Reverb Central .:. Review .:.

In the early days of surf, the South Bay bands were oriented towards melodic tunes, common covers, and a very dry sound, with an emphasis on interplay between the lead and rhythm guitar.

Teisco Del Rey introduces the first line up (actually the second line up) of the band, with Paul Johnson - guitar, Eddie Bertrand - guitar, Dickie Dodd - drums (who replaced Richard Delvy), and Chas Stewart - sax (Jim Roberts - piano is also absent). Note that there was no bass player in the Belairs until quite late in the game. Jim Roberts and Richard Delvy left to form the Challengers.

The second line up at the show was the third line up of the Belairs, They were introduced by John Blair (Jon & the Nightriders). Paul Johnson - guitar, Art Fisher - guitar (later with the Challengers), Chas Stewart - sax, Tiny Snider - drums, and Guy Hufford - bass filling in for Steve Lotto. Eddie Bertrand and Dickie Dodd had gone off to form Eddie & the Showmen. Art Fisher and Paul Johnson used to play after hours as PJ & Artie concurrently. Fisher had been in his own band the Journeymen before joining the Belairs.

Eddie & the Showmen were just the best. Eddie Bertrand - guitar, Bob Knight - sax, Dickie Dodd - drums, John Anderson (Baymen, Humans, Ninja Nomads, Neon Spores) - guitar, and Steve Soest (Dick Dale & his Del-tones) - bass. Introductions were handled by Bob Dalley (Surf Raiders).

Bob Dalley introduces P.J. & the Galaxies. Tom Starr & the Galaxies were heavily influenced by the Belairs, so heavily that when Paul replaced Tom in the Galaxies, he said it was really eerie - like he'd always been in the band. They new every nuance of his material. The line up here is Paul Johnson - guitar, Skip Hand (Handful Of Fives, Eddie & the Showmen) - drums, Jim Boyle (Eddie & the Showmen) - guitar, Steve Pugh (Packards) - bass.

John Blair introduces David Marks & the Marksmen. The band is David Marks - guitar, Kip Brown - guitar, Mark Grosclose - drums, Bill Trinkle - bass. David Marks was the Beach Boy who left the band because he thought they weren't going anywhere. The set ends with Eddie Bertrand singing "Louie Louie" for the sound crew.

Teisco Del Rey introduces the Packards. The Packards are Paul Johnson's eighties-nineties band. Paul Johnson - guitar, Mark Burroughs - guitar, Ray Husky - drums, Guy Hufford - bass.

Phil Dirt introduces the Halibuts, and Eddie Bertrand interrupts them to say that they "put us all to shame" before playing "Malegueña" with them. Pete Curry - guitar, Rick Johnson - guitar, Bruce Paddy - keyboard, Kevin Daily - bass, Randy Haskins - drums, and Joey Lyou - sax. Now, don't go out lookin' for this. It's just a CD-R from the show. However, there is a video available from "Surfin Colours" (Domenic Priori).

Picks: It Was I, Kamikaze, Teen Angel, (Un Classe De) Chiflado, Ballad Of Davy Crockett / Theme From "Mickey Mouse Club", Endless Sleep, The Crawler / Moon Dawg, The Wayward Wind, Lanky Bones, It's Gonna Work Out Fine, Vamonos, Duck Waddle, Squad Car, Birdland, Squad Car, Border Town, Scratch, Far Away Places, Lanky Bones, Mr. Rebel, Tally Ho, Windshield Wiper, Scouse [Lobscouse], The Rise and Fall Of Flingel Bunt, Andelé, Side 2, Travelin', The Sheriff Of Nottingham, Wiggle Wobble, Tequila, Ramrod, Armour Of Light, Let Us Go Into The House Of The Lord, Bedlam, Day Tripper, Pressing In, Don't Be Too Proud (To Be God's Child), Joyful Blues, Baja, Mr. Moto, Kamikaze, Gird Thy Sword On, Link Wray Medley [Rumble / Jack The Ripper / Rawhide], Centipede, Shore Pound, Mr. Mysterioso, Exodus 5-0, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, The Man From H.A.L.I.B.U.T., Slaughter On Tenth Avenue, Skinny Dip, La Bamba, Let's Go Trippin', Forty Miles Of Bad Road, Malaguena, Batman, Pipeline, Walk, Don't Run

Surf (Instrumental)

Paul Johnson medleyed together several Link Wray classics, including Rumble, Rawhide, and Jack the Ripper.

Rumble (album version): This is quite pure, precisely delivered, and quite nice. It is not as powerful as Link's masterpiece, and more rhythm oriented. It also is sans the raw distortion the the Linkster gave it.

Jack the Ripper Now, this is more like it. Somewhere between what the Insect Surfers have done with this, and what Link intended, this is a screamer with intricate perfection in the lead guitar. Powerful. Rawhide: This is a fast paced, almost manic delivery, fulfilling the promise only hinted at by Link.