Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA
The Mighty Surf Lords - Live at the Big Easydotdotdotdot
artworkThis CD-R was recorded live at the battle of the bands on July 14, 2002 in Sparks, Nevada, at the Big Easy Cajun Festival sponsored by Reno's KRZQ. The Mighty Surf Lords came in second.
Picks: Six Gun Surfer, Murph The Surf, Baja, Miserlou, Bottom Feeder, Paddling Out, Surfin' El Nino, Rumble, The Moon Of Manakoora, Dancin' With Venus

Track by Track Review


Six Gun Surfer dotdotdotdot
Spaghetti Surf (Instrumental)

A big whammy chord opens the floodgates. "Six Gun Surfer" is a pensive and dramatic spaghetti western influenced song with long leaning notes and cactus soul. But wait, that's just the opener. About a minute in, it double times, double picks, and flows like the murky green settling out after crashing into the rocks. Cool song.

Murph The Surf dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Big lumbering bass grumble and industrial drums pump out mightily beneath a classic surf and gloom progression structure. On the dark side, and very mean.

Baja dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

This is a strong performance of "Baja." It's on the heavy side of the trad aisle. Great drum work.

Miserlou dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Dark thrashy power surf... what more do you need to know. Swimming in whammy and double picked mayhem, "Miserlou" always pleases.

Bottom Feeder dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

A most unusual introduction and piece of writing, like a cross between jazz and Mancini. Chunky and pumpin' fun.

Paddling Out dotdotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

"Paddling Out" is a fine song with a warm melody and rich trad reverb. Slightly dramatic and a little humorous, like a sunny day after a big ride. Very nicely done.

Surfin' El Nino dotdotdotdot
Rainy Day Surf (Instrumental)

This is a tuff performance of a song from their CD. White water shore break, then a thundering riff driven number, with distortion and compression replacing reverb on the guitar. The guitar is buried in the house mix, but even so, it drags you in.

Rumble dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

A little fuzz, a big chord, a Dick dale arrangement, and viola! Anyone ever done a bad take on "Rumble?"

The Moon Of Manakoora dotdotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

This beautiful song is delicately reverbed, flowing like an island waterfall. Tropical vacation chords and a slow silky pace. Love it!

Dancin' With Venus dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Bumpin' and grinding, "Dancin' With Venus" is all about frat chord surf trash and is a show case for the fine drum work. Too fun!