Southern Surf Stomp! presents The Monterreys, Bruce Joyner and Atomic Clock, The SideBurners

August marks the triumphant return of Charlotte, North Carolina's The Monterreys.  Not only were they the first group to headline the inaugural Southern Surf Stomp! but will be the first to do so for a second time.  The trio plays a powerful brand of surf with a world music influence, guitarist Johnny Stewart also a flamenco guitarist.  After losing their previous bass player Leon Daniel, which is now working on his solo project The Wrecks House amongst other things, they were fortunate enough to be joined by Aqualads' (and now Southern Surf Stomp contributor) Jeremy DeHart.  Reinvigorated by the change, the band will be bringing fresh songs, their fabulous new record "The Pharaoh", and even a different look with them to Kavarna.

Bruce Joyner is a legend in the underground garage rock scene with his seminal work with The Unknowns and will also be returning to the Stomp for a second time with his band Bruce Joyner and Atomic Clock.  The front man has a larger than life presence and having seen he and guitarist Tom Byars perform in different configurations with various groups over the past decade or so, I can honestly say this iteration is by far the best I've ever seen.  They nearly blew the roof off the place last time and people were practically begging me to have them back.

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. 

Highlights from Southern Surf Stomp! on October 18, 2014

The Fugitives

David Northrip

A little Santo & Johnny "Sleepwalk" setting the mood.

The Wheel Knockers.  Look, a unicorn!

Dan McNeil aka Jet Powers

The Disasternauts

Jay Wallace (of The Mystery Men?) as a Disasternaut.

Dan getting in on the fun.

Southern Surf Stomp! presents The Disasternauts (FL), The Fugitives, and The Wheelknockers

The Disasternauts (Tallahassee, FL) is THE "All-star Astro-Chimp Surf Band" that plays a wide variety of styles within the surf genre, doing so with speed, aggression, technical proficiency, and plenty of volume.  These hominids have performed all around the Southeast including The Hukilau (one of the world's largest Tiki events), Drive-Invasion, Bubbapalooza, and have even played out West during the Surf Guitar 101 convention.  Members for this particular show will include personnel from The Intoxicators and The Mystery Men?.

The Fugitives are relative newcomers to the Atlanta surf scene and too play loud, aggressive, and technical instro surf.  Playing covers ranging from Dick Dale to the Meters, they aim to please and get the audience shaking.

The Wheel Knockers offer up alt country tinged indie rock.  Band leader Jet Powers is no stranger to surf music however, having performed with the legendary Penetrators as well as El Capitan and the Scallywags.

Photos from the second Southern Surf Stomp! on May 10, 2014

 Bruce Joyner and Atomic Clock

 Julea and her Dear Johns

The Mutations

Diesel Smoke and Dangerous Curves

Not only does Julea Thomerson front the incredible group Julea and her Dear Johns, but she also hosts her own radio show, Diesel Smoke and Dangerous Curves, on WMLB AM 1690 here in Atlanta.

About the show (taken from http://1690wmlb.com/programs/dsdc/): "Diesel Smoke and Dangerous Curves brings you the weird, wild, and wonderful side of country western music, rock ‘n roll, rhythm & blues, and a little bit of soul. Hosted by Julea Thomerson, an avid record collector and leader of Julea and Her Dear Johns, spins hillbilly, classic country-western and rockabilly but don’t be surprised to hear some prewar Piedmont blues, vintage R&B, popcorn, northern soul, and some old fashioned rock ’n’ roll from the artists who never topped the charts but were all hits in our book."

You can hear past episodes by clicking the above links.

Videos for Julea and her Dear Johns