Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Vonrippers - Scary TV
 | The Vonrippers are no more. This album is from the audio track of a video recorded on March 7th, 2002. The sound is on the murky side, but the performances are vital and immediate.
Their final soiree will be a live session, which will be broadcast in it's entirety on KFJC. |
Picks: Peepshow Sway, Magnificent Seven, Experiment In Terror, Blue Venus, Striporama, Play With Fire, Apache, Whiter Shade Of Pale, Pipeline
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
With a melody very close to "Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets," "Peepshow Sway" presents a liquid line that rides across a wave crest in the warm sun. Big energy and intense performance makes this quite a fun track.
Surf (Instrumental)
Elmer Bernstein wrote it, Al Caiola had the hit, the Marlboro Man smoked himself to death to it, and now the Vonrippers grunge and spunk it up in true garage style. Very twangy cool.
Horror Surf (Instrumental)
Like a grungy Ventures, the Vonrippers make this sound almost Italian, and they cut right through the murky sound with a powerful performance.
Surf (Instrumental)
Big and dramatic, like the Crystals' "And Then He Kissed Me" in the key of reverb. Whammy swirl and moody flights of fancy. "Blue Venus" is a very pretty track. It would be great well recorded in a clean studio. The glissandoes and charming second guitar lines give it a unique sound.
Surf (Instrumental)
Runway bump and grind in a slow burn reverb kinda way, with a long sow melody line. Murky, but twang laden.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is brilliant! The huge swimming reverb and whammy chords take the moody Rolling Stones tune, move it way beyond where Mick Farren (Fairies, Social Deviants, etc.) took it, landing in a demented surf swirl destined for legendhood. This REALLY needs to be recorded cleanly. It's incredibly cool!
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a punishingly murky take on Jerry Lordan's "Apache." Large power and twang sting, with lots of energy. Like their earlier release, this retains the delicate melody and draw of this fine tune. Very nice performance and arrangement.
Prog Surf (Instrumental)
Procol Harum's magnificent dirge "Whiter Shade Of Pale" sounds so full and menacing under the hands of the Vonrippers. A very interesting choice of covers, with more room reverb than the track can stand. Sound aside, it's very moody and aquatic.
Monster Surf (Instrumental)
Huge howling feedback intros this bigger than live threatening version of the Chantays' "Pipeline." More or less traditionally driven, but from a garage viewpoint. Definitely a solid show ender. Did I mention HUGE?