Band set to make waves with retro surf sound (From Gazette)

Band set to make waves with retro surf sound

10:00pm Wednesday 24th June 2009

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IT’S not the kind of band you might expect to find at an Essex music fair, but since its recent formation, surf band Surfquake have been ripping it up from Wivenhoe to Kelvedon.

With the aim of delivering the kind of driving, rock ‘n’ roll rhythms made famous by the likes of Dick Dale, the Ventures, the Chandelles, and the Trashmen, the band was formed by Nelson, bassist of legendary rock band New Model Army, who plays “go-go guitars”, Danny Skeet who plays “surf drums” and Nick Sadler on “hot rod bass”.

The lads have recently been joined by Ophelia Mills who, in keeping with the surfing musical theme, plays “quayboards”.

He said: “Admittedly, Colchester’s not a town known for its gnarly waves, but we don’t see why this should stop us from keeping the surf-guitar tradition alive. We want to drag it kicking and screaming into the noughties with a modern approach that hopefully will leave people throwing S-turns and verticals in their living room before they can say, ‘Wipe Out’.”

Nelson has been bassist with New Model Army for 20 years, and still regularly plays tours all over the world with the group. Despite that, he still has time to play his own very special part within the local music scene as a member of Thud and Blunder and Strum and Base, and of course, Surfquake.

l Surfquake, the Ragged String Band, and Orphans of Babylon play Colchester Arts Centre on July 3.

Doors open at 8pm and tickets are £6, available on the night, or in advance from the box office on 01206 500900, or online at www.colchester artscentre.com If you can’t make that, Surfquake play the River Lodge, in Colchester, for a special burlesque night on July 9, and are one of the many bands rocking the Brightlingsea Musical Festival, on August 1.

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