The Power of East Coast Surf

 

Band name: Neptune Society

Genre: Instrumental Surf with Improv and Attitude
 

Geographical Area: NE Philly/Asbury Park, NJ
 

Interview with: Keith Calmes by email on 9/27/06

 

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

Luke Honer - Guitar

Keith Calmes - Guitar

Christopher Stober - Bass

Kevin Conrad - Drums

 

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

We started in the summer of 2005 and did our first informal gig at a Halloween party in Philadelphia. Luke and I met as fellow guitar teachers at Settlement Music School in Philadelphia. When I started ranting and raving about how incredible instrumental surf rock is, I was startled when he knew tons about it! Kevin (drums) and Luke have known each other since the first grade in NE Philly. Chris (bass) and I knew each other from working at the music publisher Theodore Presser in King of Prussia, PA.

 

3.                  What bands or music have influenced you most?

We've all been at music for awhile. Luke and I really love Los Straitjackets and the Ventures. When I saw the Ventures as a young punk rocker in Los Angeles, they blew me away! Those two bands were really the impetus for me and this band. However, we are really into everything. Our jazz backgrounds are obvious to anyone that's heard us live. Kevin is really into the jam band thing, and I even dig free jazz like Ornette Coleman and Cecil Taylor. Our punk background sometimes comes to the forefront at our more aggressive shows. Luke and I are even planning some concerts doing classical guitar duets! 3/4 of the band has degrees in music; so, our background is pretty broad. My other fave surf bands include: Chum, Vanduras, Slacktone.
 

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

We were orignally planning to do 100% covers and be a trad. surf band, but we broke away from that rather quickly. We used to do about 50% covers, then went 100% original a few months ago. It's way more fun to do original tunes, since there are not that many surf classics. They tend to get overplayed.
 

5.                  What recording have you done?

We did a session at our practice space which was pretty successful. That stuff is on our MySpace (www.myspace.com/neptunesociety). We also did a session at a studio in Philly. That stuff can be heard on the upcoming NESMA compilation.

 

6.                  What kind of gear do you use?
 

We're not really gearheads like a lot of surf rockers. Luke has a Strat and Tele. I have an old Gretsch Country Club that my dad gave me 20 years ago. Kev has a Gretsch drum kit; and Chris uses a Yamaha bass. Recently he's been going fretless, which adds a great touch. We have Fender tube amps and run straight. BIG BASS RIG.

 

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

We drink PBR.

 

8.                  How do you get gigs?

Beg, pay people off, or render "services"

 

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

Near the beach they want Top 40, not surf rock!!!

 

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

We improvise our butts off. Our first few gigs lasted a few hours. We only had ten to fifteen tunes; but we jammed out on them enough to fill the evening. That spirit remains in our creative brand of surf rock. As far as I know, we are the only band on the East Coast that gets the crowd going/angry by screaming SURF ROCK MOTHER *$%#^@&*@*. I think that Chum on the West Coast may have that type of angry surf rock thing thing going on, too

 

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

NESMA, MySpace, friends, word of mouth, and our intimate connections with the NJ mafia bosses and drug lords.
 

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

Every gig is "interesting." Filling an evening the first time out or two demanded a lot of creativity. Our first show at John and Peter's in New Hope was pure insanity. As I recall, we had some people dancing on stage with us. I remember crawling out to the audience and practically onto tables during the show. Fun's fun and nobody lost an eye. We've played some great shows, and had some good headlining spots (Asbury lanes, CB's 313 Gallery, Otto's). Usually the gigs are great to meet other people, and we always aim to destroy when we perform out. Hopefully, we've busted many an ear drum and have enlightened people with Instrumental Rock.


    13.    Anything else?

I'm a West Coast guy, transplanted to the East Coast via my stint as a guitarist in The Army Band Program (we parted ways in Baltimore). That explains my surf rock obsession.

One thing that I think helps set Neptune apart is that the guitars are equally weighted; we both trade off leads and solos. We also do a ton of dual leads. We are know to do a bass solo or two (or three) and always do a drum feature.