Reverb Central .:. Review .:.

This set was recorded live on December 20, 2003 at the Kirkland Cafe, Boston, Massachusetts. Surf Squad plays all of Dick's songs just a tad slower, but as a Dick dale tribute band, they employ his eighties and nineties arrangements on most tracks. This is a live set, and as such, contains a few errors, but they just add to the reality of the set.

Picks: Nitro, Taco Wagon, Shredded Heat, (Ghost) Riders In The Sky / Caterpillar Crawl , Miserlou, Esperanza, Pipeline, Let's Go Trippin', Surf Beat, The Wedge, Scalped, 3rd Stone From The Sun

Surf (Instrumental)

Perhaps a little slower and less fiery than Dick Dale's version, or the hundreds of punky covers, yet with ample edge and spunk to make it work well. I often wondered if the song would be more effective if ramped down a notch, and this take seems to show just that. The big bridge and the glissandos work as well.

Surf (Instrumental)

One of Dick Dale's coolest originals, "Taco Wagon" has remained a fave of mine for all these years. Slightly slower and more dramatic, yet with ample flair, it faithfully gives the nod where it's due. Very cool!

Surf (Instrumental)

A song that first titled "Desert Storm," and based on Ray Charles' "What'd I Say" riff, "Shredded Heat" is not quite melodic, but is catchy and familiar nonetheless. Surf Squad gives it the Dick Dale treatment to great effect. Well done.

Surf (Instrumental)

This merger is one Dick Dale has used for 20 some years. Stan Jones' cowboy anthem is always cool, and the way Surf Squad plays it slightly slower and more carefully gives it a fresh sound despite the arrangement being perfectly rendered from the Dickster himself.

Surf (Instrumental)

This is a heavy sounding rendition of "Miserlou" arranged the way Dick's Del-Tone single was. Thunder below, guitar out front, and drums playing what became the classic surf beat. It's a trio treatment, but it works well.

Surf (Instrumental)

This is a fine song with an easy surf feel and relentless flow. Dick Dale's delightful "Esperanza" is nicely aped here, though it's a little less dynamic than the master's live performances.

Surf (Instrumental)

Seriously based on Dick Dale's part of the Stevie Ray Vaughan - Dick Dale Columbia single version from Back To The Beach, this is chunky and rhythmic and trimmed down for trio. Pretty solid.

Surf (Instrumental)

Dick's first instrumental, written back in August of '61, is reborn much as Dick Plays it today. "Let's Go Trippin'" is a spunky and flashy song with enduring character. Surf Squad keep it true to Dick's modern form, and it works well.

Surf (Instrumental)

Easily among the the most basic and classic surf instrumentals, and certainly one of the most tribal, "Surf Beat" is a chunk monster when properly played. Dick's modern arrangement retains much of the flair and rhythmic power of the 1962 version.

Surf (Instrumental)

The arrangement used here is a composite of Dick's nineties trio sound with Hal Blaine's drums from the Capitol session. It's slower, but is otherwise intact.

Surf (Instrumental)

"Scalped" is one of Dick Dale's more riffy modern pieces. This is big and jammy, just the way it is supposed to be.

Surf (Instrumental)

Jimi Hendrix' "3rd Stone From The Sun" was adapted by Dick Dale ostensibly in tribute. It's a labored effort on Dick's album, and likewise here. Heavy and pompous, but also kind of arty.