Inuhele: Atlanta's Tiki Weekend February 15-17, 2019

Inuhele, hosted by StompFest sponsor Horror in Clay/MugCrate, will be making their maiden voyage with a weekend of bar hopping, panels (including one on the history of surf music by our very own James Honeycutt), bands (including Stomp alum The Mystery Men? and Kinky Waikiki),  demos, sharing of ideas, and most importantly community building.  The event will be held on February 15-17 at the Marriott Century Center in Atlanta.
For more information, please visit:
atlantatikitour.com
Inuhele on Facebook
Inuhele on Instagram

Southern Surf StompFest! 2018

We are thrilled to announce this year’s Southern Surf StompFest! lineup:

Los Tiki Phantoms (Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain)
The KBK (Jacksonville, AL)
The Flying Faders (Baltimore, MD)
Go!Tsunami (Springfield, IL)
The AmpFibians (Cincinnati, OH)
The Surge! (Atlanta, GA)
The Wheel Knockers (Atlanta, GA)
The Mystery Men? (Atlanta, GA)
Forbidden Waves (Athens, GA)

DJ Tikinaut (Milwaukee, WI)
MC Jet Powers (AKA Daniel McNeill)

Saturday, September 15th at Little Tree Art Studios

The Delusionaires (FL/GA)
Kinky Waikiki (Athens, GA)

DJ Tikinaut

Friday, September 14th at Trader Vics Atlanta

Presented by THE SURF KING Surfwear

Flagpole magazine's Athens Surf Stomp II article

Second Annual Athens Surf Stomp Spotlights a Growing Scene

Saturday, Apr. 22 @ Little Kings Shuffle Club

By Gabe Vodicka @FlagpoleMusic

Photo Credit: Miranda Hawks

The Flamethrowers Surf Band

You may not realize it, but Athens is home to a thriving surf-music scene. Rather than coalesce around a single band, venue or promoter, this scene arose seemingly by accident. Compelled by a love of the style, a handful of local groups have formed and evolved independently of one another, offering distinct takes on the electrifying sounds first put forth by artists like the Ventures, Dick Dale and the Beach Boys.

Recognizing that the number of surf bands in town had grown, Nate Fackler, who plays guitar in the Flamethrowers Surf Band, invited a handful of them to play the first Athens Surf Stomp last spring. “It went so well I was asked to do it again this year,” Fackler says, adding, “I believe this is Athens' first annual surf stomp event.” Similar regional showcases, like the Southern Surf Stomp, have also proven popular, indicating that surf music is resurgent on a wider level.

This Saturday, the Athens Surf Stomp returns, featuring five intown acts and two from elsewhere: Atlanta’s Mystery Men? and Genki Genki Panic, from Chattanooga. Flagpole caught up with a few of the locals on the bill to gab about the Classic City’s surprising surf scene.

The Flamethrowers Surf Band

Flagpole: What first got you interested in surf music?

Steve Sacco: Listening to the Ventures as a kid. I thought “Wipe Out” was the coolest thing I ever heard.

FP: What's your all-time favorite surf recording?

SS: “Nitro” by Dick Dale. There's a lot out there, like the Shadows, but “Nitro” is so blisteringly fantastic, so in-your-face perfect, it tops the list for me. Dick is still killing it. He's 80 freakin’ years old. I've seen him three times, and just left with my mouth agape every time. How could anyone be that good?

FP: What's your take on the surf-music scene in Athens?

SS: There are some really talented groups here in Athens, and they are all different from each other—[they’re] all doing their own thing, which is really cool. None of the bands sound alike. The Cryptides just kill the traditional ’60s surf sound, while Kinky Waikiki has a whole different Hawaiian thing happening. Both groups are super smooth and polished. There's room for all surfers here in the Classic City. We're a welcoming town when it comes to music.

FP: How does your band differ from the other surf groups in town?

SS: The Flamethrowers Surf Band may as well be the lovechild of the Ventures and the Ramones. Nobody else does that. We're a hard-driving, ’60s-style surf band who likes to speed everything up. You can hear the influence of both bands in our original tunes.

Photo Credit: Jessica Luton

The Cryptides

The Cryptides

FP: What first interested you in surf music?

Thomas Barton: Not the Pulp Fiction soundtrack. Though the surf genre has evolved into something that doesn't so closely resemble the Beach Boys, I'm told I ran around trying to sing “Barbara Ann” before I formed full words, so that was a start.

Zeke Sayer: I liked the sound of the snare rolls on “Wipe Out” as a child.

Patrick Ingram: I think it was the Pulp Fiction soundtrack.

FP: What's your take on the surf-music scene in Athens?

TB: It seems like there are more surf bands in town than there were, say, five or 10 years ago. We're glad Athens Surf Stomp is here to showcase these bands, and bring some others in from elsewhere. We all enjoyed it last year!

FP: How does your band differ from the other surf groups in town?

PI: To be completely honest, we may not take it as seriously. We do some old surf classics, obscure and known, but we also try to bring in other elements, like film soundtrack themes and other oddballs we try to get away with, like a Mr. Bungle cover here and there. It's all in good fun.

The Nice Machine's latest album, Science Is Real.

The Nice Machine

FP: What first got you interested in surf music?

Steve Abercrombie: I think surf music has always been in our blood. Mine and Eric [McDowell]’s parents used to listen to oldies in the car on the way to school, and I remember hearing “Wipe Out.” At school, kids would show each other how to play the drums to “Wipe Out” with your fingers on the desk. I was hooked on surf after that, before I really even knew what it was.

FP: What's your all-time favorite surf recording?

SA: “Slaughter on Tenth Avenue” [by the Ventures]. It has that classic Ventures mix of simple guitar leads and crunchy rhythm parts, with all those guitars in sync. You get a little fun part in the middle, but then they punch you with the meaty low-end sections so you know they mean business.

FP: How does your band differ from the other surf groups in town?

SA: Only about a quarter to a third of our songs are straight-up surf. The rest are a mix of instrumental genres—stoner rock, punk, noise, rhythmic drones and, of course, surf.

Photo Credit: Justin Evans

Kinky Waikiki

Kinky Waikiki

FP: What first got you interested in surf music? 

A.J. Adams: Some of the first songs I ever learned on guitar at the age of 13 were old Ventures and Santo & Johnny songs taught to me by my dad. All of these songs were a great way to learn the importance of melody. They opened the door to a lifelong obsession with all music of the 1960s, particularly instrumental pop. Years later, when I started playing steel guitar, I revisited these songs with the same love and excitement.

FP: What's your all-time favorite surf recording?

AA: Though not really considered surf music, I would have to say Santo & Johnny’s “Sleep Walk.” Such a beautiful, simple melody that's oozing with 1960s tube amps, everybody playing in the same room and a generous helping of reverb to lay your head on.

FP: What's your take on the surf-music scene in Athens?

AA: There has always been some version of surf in Athens since the ’80s. Now it seems there are even more surf bands than ever. Its really great, because we didn't realize how many until last year’s Surf Stomp brought them all together.

FP: How does your band differ from the other surf groups in town?

AA: We are basically a mellow lounge band centered around steel guitar that pulls influences from Hawaiian, surf and exotic lounge. We live somewhere between Martin Denny and the Ventures. It's all maximum R and R for us.

Saturday, April 22

Little Kings Shuffle Club

6 p.m. $5. www.facebook.com/lkshuffleclub

ATHENS SURF STOMP The second annual surf stomp includes sets by Vacations (6 p.m.), Flamethrowers (6:50 p.m.), Nice Machine (7:40 p.m.), Kinky Waikiki (8:30 p.m.), Cryptides (9:20 p.m.), Mystery Men (10:10 p.m.) and Genki Genki Panic (11 p.m.).

Huge thanks to Flagpole for the article, the original of which may be found here.

Athens Surf Stomp II and Chattanooga Surf Stomp

We're proud to see the return of the Athens Surf Stomp, as last years was a total gas.  Returning are Atlanta's The Mystery Men?, The Cryptides, Kinky Waikiki, hosts The Flamethrowers, and Vacations.  Making their first appearances at the event are Genki Genki Panic and The Nice Machine.  The event will once again be held at Little Kings Shuffle Club on Saturday, April 22nd.  The Facebook event page can be found here.





Tonight also marks another chapter for the Chattanooga Surf Stomp with Genki Genki Panic, The Compartmentalizationalists, and Coach N' Commando.  That event page can be found here.

2016 Southern Surf StompFest!

Presented by The City of Avondale Estates and THE SURF KING Surfwear, Southern Surf StompFest! is an annual festival featuring the best surf, instro, and beyond that the South has to offer. This free, all ages event takes place September 17th at Little Tree Art Studios in Avondale Estates, GA and will also host an artists market and food trucks.

flyer courtesy of James Honeycutt

 Line up:
9pm Daikaiju (AL)
8pm Insect Surfers (CA)
7pm The Mystery Men? (GA)
6pm The Intoxicators! (FL)
5pm The Surge (GA)
4pm Phatlynx (NC)
3pm Caroline & the Ramblers (GA)
2pm The Monterreys (NC)
1pm SEAWHORSE (VA)
12pm The Penetrators (GA/AL)

with special guest emcee: Jet Powers

None of this would be possible without our wonderful sponsors:
The City of Avondale Estates
THE SURF KING Surfwear
The Longboards Show on WREK.org
Sound Space
Green Flash Brewing Co.
My Parents' Basement

A kickoff party will be held the night before on September 16th at Trader Vics Atlanta with entertainment from Kinky Waikiki (GA) and The Dangling Tassels (AR).

Videos from Athens' first Southern Surf Stomp!

Athens' first Southern Surf Stomp! was a great success with perfect weather at a fantastic venue, dear friends, great drinks, and even better music.  I cannot thank Nate from the Flamethrowers enough for putting together a top notch event.  This will be an annual event moving forward and already I can't wait until next year.

Athens' First Southern Surf Stomp!

Join us in Athens for a night of surf music with six live bands and two djs.

Highlights from Southern Surf Stomp! on May 9, 2015.

The MysTiki Men?

The Barrow Boys

Barrow Boys singer Troy Junge

Kinky Waikiki

A.J. Adams

Stomps are fun for the whole family!

Our wonderful friends, DJs, and sponsors, Richard and Glynis of the Fringe Factory.

Southern Surf Stomp! presents Kinky Waikiki (Athens, GA), The MysTiki Men?, The Barrow Boys

You're on your favorite Polynesian island sitting in the sand with the waves lapping your feet, your beautiful wahine at your side with the world's most perfect mai tai in hand.  The palm trees sway gently in the wind and faintly in the distance you hear sounds which perfectly accompany the surf, you can just barely make out a steel guitar, perhaps a ukelele.  Those beautiful sounds that lull you into a dreamlike state are those of Athens, Georgia's Kinky Waikiki. 

The MysTiki Men? may or may not be affiliated with masked agents that comprise The Mystery Men?.  For one night only, the aforementioned agents will forgo their trio of electric guitars and try their deadly hands at lap steel, ukelele, piano, acoustic guitars accompanied by more traditional percussion instruments.  Along with some choice covers, The MysTiki Men? will also perform some Mystery Men? songs with an exotic flare.

Although The Barrow Boys have been around since 2002, they have only recently come to my attention.  Sharing a rhythm section with my favorite Atlanta rockabilly band and Stomp alumni, Caroline & the Ramblers, the group plays Americana with Latin, jazz, and even surf influences.