Jacksonville SURF FEST II (7/19)

Instro Summit 2014!

Instro Summit is THE largest surf/instrumental music festival in the world.  This year will be my third consecutive year performing with The Mystery Men? and first with MOONBASE.  The event has become somewhat of a family reunion of sorts and many of the groups performing I am honored to call friends.  Crispy Bess, promoter, has really outdone himself this year bringing in 28 astounding acts from across the US.  Held at Motorco Music Hall in Durham, NC May 16-18, check out this forum on Surf Guitar 101 for more details.

Mention on Luxuria Music's Fiberglass Jungle podcast

Fiberglass Jungle's Jonpaul Balak presents the very best in recordings that fall under the wide instrumental Surf Music umbrella. This base encompasses the “pre-surf” instrumental Rock n’ Roll tunes of the late 50s, the classic “First Wave” originators of the early 60s, the “Second Wave” bands of the late 70s and early 80s, the crossover, genre-blending “Third Wave” bands of the 90s, the cutting-edge, description-defiant melting pot of current-day innovators, as well as a healthy dose of Spaghetti Western, international styles such as Japanese Eleki and Finnish Rautalanka, Surf-Guitar-based Exotica, Easy Listening, and Crime Jazz.

This podcast has been quite supportive lately, playing tracks from both the Squares and the Mystery Men?  The most recent episode from 10/12/13 played a track from the album I produced earlier this year, Kill, Baby...Kill!'s "Corridor X", followed by a mention of my name!  

Please be sure to check out Fiberglass Jungle.

Kill, Baby...Kill! new album, Corridor X, now available!

Kill, Baby...Kill!'s new record, Corridor X, is now available for purchase at Deep Eddy Records, cdbaby, and iTunes.

Kill, Baby...Kill! is an "apocalyptic surf punk" (and to me, so much more) band from Anniston, Alabama.  Members include Noah Holt - guitar, Erek Smith - bass, Chris Eagle - keys/samples, and Josh Jackson - drums.

Corridor X is the debut full length from KBK and also marks my first effort as a producer.  We are all very proud at how the album turned out and hope everyone enjoys it.

An incredible in-depth review by Noel at Surf Guitar 101 can be read here.

The Mystery Men? @ Bubbapalooza 2013!

The Mystery Men? @ Instro Summit 2013!

Looking forward to 2013, reflections on 2012

In 2011, I was devastated with the breakup of Sorry no Ferrari and had doubts of my future playing original music.  2012 shattered those doubts and brought many great things.  First and foremost, my son J was born.  The surf music community welcomed me back with open arms as I joined The Mystery Men? and started a new project, MOONBASE.  Playing with The Mystery Men? reminded me of just how much fun I could have playing surf again, and the role as third guitarist forced me to expand my capabilities and better myself as a musician.  MOONBASE provided a well needed creative outlet as well as the opportunity to play alongside some of the most amazing musicians I know.  2012 also saw the first release from Jeffrey Bützer and the Bicycle Eaters (the Hiding Plastic Spiders 7"), providing part of the score to the Center For Puppetry Arts' Peter Pan, a story on NPR featuring the Bicycle Eaters, and over 30 performances!

Many great things are in store for 2013.  I am currently producing an album for the incredible Kill, Baby...Kill!, a new role which is offering exciting new and interesting challenges.  Both The Mystery Men? and MOONBASE anticipate the recording and release of their debut full-length albums.  A great number of shows are already on the books including The Mystery Men? performing in California for the Surf Guitar 101 convention!