Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA
Surf Cinema - First Rundotdotdotdot
artworkSan Francisco's Surf Cinema came by for a Pitstop on Saturday November 16, 2002. The trio played for an hour, displaying many fine originals and unusual cover choices, some of which will be featured on their upcoming CD release. In the broadest terms, if you were to draw a line between Pollo Del Mar and the Berzerkers, you might find Surf Cinema about half way.
Picks: Flemgringo, Zippy To The Rescue, Unbundled, Our Weapons Are Useless, Rip Off Another One, Sticky Finger Sunset, Pale Face Hombre, They Don't Call Them Chihuahuas Any More, Honeybaked Ham, Dos, Dos Equis Por Favor, Harlem By The Sea, He No Lickety Split, C'mon Do The Laika, Boris The Barbarian, Prague Rock, Dead Pedestrians, O.C.C.C., Ricko Suave, Strait Up Chuck, Country-fied, Quarter Pump, Memory Man, Zombie Compromise, Bullfight In April, Sleigh Ride

Track by Track Review


Flemgringo dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

This is a kinda Spanish song with a circular melody line and warm string bending. The beat is solid, as is the bass. The break thicker and more dramatic. Simple open road wind in the face traveling music.

Zippy To The Rescue dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

"Zippy To The Rescue" is a little bluesy and energetic. There's a bit of the "Stand Back" verse from Steve Miller hinted at in the break.

Unbundled dotdotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

This is a spectacular piece. Long whammy chords, a slow rhythmic moody afternoon sound, and an ominous edge. "Unbundled" stands right out as the coolest track in the set, with more depth and emotional content, and a really fine structure. It fades to near silence midway before crunching back to full throated power. Magnificent!

Our Weapons Are Useless dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

This Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet song is strong and thick, with the edge required, and the moodiness intact. Excellent!

Rip Off Another One dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

This is a faster song, with a spy edge and a rock simplicity, with big whammy and a delicate verse in the middle. Intensely powerful!

Sticky Finger Sunset dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

A lot like Laika and the Cosmonauts' "Fadeaway," but injected with anticipation and whammy. This is a very pretty song with a thick command and fluid delivery. Excellent!

Pale Face Hombre dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Cool whammy and a bit of a desert edge, and a warm thunder. "Pale Face Hombre" is a border tune with romantic village conflict at its heart. Very friendly!

They Don't Call Them Chihuahuas Any More dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Mexican spices, a playful melody line, a military sub-rockabilly beat, and an easy full bodies bass line together in a most unusual song. Infectious, interesting, and intellectually stimulating. Way cool!

Honeybaked Ham dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Ah, the imagination of instro writers when it comes to titles. There's nothing hammy or honeybaked about "Honeybaked Ham." Strong and thick, vibrato throbbed, and a little ominous. Great drums!

Dos, Dos Equis Por Favor dotdotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Spanish breezes carry warm tropical aromas across the playa on the wings of liquid guitar. "Dos, Dos Equis Por Favor" is a pretty and very interesting song, with a bit of sadness and splashy optimism.

Harlem By The Sea dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Earl Hagen's wonderful "Harlem By The Sea" is played fast and fluidly, a lot like Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet cut it. This is a fun and adventurous performance with dynamic variations.

He No Lickety Split dotdotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Thundering drums and rumbling bass under thick power bar guitar. This is a dominating track with a solid beat and plenty of mean action. The stinging whammy chords are quite intense!

C'mon Do The Laika dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Laika and the Cosmonauts' ultra fun "C'Mon Do The Laika" is well suited for a trio arrangement. Surf Cinema have fun with it.

Boris The Barbarian dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Laika and the Cosmonauts' grumbly "Boris The Conductor" is powerful and whammified, with a big guitar attack and rolling thunder underbelly.

Prague Rock dotdotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

On the mean side, thick with whammy, and grumbly, "Prague Rock" speaks of spies and vibrato danger. On the faster side, yet with a sense of delicacy. Very nice!

Dead Pedestrians dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Thick and whammified, kinda Laika-ish, and pumpin' with energy. The light whammy breaks are very cool! And the inspiration for "Dead Pedestrians" is...?

O.C.C.C. dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Laika and the Cosmonauts' "Oahu Community Correctional Center" is like an island vacation interrupted by a stay at the tropical detention center. Echoed and liquefied, "O.C.C.C." demands your time with an equatorial invitation you can't refuse.

Ricko Suave dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

This song of Spanish womanizing is really cool, with whammy and sunny adventure at every turn. Excellent!

Strait Up Chuck dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

On the fast side, "Strait Up Chuck" is riffy and circular, but is also catchy. In some ways, it's hints of the Austin sound, yet speaks of Northern latitudes.

Country-fied dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

A short blast of speedy punkoidal echoed circular riffology... only 30 seconds long, and sporting a slowdown fall apart ending that's pretty cool.

Quarter Pump dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

"Quarter Pump" is a slick number with warm whammy and an infectious inviting sound. An excellent song that hints of spies and foreign travel. A very fun song.

Memory Man dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Like a rainy jazz afternooner, "Quarter Pump" is surfable and cool, and fit for open road adventure. Nice track.

Zombie Compromise dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet's "Zombie Compromise" is dark brooding mechanical doom chordomatic thunder, intense melody line, and long fading notes. Drama and danger!

Bullfight In April dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Fast circular dark surf from the Bell®! Kinda like a fast "Pink Panther" on the rocks. Even a morphed "Wipe Out" verse to connect to the surf.

Sleigh Ride dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Surf Cinema ended the show with a holiday foreshadow... a spunky performance of ""Bullfight In April"" Arranged similarly to Los Straitjackets, this is just too fun!