When one thinks of classic American surf music, one naturally thinks of Bethesda, Md. At least I do now, after wandering down
Bethesda Avenue of an evening and stumbling upon the Suburban Surfers. The band was set up in the open window at swanky Parker’s Bistro and filling the street with that definitive summer sound.

The group is Landon Banfield (lead guitar), Bill Adkins (rhythm guitar), Rob Fisher (drums), and Tom Phillips (bass), and they not only feature such mainstays of the genre as “Apache” (oddly, a song written and recorded by the British band the Shadows), but also offer suitably retro originals, such as the muscular “Gravitron.”

I must say, I’m quite jealous of Rob’s drums. The kit once belonged to Los Straightjackets‘ drummer Jimmy Lester and was acquired from eBay. Lucky bastard. Anyway, Parker’s has music Thursday through Saturday, another surprise but welcome, and the Surfers are there about once a month. Do check them out, won’t you?

Here Bill and Landon become Santo and Johnny on that gorgeous slow-jam, “Sleepwalk.”

I missed the beginning, but had to record this original/mashup, “Muenster’s Theme.”

As usual, these videos were shot with my PowerShot still camera. Can’t wait to pick up the Canon T2i, so these impromptu vids are more hi-def.. (Videos also available on Youtube.)

Always delightful to come upon street musicians, even when the “music” demands ironic quotes. No irony needed for Truusoul, a trio of young jazzbos bringing a quiet groove to the busy corner of Fenton and Ellsworth in downtown Silver Spring. The bass player and guitarist switched instruments after I stopped filming. And is that the tiniest bass drum ever? It looks like a rack tom but it has bass spurs on it. I want one.

Once again, the scene was captured using my trusty Canon PowerShot A590.

Palm, makers of the greatest little Personal Digital Assistant ever, is up for sale. Guess I won’t be migrating to the Palm Pre Plus smartphone. Sigh. In this video, I explain why everything new is not new enough. And, yes, why everything sucks. You’re welcome.

(Here is the video on Vimeo.)

Had a great time chatting and schmoozing with all of the Wammie folks during the 2009 awards ceremony at the State Theater a few weeks back. Greg Berger did a bang-up job of editing the hours of material. Of course, a lot of my pals were left on the cutting room floor, but that’s what the Director’s Cut DVD is for, right? Enjoy.

(Here’s the video on Vimeo.)

Computer retrovisionary and early-adopter luddite Dave Nuttycombe explains the new Apple tablet computer.

It is my firm belief that the best musical moments often happen away from the hype and limelight. Sure, Springsteen’s still giving his all, and I hear Streisand puts on a rousing show. But every night of the week, there’s a cat flat gettin’ it on some small stage in your town, sweating up the joint, knocking himself out. ‘Cause that’s what he does. If you’re lucky, you’ll be in the room. If not, you may never even hear about it.

Such was the case at McGinty’s Tuesday night when The Joker’s Wild threw an 80th birthday bash for D.C. sax legend Ted Efantis. Efantis has played with the likes of Benny Goodman yet does not look nor act anywhere close to his age. He was gleefully telling musician jokes, drinking Presbyterians, jitterbugging women across the dance floor, and clearly enjoying himself all evening.

Joker sax man Jeff Gray claimed Efantis taught him everything he knows about the instrument and thus the bandmembers were kindly repaying a debt to their elder. A variety of D.C. musical hotshots, including GHZ bassist Scott Giambusso, and King Soul’s Tom Clifford, stopped by to wish Ted happy birthday. Or maybe they heard there was cake.

Above, Efantis, Gray, and Ted’s pal Knute smoke up Sonny Rollins‘ signature tune, “Tenor Madness.”

Efantis assays the definitive sax song, “Body and Soul:”

The Jokers (Vincent Borrelli, vocals; Tommy Barrick, drums; Brandon Cochenour, piano; Gray, saxophones; and Eric Leifert, bass) have their way with the Louis Prima classic, “Just a Gigolo:”

King Soul performing at the hottest club in D.C. that isn’t a club, Blaylock Theatre. I can’t even tell you where it is, but you wouldn’t believe me anyway. Shot this with my trusty Canon PowerShot A590.

The first song is a tight cover of JJ Jackson’s classic “But It’s Alright.” The second tune (below) is an original, “Eyes Up,” though it sounds as if it were written in 1968. Good job, lads!

King Soul is Jake Flack (guitar & vocals), Tom Clifford (vocals & harp), Nick Ruggieri (drums & vocals), Mark Noone (bass & vocals), Arif Durrani (keyboards & vocals), Chris Whatling (baritone sax), Tom Ruggieri (tenor sax), Ray Strucker (trumpet), and Vince McCool (trumpet). Check ‘em at myspace.com/kingsoulband

King Soul Rocks the House, Part Two

Caught D.C.’s Wammiest western-and-country act, Ruthie and the Wranglers at Iota on Saturday (with the U-Liners) and shot this charming bit of holiday whimsey with my trusty Canon PowerShot A590. The club’s regular stage lights make it seem extra-festive, don’t you think?

From left-to-right in the video are Andy Rutherford (guitar), Robbie Magruder (drums), Ruthie, Greg Hardin (bass), and Bill Starks (keyboards).

It was a tight show all around. Somehow, I’d missed the fact that Andy replaced longtime Wrangler guitar-wrangler Phil Mathieu. Phil’s face was still on the band’s business cards available at the door, but Andy’s picture is on the Web site, so it must be official. I’m going to assume the split was amicable. At least until I make a phone call and get all the juicy dirt.

Oh, D.C. music scene—you fickle beast!

Inspired by Lou Dobbs‘ selfless campaign to promote the cause of advocacy journalism, I took to the streets on a righteous quest of my own: to bring the Five Guys hamburger chain to downtown Silver Spring.

As you will see, when the public is given the opportunity to speak on issues that matter, that public will have something to say. And isn’t that America? Or what’s left of it? I think so.

Thanks to Rich West for the invaluable production help and to PlayTone Records for the use of the Theme Song From Mr. Downtown, sung by the TV show’s star, the late Freddy Fredrickson.

Out for pancakes in Richmond’s stylish Carytown on Sunday and ran into this amazing fellow. The band’s lead-guitarist, rhythm guitarist, singer, drummer, and roadie told me that the group is called Gul — “Like seagull,” he explained.

Gul was set up in front of Plan 9 Records (one of the great music stores), and rocking out harder than many bands featuring two to six times as many musicians. I would have loved to stick around and catch the entire set but, you know, pancakes…

(Video also available on the Youtubes.