The Power of East Coast Surf

Band Name: El Patapsco

Genre: Instrumental (non-traditional)

Geographical Area: Baltimore , MD

Interview with Jerome McManus (aka Mike) by email on 6/22/09

 

1. What is the current line-up of your band?

 Mark Gatlin (drums)

Ted Wedel (bass)

Marc Raley (guitar)

Jerome McManus (guitar)

 

2. How and when did you get started with your band?

Marc and I started an instrumental band called Defender in 1999 with some friends of ours. After a few years, Defender dissolved and we formed what became El Patapsco around 2003, after meeting Mark Gatlin and Ted Wedel. For awhile, we had a keyboard player named Becky Nachman, but she left to pursue a PhD and start a family. She’s on the first two CD’s. After she left we did what anyone else would do, we decided to play louder and faster. Our upcoming CD will have a song with vocals on it by Bridget Cimino.

 

3. What bands or music have influenced you most?

Almost everyone in El Patapsco is a music nerd, so the styles and artists vary dramatically. Initially, Marc and I were both influenced by bands like Man Or Astroman, the Ventures, and Los Straitjackets. Growing up, bands like the Dead Kennedys and The Cramps certainly had an impact on us. Nowadays it’s a bit more scattershot, as our styles have diverged somewhat. I would say my favorites are bands like Pell Mell, Calexico, The Sadies, The Langhorns, and Shadowy Men from a Shadowy Planet. None of those are traditional surf bands, but they are greatly influenced by surf music. I love the song “Ice and Pinewood Trees” by the Bambi Molesters, which to me a great example of someone doing something a little different with surf music without changing it too much. (I think most vocal numbers by surf bands are very disappointing, yet that one is a real standout.) We also listen to a lot of other music that influences us as well, like rockabilly, 60’s psychedelia, punk, soundtracks and theme songs, etc. Our rhythm section loves funk and soul music, as most rhythm sections should.

 

4. What is the break down of cover vs. original material in your live shows and/or recordings?

As time has gone on, we play fewer and fewer covers. Of the 25 or so active songs we have now, I think only 3 are covers – Moon Man (Atlantics), The Rattler (Santo & Johnny, and Floating (Laika & the Cosmonauts). I think The Rattler is our favorite among those, it’s such a fantastic song that almost nobody knows about. We also recorded Moon Man and gave it a bit of a western feel. I’m pleased with how that one came out. In the past we’ve covered The Crusher (Novas/Cramps), Slow Down (Beatles/The Jam), Marie Marie (Blasters), Fire of Love (Jody Reynolds), Buffy the Vampire theme (Nerf Herder), and Crack in the Sidewalk (House of Freaks).

 

5. What recording have you done?

2001 – The Defender Sessions. Recorded with an earlier lineup but we still play some of these songs. All of these are available as a free download from our website.

2005 – LRDG. Also known as Long Range Desert Group, this is a 12-song album and is currently sold out. The opening track also appears on the Continental Magazine Sampler #14.

2008 – Me Dejo. We recorded 11 songs and put 8 of them on the CD. (The remaining three are available on our website.) The song Tralfalmadore appears on the Continental Magazine Sampler #16.

2009 – Deuce and a Half. We are currently wrapping up a new 6-song EP and it will be available later in 2009.

Phil Dirt has consistently given us 4-star reviews, and on Me Dejo, a number of the songs individually received 5 stars. He calls our style desert surf. Each release has a good number of freely available songs on our website – www.elpatapsco.com and from www.myspace.com/elpatapsco, among other locations. By all means, download them. DJ’s can email me for free copies: elpatapsco@gmail.com .

 

6. What kind of gear do you use?

Keep in mind we are not a traditional surf band.

I play a Gibson ES-135 (with a Bigsby) through a Fender Twin Amp reissue. I also use an Ibanez DE7 Delay/Echo and an Electro-Harmonix Pulsar Tremolo pedal. I also have a Sundown A-50 amp that I occasionally use.

Marc plays a ‘79 Les Paul Custom through a ‘65 Twin Reverb Reissue. He uses the following pedals: Boss DD-2 Digital Delay, Ibanez DE7 Delay/Echo (for slap echo), MXR Distortion Plus, MXR Dyna Comp, and sometimes: Dunlop Cry Baby Wah, MXR Blue Box, Electro Harmonix Small Stone, and some lime green Boss Phaser. He also has numerous backup guitars that run the gamut.

Mark (drummer) uses an early 60s Rogers Tower kit, Zildjan cymbals, Latin Percussion cowbell, DW hardware. His backup set is a mid-60s Slingerland.

Ted (bass) uses a Yamaha through a SWR amp.

When we record we use a variety of guitars, including Stratocasters, Rickenbachers, Telecasters, etc., as well as, acoustic guitars, maracas, and shakers.

 

7. What is your band’s favorite food/beverage?

Clipper City Pale Ale and red hot fireballs.

 

8. How do you get gigs?

We get most of our shows through friends or local music connections.

It’s tough for instro bands to get decent gigs in Baltimore ; it’s just not that kind of town. If you do attend an all-instro show in Baltimore, half the audience is probably in other local surf/instro bands. We have several – Reverb Galaxy, The Diamondheads, The Gremmies, Atomic Mosquitoes, Swiv-o-matics, and Garage Sale. If you look at the most recent Continental Magazine (#16), there are three Maryland/Virginia bands on there.

 

9. What are the difficulties you find playing your kind of music in your area?

A lot of people seem to have a great aversion to bands without singers. I’ve always loved instrumentals and thought many great bands were ruined by bad vocals anyway. We are also not terribly aggressive in getting shows and we have gone several months without any. This is something we do for fun, so we do it as we have time and inclination.

 

10. What positive attributes does your band have that sets you apart from other bands (of any genre)?

We really focus on the songs having great hooks and making them dramatic or thematic. Some of our songs are linear while others are not. We’re also not a traditional surf band, so we have more leniencies stylistically. I think the idea of songs having great melodies is sometimes lost due to the sake of too much wanking, soloing, or just sheer “rocking out.” You have to make your songs interesting to the listener; otherwise, it is worthless in the end.

 

11. What have you found to be the single most effective promotional tool you’ve used to further your band’s musical path?

I think good old fashioned networking is the most effective for us.

Certainly, you need some kind of web presence. Anyone can get a MySpace page, so you need something recorded. I also recommend CDBaby. We’ve sold hundreds of CD’s through them. Once you have a CD you can start giving them away. Give up and making any money. We usually provide free CD’s to DJ’s and music promoters.

If you don’t mind giving your music away, the Internet Archive is a great site. We’ve had people use our music for their documentaries and films through there.

Advertising in Continental Magazine is another great option we’ve used.

 

12. What’s the most interesting performance experience you’ve had?

We used to get quite a reaction when Marc sang “The Crusher.” That’s always a crowd pleaser by any band that performs it.

 

13. What do you hope to get out of being a NESMA member?

We’ll probably never officially tour, so we’re not so much concerned about connections as we are getting exposure to other fans of this type of music.

 

14. Anything else?

We have a show coming at the Creative Alliance in Baltimore on August 8, 2009 with the Atomic Mosquitoes and The Tritons. The Atomic Mosquitoes are an amazing live act and The Tritons have a baritone guitar surf style that is unparalleled.

Also, we give away a lot of our music, so check out our website: www.elpatapsco.com.

Feel free to contact us: elpatapsco@gmail.com.

Thanks for checking us out!