Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Cocktail Preachers - Margarita Meltdown
 | The Cocktail Preachers came all the way from Chicago to play a few dates on the west coast, among which was a Pitstop at KFJC. Their new CD was in hand, and the performance here was in support of its release. It was a great show. |
Picks: Banzai, Highball Holiday, Long Boards Rule, Tailspin, Baja, Deep Deep Space, Go Betty, Mecca, Margarita Meltdown, Roswell Surf Report, Last Ride, Branded, I Think It Means Death, Sferic Waves, Bailout, Albatross Joe
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
With a "hey ho let's go" cheer, the Cocktail Preachers opened the show with a classic surf jam. "Banzi" is infectious and fun.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Highball Holiday" uses whammy and a touch of "Telstar" on the waves. The melody line is optimistic. It's a rhythmic and rich tune with a pure surf arrangement.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Long Boards Rule" uses a highly unusual structure and combination of familiar elements, which gives it a fresh sound. The Kinks' "You Really Got Me" emphasis chords are cool.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a fine performance of Los Straitjackets' "Tailspin." All the circular power and grace of the original is well adapted to the trio format. The Cocktail Preachers make this shine.
Surf (Instrumental)
Purely delicate and reverbed delightfully, this is a fine version of Lee Hazelwood's great "Baja." The restrained interpretation displays just how versatile this song is. Excellent!
Surf (Instrumental)
"Deep Deep Space" a progression based instro with theremin warbling and "Out OF Limits" guitar licks in the intro. This eerie riff driven number is quite nicely done live.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Go Betty" is a jazzy number, kinda sultry, sorta bubbly, a little exotic, and oozing undulating female forms. Quite fine.
Surf (Instrumental)
Gene Pitney's teenage Bedouin pop hit "Mecca" is a fine choice for a surf instro. It's rhythmic, fluid, and exotic, but not exactly middle eastern. The liquid melody line, solid arrangement, and suave beat provide a great reverb vehicle.
Surf (Instrumental)
Moody and exuberant, and dramatic too, "Margarita Meltdown" is simply a very cool track. Tribal drums and splashy Mexican themes, with a melody line which is really infectious. An excellent performance.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Roswell Surf Report" has a melody line which circles several times before settling into a dissonant chord assault. It's a little like the rolling swells that rise to curl before crashing into the rocks. It's all here.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Last Ride" is wonderfully infectious in a cool vein, with splash and a great beat. Powerful tom toms drive, and the melody and fluid bass add up to a powerful and durable surf performance.
Surf (Instrumental)
Link Wray's classic garage anthem "Branded" is powered and reverbed with the requisite spunk. Deeply reverbed, it takes on an even grodier sound. Cool version.
Surf (Instrumental)
Like an understated and subdued bow to "Harlem Nocturne," "I Think It Means Death" shimmers with vibrato guitar and soft bass and drums. Very pretty in a moody way.
Surf (Instrumental)
Man Or Astro-MAN?'s garage grinder "Sferic Waves" is a chorded reverbed nervous attack on the calm of space. Dark and gloomy, and grumbly.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Bailout" is double picked, with spies in tow and a solid beat. A bit on the Spanish side, this warm tune is melodic and full of swimming whammy. An excellent tune.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Albatross Joe" is one fast chunky number, like a minor Surf Trio thing with edgy guitar and tenacious energy, plus some nasty double picking.