Crazy Aces have made a name in the surf world, but I think of them as more of a Ventures-styled band -- more twangy than drippy and focused primarily on melody. If you've enjoyed their previous records, I think you'll be all over "Scorpions", "Rudy's Revenge" and "Chop and Channel". It's hard to pick a favorite among them. Then they try their hand at spaghetti western with "Trail of the Mystery Men" which is much more cinematic sounding than I expect from them. They trade off a steady drum beat for for acoustic strumming, strings and background vocals. It's a much different sound for them, but they pull it off well.
We're beyond thrilled to have Crazy Aces back at the Stomp!. They'll be warming up for their big appearance at this year's Surf Guitar 101 convention in Torrance, CA and will also be bringing along their brand new ep! Another act from Nashville, The One and Only Bill Davis, will also be making their return. Athens' surf combo The Flamethrowers will be making what I believe to be their Atlanta debut.
We're beyond excited for this years Surf Guitar 101 convention and proudly hosting several of the groups before and after the convention. Of course Crazy Aces and The Space Cossacks will be representing the Southern Surf Syndicate, and Southern Surf Stomp! will be there hawking our wares.
For more information, please visit the SG101 convention thread on surfguitar101.com.
What do a group of successful Nashville sidemen do after performing,
recording and touring for over twenty years with some of the biggest
names in country, pop and rock music? Yep! Form a surf band to play surf
music in Nashville, and then make a surf record.
My interview with Crazy Aces is here http://surfguitar101.com/forums/topic/19597/
in which Jeff Senn discusses their musical backgrounds, inspirations,
musical influences, gear and more. Again I want to thank Jeff Senn and
Crazy Aces for enthusiastically giving me a peak inside their band. I
appreciate it.
There are thirteen tracks on the CD. The first and last tracks are
under a minute each and act as bookends to the CD. The first sets the
stage. The first thing heard is the sound of a needle dropping on a
scratchy record, and the sound is old – like a worn-out record. “Are
these the sounds of days that are past, or do we record a new dimension
of history?” we are asked after hearing a great piece of
vintage-sounding spy called Chainsaw Dance.
Then Invasion of Malibu plays; a fun 1’st Wave kind of tune that
wouldn’t be out of place on any record made back in the ‘60s. Catchy
melody for sure. They all have catchy melodies. Right off the bat I have
to say I’ve missed bongos. There aren’t enough bongos in surf music.
This CD uses bongos to great effect, and I love that. Jedd’s Sled shows
just how much fun bongos are and how well they fit surf music. A
favorite is Eastwood Outlaw, spot-on whistling and all. It hits all the
right musical cues.
An impression forms as the tunes unfold during the record. They form
on a kind of musical journey through various forms of surf-instro music.
Attention Shoppers reminds me so much of those fun Ventures covers of
favorite standards and novelty tunes they were so fond of recording. If
you’ve listened to their Never on Sunday you’ll understand. The record
pivots with Arigato Terauchi, which he could have recorded and performed
himself. After that an edgier and rock-ier sound takes over with Hippy
Trip. Makes me almost want to head-bang. Fun stuff. There’s more later,
but one of those wonderful sound poem surf tunes comes next, The Last
Song. That sensitive and gorgeous acoustic rhythm guitar is played by
Steve Wariner. This is one of those tunes that you play at the end of a
perfect day on the beach, after the last wave is surfed and the bonfire
has turned to warm glowing embers. How that feels is how this tune
feels.
Theme From Crazy Aces follows. More hard-rocking surf-instro. Driving
bass and drums, dirty guitar tones and all. Boogie Bored isn’t boring.
It has a memorable melody phrase that ties it together along with some
great guitar playing. Did I mention all the guitar-playing on this
record is terrific, as is all the musicianship? It is. Killer good. Lots
of love has already been expressed for Bangers, and it’s well-deserved.
It’s a roller-coaster ride of hard-driving surf, rapid-fire rhythm
changes and hard drumming.
Winston Churchill’s “finest hour” quote introduces the Return of
Chainsaw Dance, which ends with the sound of an old record scratching to
the empty last groove. So what to say in conclusion about a record like
this? I was going to write something about how this record makes me
think of what would have happened if some of the Wrecking Crew had
formed their own surf band and recorded and performed under their own
name.
Then Jeff told me this, “I hope you enjoy the record as a listen or
guitar playing inspiration. That's the real, main goal of the whole
Crazy Aces thing. To create music that's just plain fun to listen to, no
commitment from the listener, no proving ground for our musical skills,
just memorable melodies and fun music. When I quit playing on the road I
knew I'd want to keep playing, of course, but after being in the
serious, demanding side of the music business for years I finally had
the chance to do whatever I wanted, for my own gratification and this
band, this music, was my answer to myself.”
This CD is all that. Mission accomplished.
One last comment. The guitars used on many tracks on this record were
guitars any one of us could afford to buy. Many Teiscos and even a 1964
Harmony Stratotone. I quit learning guitar as a kid because my own
Harmony, a 1963 high-action jazzbox with razor-sharp bridge cables for
strings was just no fun to play. I wonder what would have happened if
I’d selected a Stratotone instead? I was floored when I saw the list of
instruments Crazy Aces use. So all you closet Teisco and Harmony
collectors out there? Time to come bring those guitars out into the
open. These old guitars sound great!
What do you do if you’re a quartet of Nashville Cats who like to play
music for the sheer fun of it? You might just play more country music.
It sometimes seems like it’s what everyone does in Nashville. But what
if you want to create and play something else, something completely
different, just for the sheer pleasure of playing joyful, catchy, fun
music? You might be a Crazy Ace. And what if you wanted to make a record
that conveyed the fun you have playing the music you create and
perform? You might record Surfadelic Spy-a-Go-Go by Crazy Aces. So they
did!
Surfadelic Spy-a-Go-Go is the follow-up to their first record, Crazy
Aces - Greatest Hits Volume 2. Recorded in a home studio, it replaces
the Hi-Fi sound of their first record with something aiming to recreate
their live sound while, according to Jeff Senn, also “… hinting strongly
toward some classic first wave Surf, ‘60’s Abbey Road, classic
psychedelia, and Go-Go sounds.” So… what’s it all sound like?
Thrown Away
I don’t know what was thrown away, but I’m glad this song wasn’t it.
It’s got what is almost becoming a signature Crazy Aces sound - a series
of distinct short melodic phrases with a variety of catchy beats and
orchestrations that repeat until it suddenly ends with a humorous phrase
that caught me by surprise the first time, and for which I waited with
anticipation on subsequent listens. This is fun music for the sake of
being fun music. It is fun, and I like it.
Kikobella
This is one of my favorite songs on the record. It reminds me of sixty’s
British television spy programs like The Prisoner and The Avengers for
some reason. I always like anything that reminds me of those wonderful
series. It could be music from an unaired episode of either of those
series or a theme song for a pilot of an unproduced program. In my
opinion, Kiko is pretty bella.
Big Dog
This starts out as one of the most traditional surf songs on the record,
and there’s nothing wrong with that at all. The song has swagger and a
great beat to go with the fantastic tone of the lead guitar. The melody
is something that could be spaghetti, but other elements turn the
overall effect into something else entirely, something modern -
car-chase, not horse-chase, and that tone at the end straight out of The
Outer Limits isn’t remotely Nineteenth Century. Very, very cool!
Rain For Sunday
This is probably going to become my favorite song on the entire record. I
like it that much. And it’s that good. I’m just a sucker for a lovely
melody and the song’s exotic elements that recall island getaways. The
song creates a vivid image of a small cottage on a deserted beach, rain
quietly falling so we stay inside and dance to the sound of the rain
falling on the roof and palm trees outside. A perfect song for a perfect
evening in a perfect location. Very romantic. Perfect.
Temple of Cool
It is, you know! It’s got an ultra-cool groove on that is foot-stompin’
jumpin’ ‘round the room infectious like anything and more than most.
Plus it has a wonderful, deep tremolo going for it that just adds to the
cool factor. I like tremolo. It isn’t used here for everything, so when
it comes back with the chorus, it’s welcome and not tiresome. This is a
song that makes me want to dance to it, or just jump around a lot to
the beat and hope I don’t knock something over. Cool!
Millions in Prizes
Kaleidoscopes on the TV screen, fast in-out zooms, swirling images,
Pop-art graphics and pop-up comedians saying very silly things, Go-Go
girls, Mod-fashioned folks decorated with giant paisleys in bright
colors. Girls with short hair and shiny vinyl micro-mini skirts. Boys
with long hair and shirts with oversize collars. This might be the most
fun on the record. Just go ahead and sock it to me!
Gotham
Holy Batman! Bang! Zoom! Crunch! Where’s Robin? Waiting in the Batmobile
of course. And right in the middle of music that sounds like it could
be from that iconic TV series comes an interlude that momentarily
suggests New York after dark above 96th Street, in the rain, with only a
dim streetlight in the distance to show the way. Who’s that in the
shadows? Funny you should ask?
Happy Shadow
I love The Shadows. There’s something about their music that was the
beautiful calm before the storm. But this is The Shadows on Crazy Aces.
There are lots of touches that make sure this song doesn’t just copy the
mood and style of the originals. It feels different, maybe more
frenetic and garage band-like. In a good way. No one’s crying for this
Shadow.
Agent Yellow Jacket
Cheese it – it’s the Fuzz! Lots of attitude and bravado mixed with a
swinging vibe of funky, slinky, edgy, driving beat. This song just rips
into cheap detectives driving beat-up cars and cheaper girls going along
for the ride. Is anyone in this story the good guy? Is the victim
simply the slowest bad guy? You got to have a lot of confidence to play
this game, and a lot of skill to play this song. Want to dance to it? Do
the boogaloo!
Busted & Broken
My second favorite song on this album by the bulge of a worn out
fighter’s nose. If there’s a genuine noir song on this album, this is
it. The melody is right out of dimly lit bars with cheap whisky, bad
days and worse nights, desperate women with nothing to lose, down on
their luck men who’ve already used up their last chance. This is not the
place to look for salvation, a fair shake, or even sympathy. This is
the dead end of life and you’re busted and broken. This song is
fantastic! I want to watch any movie that has the nerve to use this as
its theme song. It’s that terrific!
The Long Ride
This is a lovely song. It’s a gentle, lilting spaghetti-western with a
touch of humor that shows great fondness for its subject. The melody is
beautiful and romantic, and the rhythm, well if you’ve ever ridden a
horse slightly faster than a walk, you’ll recognize it. Horses can cover
ground at this speed for long periods without tiring, and it’s easy on
the riders, too. This song is a perfect way to end the record, riding
off into the sunset.
Surfadelic Spy-a-Go-Go by Crazy Aces is a very worthy successor to
their debut release. It’s different-sounding while being true to their
sound and feel. The material is fresh and unexpected, yet who else but
Crazy Aces would have made this record?
I’ve enjoyed every minute of listening to this record over and over
for hours while writing this review. There’s so much variety, I never
once got bored or tired of it. I can’t wait to just play it and be
surprised all over again by how much fun it is to listen to.
Crazy Aces (on this recording) are:
Jeff Senn, Guitars and Keys
Tom Hoey, Drums and Percussion
Justin “Oscar” Cary, Electric and Acoustic Bass
Kiwuamu Stewart, Guitars
Surfadelic Spy-a-Go-Go
Produced and Engineered by Jeff Senn and Crazy Aces
Mixed by Jeff Senn
Mastering by Alex McCollough at Yes Master, Nashville, TN
Graphic Design by Glen Hannah at StudioGoongah, Australia
Back cover and inside photos by Alex McCollough
The following gear was used to record Surfadelic Spy-a-Go-Go, and
while they don't make up for all the time and talent that went into
making this record, they did contribute significantly to the sound and
feel.
Guitars
1959 Guyatone LG-50
1966 Harmony Rocket
A handful of mid-‘60’s Teiscos
Rickenbacker 325 and 330
1953 Gibson CF-100
1972 Mosrite Mark I
Reisssue 1962 Epiphone Sorrento
Episode 7 features an interview with Jimmy King of the Aqualads.
Tracklisting:
Crazy Aces - "Stomp It"
The Hodaddys - "Capsized"
Sandblasters - "Petrina"
The Dead Barons - "Death In The Afternoon"
The Thunderchiefs - "Cry Of The Thunderchiefs"
The Boss Jaguars! - "Boardwalker"
Aqualads - "El Borracho"
Aqualads - "Reef Rider"
Link Wray - "Ace Of Spades"
The Krektones - "Krekstar-1"
Phantom Operators - "Tiki Patrol"
Bill Justis- "Raunchy"
Big Guitars From Texas - "Breaker"
The High Fidelics - "Black Dahlia"
The Slickee Boys - "When I Go To The Beach"
Man Or Astro-Man? - "As Estrelas Agora Elas Estão Mortas"
Man Or Astro-Man? - "_____/Myopia"
Intro and outro music, "Southern Surf Syndicate Theme", provided by The Penetrators.
Episode 6 features an interview with Jeff Senn of Crazy Aces.
Tracklisting:
The Spoils - "A Test Of Character"
The Flying Faders - "Kathy"
The Flying Faders - "One Too Many"
Vacations - "Off The Grid"
The Woggles - "Los Angeles No Niseimaturi"
The Squares - "Untitled 4"
Fez - "World Domination On 3 Dollars A Day"
Crazy Aces - "Boogie Bored"
Crazy Aces - "Busted & Broken"
El Capitan & The Band With No Name - "The Man With No Name"
The Carvers - "Over The Falls"
Reverend Organdrum - "Moovin' & Groovin'"
The Martian Denny Orchestra - "The Warmth Of The Sun"
The Mag Seven - "Lahaina"
Thee Phantom 5ive - "Bustin' Suds"
The Ramrods - "Slee-zee"
Intro and outro music, "Southern Surf Syndicate Theme", provided by The Penetrators.
Crazy Aces are an instrumental quartet from Nashville, TN who's been featured in Guitar Player and Vintage Guitar magazines and I believe are slated to perform this year's Surf Guitar 101 convention in Los Alamitos, CA. The band is comprised of seasoned professional musicians who have performed on stages with some big name acts all over the world, and it really shows. Not only are they top instrumentals but I believe their songwriting to be unparalleled in the modern times, and when they hit the stage they look as if they're having the best time ever. I first saw them at Douglasville Surf Fest in 2013 and they seemed to come out of nowhere and completely floor everyone in attendance. They've released two absolutely phenomenal records, "Greatest Hits Volume 2" (their first) and "Surfadelic Spy-a-Go-Go", the latter along with the Barbwires' "Searider" make up my favorite instrumental records of the past decade. Needless to say this show should NOT be missed!
El Capitan and the Band With No Name is one James Freeman and a revolving cast of outlaws that play a sort of aggressive spaghetti-western influenced surf. The group has released a fantastic album, "Death of a Tiki" with great production complete with horn section and opened for the likes of Dick Dale and Reverend Horton Heat. El Cap is quite the showman to boot, having destroyed quite a few guitars along the way.
This show will be a reunion of sorts for Atlanta's Flat Cat, which features Amy Arnold from Stomp alumni The Cherry Bomb. Each member of the group shares songwriting as well as singing duties, culminating in a veritable power-pop stew.
We're also proud to have yet again The Fringe Factory DJs spinning the best rock 'n' roll from the past 60 years. Please be sure to check out their radio show at 8pm Wednesdays on WFMU.
