Band Name: Atom Bumz
Genre: Surf / Instro / Garage .
Geographical Area: Maryland / DC
Interview with Lew by email on 2/1/10
1. What is the current line-up of
your band?
Donnie Deville – Fender Strat
Jeff Futura – Bass
Lakin Continental – Sax, Lap Steel,
Harp etc. etc. etc.
Malibu Lew – The Drums
2. How and when did you get started
with your band?
The Atom Bumz
got together to play at a block party
in 2007. Someone shot a video of the
performance. The video hit
YouTube, people talked, the
music felt new and novel, and we
started getting gigs at parties and
local bars.
We are all long time fans of
Dick Dale,
Link Wray,
Lonnie Mack,
The Chantays, and
The Ventures. Isn’t
everyone? But we get our energy from
the masked men…..Los
Straitjackets.
4. What is the break down of cover vs. original material in your live shows and/or recordings?
Our recent sets include about 20%-25% original material. We augment that with
original arrangements, covers, & covers of covers.
5. What recording have you done?
Don has a home studio and we record
there with his Yamaha AW2816 when we
can find the “flux
capacitor”. Nothing has been
released. We post on
MySpace but a CD is in the 2010
plans!
6. What kind of gear do you use?
Don - Fender Strat, Fender Amps,
Fender Picks, lots of cool mods, and
a French beret.
Jeff –
Really Red
Schechter Bass, SWR Bass Rig
Lakin – Vintage Conn Tenor &
Alto Saxophones, Lap “dance”
Steel Guitar, Hohner Harps &
Pacifica sunglasses
Lew – 1969 Luddys with Zildjians,
SPF 30+ lotion.
7. What is your band’s favorite
food/beverage?
Yuengling Beer with Eggs and Bacon.
8. How do you get gigs?
Word of mouth
works best Many gigs come to the
Bumz via other bands in the area
that are digging the surf sound, and
include us in gigs with them.
9. What are the difficulties you find playing your kind of music in your area?
People like to
sing along. It creates a
connection. With instrumentals you
have to draw them in with a visual
performance, lots of energy, and the
occasional audience participation
number!
We love what we
are doing, playing and are committed
to growing fans for the genre.
Progress is slower than we would
like….but its happening. It’s like
waiting for the perfect wave!
11. What have you found to be the single most effective promotional tool you’ve used to further your band’s musical path?
We do local
open mics and these 4 song sets
almost always land us a gig. It
surely builds interest in surf music
and bartenders dig instrumentals
because they hear the same thing
over and over.
12. What’s the most interesting
performance experience you’ve had?
We played a
festival of 10 bands at The Whiskey
in Annapolis. The theme was
American Music. A great group
of bands played blues, country,
jazz, soul, bluegrass, rockabilly,
jam band, gospel and they had the
foresight to include SURF!!! Way
COOOOOOOL gig.
13. What do you hope to get out of being a NESMA member?
Free CDs and
Stickers. Oh, and some camaraderie
and opportunities to play outside
the area on occasion. We’re on a
mission from God!
14. Anything else?
We love this
music and want to build the scene
with our fellow musicians in the
Chesapeake region. The summer
lifestyle on the bay is all about
fun & the water, so we love playing
dock bars, sock burnings, and
beach parties. Thanks to
Sandy, Mike and NESMA for being
there. We are not alone…
