Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Reef Rammers - Live at L.A. Wood 2004
 | The Reef Rammers opened for the 16th annual L.A. Wood show. Once again, it was recorded by Max Wheatly. It's mono, and sometimes the lead guitar is just barely there, but the originals are wonderful. This band needs to go into a real studio and record! |
Picks: Hang 11, Runaway Board, Penetration, Diamond Head, Road Trip, Pacifico, Pipeline, Perfidia, Mr. Moto, Mexico, Death Of A Gremmie, The Victor, Runaway Board (reprise), Road Trip (reprise)
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
"Hang 11" fades up, serving as an intro for the show. It's a fine instro deserving some studio time. Delicate notes and an infectious rhythm.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a great instro with a very cool melody and sound. Images of Mexico, the islands, and summer surf emote from the song's beauty and poise. Very very cool.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Pyramids' "Penetration" is delicately done, with a gentle slither and wash of reverb. Quite nice.
Surf (Instrumental)
Danny Hamilton catchy "Diamond Head" gently washes over a sunset beach with a delicate flow.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Road Trip" is a mighty fun song with a great rhythm and very playful melody. A really engaging song with energy and spunk, and a sense of summer adventure. The reverb chops are very cool, and the fluid nature of the melody quite engaging.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Pacifico" is a beautiful song with great bridges and a slithery flow. Mysterious and island breezy, with an irrepressible warmth. I like this song a lot.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a fairly relaxed rendition of the Chantays' definitive surf instro. It reminds me some of the Lively Ones' version.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a relaxed, but otherwise fairly straight forward version of "Perfidia." Tasteful, but it doesn't stand out.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a nice but unremarkable cover of Paul Johnson's "Mr. Moto." The guitars do create a kind of uniqueness about the arrangement, but it doesn't stick.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a beautiful song, haunting and just a little sad, and the picturesque melody creates a gentle scene. "Mexico" is a fluid and moody original with a stunningly attractive sound and dripping wet guitar line.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Death Of A Gremmie" has a haunting sound. It opens with soft chords reminiscent of "Comin' Home Baby." It's not the Dick Dale song.
Surf (Instrumental)
Bongos add a mysterious edge to this classic middle eastern Dick Dale song. The delicate arrangement takes it further into exotic territory. Very cool!
Surf (Instrumental)
This second take of "Runaway Board (reprise)" is very cool, creating an image of gentle breezes blowing across coastal dunes in the warm summer evening. Quite pretty!
Surf (Instrumental)
maybe a little spunkier than the first pass, "Road Trip (reprise)" is likewise a mighty fun song with a great rhythm and very playful melody. Way cool.