Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Woodies - Humunga Cowabunga
 | This is the Woodies' set produced from the live event held December 16, 1995. The CD-R is for on air promotions, and is not available in any form. |
Picks: Midnight Ride, If It Swells (Ride It), Agent Woodrow, The Swami, Surfin' With Bernie, Spanish Word, Slow Song, Maverick's, Chief Big Wood, Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, Zorba's Last Ride
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
The Woodies opened with "Midnight Ride," an ominous song oozing monsters riding the huge waves after dark, haunting the surf, and stalking the unsuspecting. The throbbing of the evil one yields to a chunky pure surf cruncher. Dark and dangerous
Surf (Instrumental)
"If It Swells (Ride It)" is an enduring and well written modern surf classic, sounding as if it's 1963 again. Melodic, chunky, and stormy, like the swells at Steamer Lane. Too cool.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a dark and ominous spy theme. The chunk and the melodic spy rhythm is intense. The melody line is broodingly lurking in the shadows of the eastern block before the wall came down. There's betrayal and danger just around that corner.
Surf (Instrumental)
The mystery of "The Swami" is chunked out in this grand surf epic. It just oozes caravans of spice traders on the road to Morocco. Fast, powerful and melodic, this infectious shredder will make you bow to Mecca and pray for surf!
Surf (Instrumental)
I recorded this live at Psychotronic Surf, a KFJC event I co-hosted with Robert Emmett. It was a variation on his Psychotronic Film Festival with a beach movie theme, a vintage beach flick, and lots of trailers and period TV ads, and a real surf band in the middle. This track shows off the live crunch the band possessed. Fine tight performance.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a very pretty and energetic Spanish flavored surf number. With typical Woodies flair, it has all the ingredients to become a modern surf classic. Rick Escobar hadn't named this by the time this CD went to press. He was calling it "Spanish Word" because he was looking for a perfect name that fit the tune. I liked "Fajita Sunrise."
Surf (Instrumental)
This very pretty song goes without a name still, as Rick never found one, just like "Spanish Word." I kinda like "Offshore Breeze." It has a strong sense of island mystery at a balmy afternoon lagoon. It also has a bit of the Southwest to it. Very melodic and pretty.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Maverick's" is a mean surf spot and a dark and powerful song, celebrating the danger of the 50 foot wave racing towards the rocks. You can just see a rider on a short board shredding back and forth across the face, all the while watching the approaching rocks, trying to get every last zig out of the wave before cutting back at the last possible minute before his death. Great track.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Chief Big Wood" is a surf number that combines Indian instro sounds and trad surf. Ominous and defiant, melodic and strong, rhythmic and enchanting. A great song, and a great name too.
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer Xmas Surf (Instrumental)
The peaceful air of Rick Escobar's gentle solo intro is shattered as soon as the band kicks in for a rousing trad surf holiday rave. Hot leads, chunky rhythms, perfect drums and bass... even the reindeer are dancing in the streets. The arrangement is a strait blend of pure surf and Santa Claus. Totally infectious and Marvelous.
Surf (Instrumental)
This merger of east and west leaves you saying "of course." Take the nineties best trad surfband, make 'em do the Greek line dance and yell "Hey!" a lot, throw in some Greek folk changes, and you have magic!