Surfer Girl and Coyote Island, November 9th, Melbourne Florida
With Beach Fly
Ahhh yes, Melbourne, Florida, the concert mecca of the east coast of Florida, said no one ever. But that’s OK, let’s maybe keep it that way for a bit and here’s the reason why. Sleepy little beach towns are ideal for up-and-coming bands that are ready to cut their teeth in front of adoring hometown fans.
To elaborate, who knew I’d be seeing wicked-ass music in a seriously divey but uber cool bar called Debauchery in Melbourne, Florida? Lucky me!
Let’s talk about the venue. if you didn’t know, but I’m sure that you would agree, the key to any concert venue is: can they: serve the drinks quickly, reproduce the sound within reason, and make sure that the bathroom lines aren’t so long that you miss the new song on the band’s upcoming album (word of advice-that’s the best time to a) get another drink and b) go to the bathroom.) So, did the venue deliver? Oh yea, in spades. On a side note, and hat-tip to the bartender, when you can mouth the words of the beer you want to the bartender who is 30 feet away and he mouth’s back, draft or bottle? And you mouth back bottle, and he nails it? You know it’s going to be a good night.
So, what I liked about Debauchery is that I could have been in Austin, New Orleans, LA, or New York. It just had the right vibe and grit of a dive bar that played live music; oh, and the bathroom? It’s super interesting with a mirror that basically looks into the women’s bathroom and vice-versa. But that’s another story for another night.
The Atlantic beach crowd this night though, in all it’s crusty, tatted up, sun drenched glory, brought the energy and the chill vibe. And that’s a direct result of the bands who were playing this night. Say hello to Beach Fly, Coyote Island and Surfer Girl.
If you’ve never heard of them, you might be asking, should you see these bands? Should you look to see where they are playing next and venture forth? The short answer is yes. With a very slight exception to Beach Fly. In their defense, you can tell they’re just starting to hone their roots rock, reggae, beach vibe, craft, and with that, it just means that though they bring fantastic energy to the stage, they still need to work on the actual singing of the music on stage, and that takes time. I have no doubt they’ll grind it out and become more polished, but they need to focus on the steak as much as the sizzle. Beach Fly frontman, John DeMari is a young, super nice and humble guy, and the take-way here is he is only going to get better; especially when your dad is on backing guitar… that doesn’t hurt, especially when he has the chops.
Rather than park myself directly in front of the stage, I secured and maneuvered into a prime corner spot at the 50-foot-long bar. Close to the stage, but also close to the door. Initially I thought it was a perfect spot but eventually it was not, as it is the only way to get deep into the club, so it ended up being a highly trafficked location. Ultimately it didn’t matter as my proximity to the stage was solid.
Full disclosure, I knew of Coyote Island but I didn’t “know’ Coyote Island and that is my loss. I generally take it upon myself to listen to a band’s catalogue before I see them and though I had heard a few of their songs, I wasn’t entirely familiar. Of course, there were more than a few times where I went, “Oh yea, I know that song.” Side note: That’s always a semi-good sign if you get that type of immediate reaction out of someone. Unless it’s bad and you remember it, because it’s bad.
Nevertheless, I was curious to see, who in the crowd was there to see Coyote island or the next band, Surfer Girl. By their looks and reactions, they were all there to see both groups. Put it this way, the magnetic energy from Mike O’Hehir, and his band mates was inversely proportional to the energy given back from the audience. And that’s key. What song brought that point into focus for me? Let’s start with the song, “Way back In.” That song should be on heavy rotation everywhere.
The harmonies were great. The band was tight. The interplay between the band and the audience was refreshing to see, as some bands and their members can easily get lost in themselves and their music on stage, and forget that they are there to entertain…
After watching the band and listening to the crowd respond in kind to, “Raise It” I was a “Coyote Head”. Or am I a Coyote Islander? Nevertheless, If I was an A&R guy for a major record label, I’d sign them on the spot. So, shout out to AFT Artists for beating everyone to it!
Are bands like Beach Fly, Coyote Island and Surfer Girl an acquired taste? Perhaps, but it’s not a heavy lift, especially in a divey beach bar where you know what you’re getting. i.e., the drinks are cold, and you want to listen to good music, it’s a perfect setting. As such, on this night, it was a perfect marriage of bar meets people meets music. That being said. If you listen to Coyote Island’s music, the songs are well produced, finely crafted, understated, if you will, and yet at the end of the day… tight. Couple of other songs that jumped out were, “Everyone Need Love”, and “Where Have You Been”. I’d say the future is bright for Coyote Island and Mike O’Hehir, Now it’s just a numbers game.
Next up was Surfer Girl and again, I had heard some of their music, but wasn’t completely familiar with it all. However, what got my immediate attention was this. You can always get a sense of the popularity of a band by who’s got their hands in the air and how many in the audience are singing the song lyrics back to the band. Look no further than Ocean Alley as a classic example of this; and the Surfer Girl audience was right there bringing it.
Led by former Aer frontman, Carter Reeves, Surfer Girl brings the heat from the jump. Which, when you think about it, is all anyone wants from a show that features the band that you paid to see.
Here’s what I can tell you about Carter and Surfer Girl and it’s as simple as the popular hashtag. #IYKYK. Whether it’s the sing-along, island vibe, appeal of “Loosen Up”, or the get lost in your own sway of “Two”, Surfer Girl’s future is bright, is on the come-up and they will continue to add legions of fans. How do I know? Well, if you know, you know.
I came away really impressed with their command of the stage, particularly Carter’s, he works it, he owns it. The loyalty of those that attended was evident. This wasn’t a, “Oh let’s see who’s playing at Debauchery type of night”. These people were there to see these guys. As soon as they kicked in to “There for You”, “Little Green Eyes”, and ultimately finished with “Evil”, I was a Surfer Girl, convert. Count me in.
If I’m looking into the future, I can easily see these two bands opening for larger bands, getting a firmer toehold and eventually carrying their own weight into larger venues. The only issue is that the beach-rock, roots-reggae movement isn’t going to pull in 10,000 people to a shed…yet. Could they do a 5000-seat venue? Probably not, but the sweet spot could potentially be at the 1000-1500 seat level.
However, in this convoluted business called music, it’s all about record sales. Unfortunately, it’s not about album sales as much as it is about the number of times a song is streamed. It’s a shitty, fractional equation but it is the nature of the beast. That said, both band’s music is that good to perhaps eek out a living from actual music sales. But anymore, the reality is you must hit the road and tour, and of course, Merch sales.
Here’s the caveat though. The challenge for all three groups that played that night is this; how is this music received in the mid-west, the northeast or the northwest? It’s a vibe and definitely a beach thing so I wonder, how does that play in Pittsburgh in February? I think it can still work but it also might be relegated to just California, Florida, and maybe some areas along the Gulf Coast. Regardless, I’ll take divey bars in Melbourne, Florida anytime, especially if this is the type of music I’ll be getting.
LEISURE August 8th, 2024, Los Angeles
With Strawbry
Thanks to flying from one coast to the other and going on being awake for 20 plus hours, I was worried about how I was going to make it through this show. Fear not because as soon as this cool AF band took the stage, all vestiges of fatigue miraculously vanished.
LEISURE oozes cool. They know it, I know it and so did the beautifully, chilled, LA crowd. Thanks to the intimate, old school, confines of the Fonda Theatre in West Hollwood, the vibe was established from the jump. Of course, copious amounts of weed wafting through the air helped, but when the venue only holds 1100 or so, it can’t help but set the tone for what transpired.
Will LEISURE ever be this massive stadium type band that is going to pull in Taylor Swift like audiences? Let’s hope not. We’d then lose that intimate connection with songs that don’t try too hard to confuse you with deep ass lyrics. These songs are best listened when you don’t want to think, you just want to be. Whether it’s in the moment, in your head, or in your mind’s eye, the deal is, this is the band that you want at the coolest muthafuckin party you could ever attend or host.
In a previous post I had mentioned that when everyone in the crowd knows the songs by heart and are basically singing them back to the band-THAT’S when you know. And when you know-you know. AND that’s LEISURE.
If you’re not familiar with LEISURE, go look up the songs, start with the song “Slipping Away”, which oh by the way, the crowd sung the shit out of. Watching everyone just absolutely caught up in the moment in singing this absolutely stole the night. If you need more Reccos, try “Lonely Nights”, “Got it Bad”, and “Take you Higher.”
After listening to those cuts, you’ll get the gist of the vibe. The challenge then? Trying to see them in concert. As they’re from New Zealand, the opportunities are few and far between. But don’t let a few thousand miles stop you. Carpe diem people.
Ocean Alley June 15th, 2024, Tampa
With The Grogans
The first word that comes to mind when thinking about an Ocean Alley concert is electric. Perhaps it was the venue, The Ritz Ybor, that had something to do with it? With a capacity of 1300, it’s the perfect space for a band to absolutely set it on fire and take no prisoners; and that’s exactly what Ocean Alley did.
Whenever attending a show it’s a given that you should assess the crowd. You know, take the temperature of the room. Is it a drunk fest? Are they there just to be there? Or are they there because they need to see this band. Without hesitation, everyone who was at this show, was meant to be at this show. In fact, if you were to go to Ocean Alley’s Instagram page, you’ll see what we mean. Everyone who is there, or was there, is pretty effing glad that they are and were,
Here’s a tip that a show/concert is going to be a banger and was. a) the energy before the show is palpable b) everyone knows the words to every song from the jump and c) the energy expressed as people are leaving the show is even greater than it was at the beginning. At any Ocean Alley show that would be, check, check and check.
The band is made up of Baden Donegal (vocals, guitar), Angus Goodwin (lead guitar), Lach Galbraith (keyboard, vocals), Mitch Galbraith (guitar), Nic Blom (bass) and Tom O’Brien (drums). If you’re unfamiliar with their music, Baden’s vocals will be the first thing that jumps out at you. next would-be Angus’s guitar. Both are quite discernible, with Baden’s vocals striking a sound that you cannot quite put a finger on. he doesn’t have a ‘sounds like” peer id what we’re saying.
If you’re looking for that one disc/album to get you started on your Ocean Alley experience, start with Lost Tropics, which came out in 2016. It has the tracks, Lemonworld, Pretty Little Devil, Feel, Holiday, Millionaires and Partner in Crime. So basically, we’re saying the whole album is good. Start there. Once you’re done, we can only assume that you’ll be like the rest of us. Converts to the Ocean Alley experience.
Reggae Rise Up 2023
With Iration, Fortunate Youth, Artikal Sound System and Cydeways
Saint Petersburg, Florida, in November. Reggae, outside with a spotless sky and 80 degrees. Who’s in? We are. That said, we like to keep these reviews sweet and simple when we can but if we’re to order this list from wow to meh, we’re going to start with Artikal Sound System as the Wow and Fortunate Youth as the Meh. Iration was solid and Cydeways is “too small a sample size to tell.”
Let’s start with A.S.S., or more specifically, Logan Rex. She is the quintessential front-man, or in this case front-woman. In other words, her energy, her vibe, just absolutely elevates this band’s game. The band is tight and can play anything but their bread and butter needs to be, playing what fits Logan. This is not take anything away from their sound but whew, if you get a chance to see them live, you’ll understand what we mean. they primarily play a lot of Florida gigs but check their tour schedule and if they’re near you-run and get tix.
We’ll be honest, Cydeways opened the show but we felt like we needed to see and hear more of them. Why? Because they sounded great. Go listen to the song, “Shadows” and tell us we’re wrong. They’re categorized as an “alternative” band but we’re gonna place them in the reggae genre.
Next up was Artikal Sound System and frankly, we felt that they needed to be deeper in the lineup as they were only slotted for a 45-minute set, and TBH that wasn’t enough. Following A.S.S. was Fortunate Youth.
As night fell on the show and the weed cloud settled atop the crowd, Fortunate Youth took the stage. The crowd was pretty thick directly in front of the stage and that led to an anticipatory vibe that never happened. Whether it was the near-hoarse, raspy voice of the lead singer or just the disjointed sound, we came away from their set as if the 6-7 musicians were just meeting for the first time. Something was off. Maybe it was the sound? Maybe it was the weed? All we knew was that at some point, being upfront or stage left just was not delivering the experience we were hoping for. All bands have an off night and this felt like one of them.
Last but not least was the headliner Iration. As expected, the crowd got that blend of reggae, rock, and pop elements characterized by laid-back rhythms, catchy melodies, and a beachy vibe. They were solid, tight, and entertaining. They got the crowd into it often and early. if you’ve not heard of them, check out the songs, “Time Bomb”, or “Summer Nights”, they have a total beach vibe which was perfect for St. Pete. Need more convincing? “Falling” is just and was, the perfect hand/arm swaying jam that can pull even the most reluctant fan of reggae.
All in all, the venue was a perfect blend of location, weather, and vibe. Given the size of the crowd. Reggae is on the Rise Up. 🙂
