living room,
where he played all the parts except drums, which were set up in the
kitchen with Johnny Nolner bangin' away. We cut it on an 8-track
cassette. These are the versions on their only CD. And John... you're
everywhere man! John is just a class act. An extremely nice fellow and
solid bass player that everyone likes to play with. Maybe that's why he
is in so many great bands.
The rotating memberships of POLLO DEL MAR, THE INSECT SURFERS, LOS
MEL-TONES, MESHUGGA BEACH PARTY, THE MACH IV, THE WOODIES
That would be Ferenc, John, Mel, Adrian, Dave, and who'd I miss? What's
spectacular about this is beyond the musicianship. It's that these
people came together just to have fun aping themselves - their own
bands. Totally cool! Adrian again! And Johnny and Ferenc! What a
backing band.
DAVE ARNSON
Dave always rocks. At 98 pounds soaking wet, he has boundless energy
and astounding vertical movement. He's the last man on earth doing the
pogo. Oh, yeah, and he plays like hell! Stunning! I was very pleased
that he included "Mig Alley." Thanks Dave!
MEL WALDORF
After drooling over his former car, now owned by the ever wonderful
Vicky Surf-Liner, Mel sot out front and drove his guitar with his
signature big sound. Wonderful. MESHUGGA BEACH PARTY simply MUST tour.
THE WOODIES
They were simply one of the best trad bands ever. Rick Escobar's
ability to write as if it was 1963 and play with immense thunder always
amazes me. I was thoroughly honored by his performance. "The Swami" was
very cool indeed! Rick's the kind of guy that would drive all the way
across the bay to loan his outboard reverb to Dino when we were mixing
the Berzerkers album and wanted to add an extra guitar track. He
dropped everything to help. That's just who Rick is. Thanks Rick.
POLLO DEL MAR
It may have been abbreviated, and the musicians may have been THEE
HOUSE BAND OF THE CENTURY, but they sounded very strong. Big grins on
stage, bigger grins in the audience. Wonderful.
THE SHOCKWAVES
Theses guys were first real second wave surfband in the South Bay.
Always a party band - a garage band for everything that means, they
rocked. They had not played together in 18 years, and only Randy and
Stretch have stayed really active in bands (Stretch in the Sub-Mersians
among others, and Randy in the Wayouts), so they were a little rough,
but then they always were. It was their spirit and fun that made them
very popular back in the eighties, and that was entirely intact. I was
very honored that they came together from four different parts of the
planet just to play and have fun at this event. Gentlemen, thank you!
It was great to see all of you. I loved it! Stretch, all is right with
the world. You were wonderful. I felt like old times. Thank you!
THE MERMEN
This was the night-topper. They played until we were thrown out of the
place. The original line up of Jim, Martin, and Allen played they way
they did when I first saw them - beautiful, artful, emotional, and very
powerful. Jim always says he played like crap, but I've never seen him
play like crap. Superb! Martin, with his bullhorn in tow, is the
consummate drummer, playing the drums like they are an orchestra.
Allen, it was SO good to see him. What a big grin. They were together
one superb band. I loved "Casbah!" The encore saw Jennifer playing in
Allen's place. She has grown so much into the Mermen's sound.
Wonderful! Thank you guys for just being you.
FERENC DOBRONYI
I love you, man. You went way beyond the call. Ferenc is the man. The
party was all his fault, for which I am eternally grateful. This was a
completely wonderful event. And that poster! Beautiful. Where did the
signed edition end up. You were still gathering band signatures last I
saw. You're too much. Thank Karen for me for supporting your efforts
and being endlessly warm to me.
UNCLE AL
You're always there, always helping out, rock solid. None of my big
deals could have happened without Al!
AUSTIN SPACE and GRAWER
They recorded the event, they always helped with recordings and
grunting equipment and good cheer.
BILL GRIFFIS
Bill is a friend who took care of the food. Yum! And that
chocolate-chocolate-chocolate cake! Too cool! Galaxy 500 rocks.
Many others brought warm vibes too - Big Wave Dave, Billy Scanlon,
Galaxy 500, and many others.
I haven't even mentioned the video guys. I can't wait to see the
footage.
Filling up the house (which was packed) were a long list of fans,
listeners, friends, relatives, and passers-by. I never saw so many
smiling faces. Even the waiters and waitresses hung out after they were
off to listen.
I was exhausted when it was all over. THANK YOU ALL!
Oh, one more thing. Like Jim Thomas said, "he didn't die!" New things
will come, some are in the works in various forms. Watch my sight for
news.
Phil Dirt
And that poster! Beautiful. Where did the
> signed edition end up.
Phil, the poster is in my possession. I had it printed and my wife
Adrienne has a framing business and is framing it as we speak. Ferenc
and I will figure out how to get it to you.
I was so glad to be able to give back a little to you after you've
given us so much all these years. When I moved back East a while back
(pre-internet) and contemplated returning to CA, high on my list of
reasons was to hear your radio show. It's sustained my love of the
music for many years, and now I've finally reached a point where I'm
starting my own surf band. Alas, never to play the pit, but there's
always Huntington beach to aspire to.
Best Wishes,
Danny Snyder
Thanks Danny... you can't imagine how special Staurday night made me
feel.
Phil
--- Danny Snyder <> wrote:
> And that poster! Beautiful. Where did the
> > signed edition end up.
>
> Phil, the poster is in my possession. I had it printed and my wife
> Adrienne has a framing business and is framing it as we speak. Ferenc
>
> and I will figure out how to get it to you.
>
> I was so glad to be able to give back a little to you after you've
> given us so much all these years. When I moved back East a while back
>
> (pre-internet) and contemplated returning to CA, high on my list of
> reasons was to hear your radio show. It's sustained my love of the
> music for many years, and now I've finally reached a point where I'm
> starting my own surf band. Alas, never to play the pit, but there's
> always Huntington beach to aspire to.
>
> Best Wishes,
>
> Danny Snyder
>
>
>
>
>
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