Band Name: Big Surf
Genre: Surf/ Prog Surf/ World Surf .
Geographical Area: Midwest, Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes
Interview with Chris and Phil by email on 12/29/09
1. What is the current line-up of
your band?
Phil Belknap- Guitar, Farfisa Organ, Lap Steel Guitar
Steve Ringat- Bass
Chris Goodnight- Drums
2. How and when did you get started
with your band?
Phil was playing in a Middle Eastern cover band about 9 years ago that played some surf-sounding songs (e.g. Miserlou: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miserlou) and decided he wanted to start an all-instrumental surf band. He got the 4-piece band started and they played for about a year; then Chris joined when the first drummer left. About a year later Steve took over on bass and soon after we became a 3-piece, which we’ve been ever since.
Laika and the Cosmonauts, Dick Dale, the Ventures, Jeff Beck, Mohamed Abdel Wahab, Omar Korchid.
4. What is the break down of cover vs. original material in your live shows and/or recordings?
Our recordings are 90% originals on the ones we have for sale. We’ve done some promo CD’s containing all covers that are tailored to getting the “straight” gigs but we don’t count those.
We have a playlist of over 80 songs that is about 70% covers, but when we play live we try to do more of a 60/40 split of covers to originals, depending on the show and who we are playing for.
5. What recording have you done?
5-4-5: 5 song EP, 2002
Diggin’ for Gold: Double Crown Records compilation, 2002
Art-A-Whirl Sampler, 2003
Action Heroes: 16-song CD, self-produced, 2003
Hang 11: 11-song CD, self-produced, 2005
6. What kind of gear do you use?
Phil:
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Fender 1965 Jazz master |
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National Special1946 8 string lap steel |
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Fender Band-Master, 1966. |
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Fender Bassman cabinet loaded with 2-12 inch Jensens with alnico magnets. |
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Fender Tube Reverb, early 70’s, silver face. |
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Fender Deluxe Reverb, 1966. I use this in conjunction with the Bandmaster and for the Farfisa. It’s got a Brown Sound Tone Tubby hemp cone alnico 12” speaker. |
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Fender Dimension IV (in the reverb loop on the Deluxe) |
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Laub Manufacturing Unique Amplifier. Hailing from Mequon, Wisconsin in the 60’s, this 2-12 combo was probably intended for use as an accordion amp. With its dark sound, cavernous reverb, and trippy pitch-shifting vibrato, it makes a perfect mate for the Bandmaster when recording. |
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Effects pedalboard contains a Lehle switcher for changing between guitar and lap steel, Korg Pitchblack tuner, Keeley Katana Clean Boost, Fulltone Deja Vibe, amp tremolo switch, S.I.B. Varidrive, Univox Super Fuzz, Maxon AD999 Analog Delay. |
Steve:
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Fender Jazz Bass |
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Lakland Bass |
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SWR Bass 750 Amp |
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4x10 and 1x18 SWR cabinets |
Chris:
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Yamaha Drums, Zildjian cymbals |
7. What is your band’s favorite
food/beverage?
Venison and Summit beer (local St. Paul brew), got to keep your strength up to Surf in a Minnesota winter!
8. How do you get gigs?
We have run a monthly Surf Night here for the past five and a half years. It’s been a great way to build the scene and develop a following. Unfortunately we’re going to have to find a new home bar for Surf Night, but a devoted surf music scene has grown over the past 5 years and there are lots of other surf bands that will help us keep it rolling.
Word of mouth over the years has been the best way for us to get gigs. Because we had the regular show, most opportunities came to us. A website is helpful, too.
9. What are the difficulties you find playing your kind of music in your area?
“Surf music? What’s that? Like the Beach Boys?” People don’t know what it is at first. The biggest thing is getting people to try it. We’re always amazed at the age range of people that like us once they hear the music. Our audiences have been everything from 8-80. The biggest thing is that no one knows what it is since it is not currently on the airwaves. Some people need to hear vocals or a song they recognize to relate to a band.
We look great in Hawaiian shirts? Actually, the most positive attribute of our band is how well we work together, both on and off stage. It’s a team effort and everyone just enjoys getting the chance to play and we’re pretty good players. We’re all very patient, which is very important, especially when you are playing niche music like surf. Things take time to build and you have to be patient and keep working your craft.
11. What have you found to be the single most effective promotional tool you’ve used to further your band’s musical path?
The regular gig. Since the average Joe on the street doesn’t know what surf is, you have to make it easy for them. The regular gig keeps your name out there and builds awareness of the genre. Even if it's just playing at a coffee shop once a month for free, do it! We’ve found that the big gigs always come from someone seeing you doing the little gig that you thought no one saw.
12. What’s the most interesting
performance experience you’ve had?
We played Macy’s Day of Music a couple of years ago outside of the Minnesota Orchestra Hall at Peavey Plaza. It was the hottest day of the year (over 100) and we first did a promo on the CBS affiliate playing the intros and outros for the News, then we had to quickly run our equipment over and play our set for over 1000 people. It was great because this is a festival featuring all sorts of great music with everything from polka to blues and we were invited to play it after playing one of those gigs we thought no one saw or cared about.
13. What do you hope to get out of
being a NESMA member?
Exposure to the variety of great surf bands on NESMA. We already had the Coffin Daggers come out and visit us on their last tour. We’d love to have anyone else coming our way let us know. We’re going to try to get out to the east coast soon!
14. Anything else?
Surf On!
