The Power of East Coast Surf

 

Band name: Squid Pussy

 

Genre: Surf Rock

 

Geographical Area: Long Beach, Long Island NY

 

Interview with: Gail by email on 9/3/06

 

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

Jesse aka The Electric EEL McKevitt, guitar

Gail Force, bass

John aka Cliff Norseman O'Connell, drums

 

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

In October 2003 after Fred the surfer's party.

 

3.                  What bands or music have influenced you most?

The Doors, Blue Cheer, early Alice Cooper, The Seeds, Dick Dale (of course!), The Ventures, Eddie and the Showmen, and the Fender Four.

 

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

We want to keep our music as real and original as possible. We do 2 cover songs at our live shows. Our album is ALL ORIGINAL.
 

5.                  What recording have you done?

Our self titled album SquidPussy - recorded live in a public storage facility complete with all mistakes
 

6.                  What kind of gear do you use?

Mosrite guitars - Fender amps

Jet Star bass - Kustom tuck and roll amp

Slingerland drum set in purple satin flame
 

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

Birthday cake and lime-Ade... screw lemons!

8.                  How do you get gigs?

Anyplace where we are NOT banned loves to have us play!

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

We live in a surf town - but not many people around here know what surf music is , and they say " you guys should get a singer!" ... they just don't get instrumental music (except for the old timers who like us and give us the hang loose sign).
 

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

We are LOUD, original, FULL of EnErGy! WE will stop at nothing to realize our dreams and goals! Most people get easily dissuaded by their dreams and give up.. NOT US!!! Look out world, SquidPussy is coming to a town near you!
 

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

Nailing flyers to the huts on the Long Beach boardwalk, Trish the Dish selling merch...
 

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

Most memorable show was opening for Dick Dale in 2004, a dream come true! That was part of our Low Tide Tour of '04. Most interesting show was a Christmas party at the Moosehead Lodge Yacht Club. Wwe were the only people there under the age of 60! We had to hide in the broom closet until we went on because we were a "Surprise". People were eating dinner watching us play, we got cut off after 4 songs and got paid the most we've ever made for 1 gig!

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

Meeting cool new people, and traveling to other parts of the country to do shows.

14.             Anything else?

"I see Dumb People." Jesse and John love to Surf! We support Organic Foods - our favorite type of monkey is MaCak.