Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Surf Asylum - Pier Pressure
 | Surf Asylum are a Dick Dale tribute band, and they do it very well. While they don't drift far from the king's sound, there is excellent playing, beefy guitar, and lots of energy! |
Picks: The Wedge, Smoke On The Water / Peter Gunn, White Wedding, Surf Rider, Misirlou
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
Al Hazan's groovy melody, as interpreted by Dick Dale, is the primary influence here. The arrangement is Dick's eighties arrangement, but slower and with some noted omitted. While that sounds intentional, it also sounds a bit strange. Still, the playing is very good, and the sound is modern SoCal surf!
Smoke On The Water / Peter Gunn Surf (Instrumental)
Deep Purple's anthem is surfed up sort of, with big reverb chords and moody bass. It brings a grin, and has ample power. Henry Mancini's "Peter Gunn" slides right in, with an arrangement very close to Dick Dale's eighties version.
Surf (Instrumental)
Billy Idol's "White Wedding" has been surfed up a couple of times. Surf Asylum give it a tremolo wash for maximum eeriness. Once into the main song, it takes on a thick surf trio sound. It creeps up on you, developing
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a live track, with Dick Dale's eighties and nineties arrangements in tow. While illustrating the skill of the band, both songs vary little from Dick's, except that the guitar has somewhat different tone.
Surf (Instrumental)
George Thorogood and the Destroyers' sax player Buddy Leach adds sax to this fine and very reverent cover of "Surf Rider." It may not be an original arrangement, but it is very well played and easy to like.
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf Asylum plays "Misirlou" based very strongly on Dick Dale and his Del-tones' eighties arrangement. This is mighty cool.