Post #647961 by JOHN-O on Sun, Aug 12, 2012 9:58 AM

Thanks for the pictures, Kevin. :)

Wow, the Surf Music bar was raised yet another year. What a fantastic event !!

The great diversity of bands and sheer talent made the 10 hours just fly by. From 1st-wave legends like the Nocturnes, Rumblers, and Paul Johnson to 2nd-wave icons Jon & the Nightriders (FYI, John Blair is to Surf Music what Sven is to the Tiki Revival), and then the Madeira who may very well be the premier band of the 3rd-wave.

Two of my favorite performances were by the Intoxicators and the Exotics, both bands who also have a long relationship to the Tiki Revival.

The "wildcard" this year, at least for me, was El Ray. Holy smokes, what an incredible band !! I'll be seeing them for a 3rd time on Monday at Spike's in Rosemead before they return back to Belgium.

There were about a dozen TC peeps in the house and this is the 2nd year in a row a Tiki person has won the coveted guitar raffle, Spermy won the Stratocaster !!

Another "Tiki moment" was after "Bali Hai" was performed Surf-style, BTD comes up to mike, and says "That was for all the people who say Surf isn't Tiki". :D

BTD, I know you've been getting by each night on just a few hours of sleep, as you've been helping to book the out-of-state and international bands at other venues throughout the week to offset their travel costs, as well as schleping gear.

Thank you Jeff for all your hard and selfless work, the convention continues to get bigger and more amazing each year as does the whole Surf Music scene. You play such a large role in all this, it does not go unnoticed.