Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Bailey's Nervous Kats - Get Nervous
 | This little-known band from Redding, CA existed in the early sixties, cutting a number of tracks with little daylight from releases. Digging in the archives, this wealth of material was unearthed by our friend Alec Palao. Some instros, a few being surf, appeared among the rockabilly and rock'n'roll. Quite a nice find. |
Picks: Devil's Run, Chong, Simba, Kat Scratch Boogie, Subway, Cobra, Spider, Tremble, Countdown, Rumble, Pandora, Nervous Drums
Track by Track Review
Rock (Instrumental)
This is a kinda surfy riff rocker with rich low-E tonality, giving it a mean edge. While not adventurous or even melodic, it seems to capture something. The break is very rockabilly. Dark and nasty, chord progression rumble rock, just waitin' for beef and a melody.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Chong" is a simple number with a bit of a jammy feel, but that's not all it is. Great drums and a primal surf jam rhythm pulse with the lure of early sixties surf. Very cool!
Surf (Instrumental)
Great drum breaks and a nifty circulating riff make "Simba" hard to dislike despite being a very simple number. In many ways, it's the drums that make this, yet the rhythm guitar and melody are also very friendly. On the light side, but surely great fodder for an update at full volume.
Kat Scratch Boogie Surf (Instrumental)
This is very typical of many a rockabilly b-side. A basic shuffle boogie without a real melody and very repetitious. Not particularly interesting.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Subway" is a lowdown late fifties crawl with a quiet danger. It trembles and threatens in a subdued fashion, but also has a bit of a Link Wray influence.
Surf (Instrumental)
A very cool Middle Eastern theme and tribal drums give this minimalist number some real charm. Mysterious, sensual, and familiar feeling. The moodiness of the sound adds a black & white lost continent movie feeling.
Rock (Instrumental)
"Spider" is a primitive instrumental with some twang, very much in the presurf rock'n'roll instro mode. More a progression than a melody here.
Tremble Rockabilly (Instrumental)
As you might guess from the title, this is a low brow fifties instro centered on a simple progression. The melody lines are cool at times, as are the string slaps.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a rompin' rockin' riff rocker. No melody to speak of, but lots of frat rock energy and primal garage charm. Raw sax and unabashed enthusiasm expressed through the playing and the screams.
Surf (Instrumental)
Nicely recorded stereo session introduced by a stage announcement about no more outbreaks or the plug is pulled. So, what does the band play? This is a slow and sultry version of "Rumble" full of tremolo and moody coolness. Really nice.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a soft and fluid instro. A fine melody and romantic arrangement give Pandora a very pleasurable sound. Very cool indeed.
Surf (Instrumental)
As you might expect, this is laced with drum solos, but not the self indulgent long boring rock solos. Brief blasts of raucous drums separate verses where the rest of the band is silent. The melody is a bit like something from Paul Johnson. Nice track!