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MuchoReverbo's Modern Surf/Spy/Instro-Mental Thread

Jimi Floyd said:
Meet Beware the Dangers of a Ghost Scorpion!

They are a hyper-obscure, criminally underappreciated instrumental surf-punk/psych outfit out of Boston, Massachusetts.
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The majority of the bands I post in this thread are "hyper-obscure, criminally underappreciated". The only people that really know about them and appreciate their music are hard-core surf/instro fans.

I'm a big physical media fan and collector and when bands like these release new music on vinyl or CD, they are usually produced in very-limited quantities. Some only a couple hundred copies are produced. Once they are gone that's it, however thelr music is still usually available as digital downloads.

In this thread I've been posting music from my collection that have videos on YouTube. There are a lot of CDs and records I have that are not on YouTube or anywhere else.

I have "Acid Chalet" on red vinyl and 4 other releases from Beware the Dangers of a Ghost Scorpion!, all on vinyl. You are correct that not very many people have ever heard of them. Like a lot of these bands, they are a local band that I would have never heard of if it weren't for the internet and other surf fans.

I usually get a record or CD every week. Sometimes more than one. When these bands send them to me, a lot of time they will include hand-written notes or pictures or some other personalized paraphernalia thanking me for supporting them. Decals, stickers, fridge magnets, business cards, guitar picks, etc I save all the stuff they send.

Here's a new vinyl release from The Rhino Chasers, a surf band out of Rochester, NY I just received yesterday in the mail. It came with this hand-written thank you note. Also if you notice on the backside, my copy is 12 of only 100 produced.

I like to support all these bands as much as possible and appreciate their work. Obviously they are not in this for fame & fortune. Just the love of surf rock.

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MuchoReverbo said:
The majority of the bands I post in this thread are "hyper-obscure, criminally underappreciated". The only people that really know about them and appreciate their music are hard-core surf/instro fans.

I'm a big physical media fan and collector and when bands like these release new music on vinyl or CD, they are usually produced in very-limited quantities. Some only a couple hundred copies are produced. Once they are gone that's it, however thelr music is still usually available as digital downloads.

In this thread I've been posting music from my collection that have videos on YouTube. There are a lot of CDs and records I have that are not on YouTube or anywhere else.

I have "Acid Chalet" on red vinyl and 4 other releases from Beware the Dangers of a Ghost Scorpion!, all on vinyl. You are correct that not very many people have ever heard of them. Like a lot of these bands, they are a local band that I would have never heard of if it weren't for the internet and other surf fans.

I usually get a record or CD every week. Sometimes more than one. When these bands send them to me, a lot of time they will include hand-written notes or pictures or some other personalized paraphernalia thanking me for supporting them. Decals, stickers, fridge magnets, business cards, guitar picks, etc I save all the stuff they send.

Here's a new vinyl release from The Rhino Chasers, a surf band out of Rochester, NY I just received yesterday in the mail. It came with this hand-written thank you note. Also if you notice on the backside, my copy is 12 of only 100 produced.

I like to support all these bands as much as possible and appreciate their work. Obviously they are not in this for fame & fortune. Just the love of surf rock.

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Hello MuchoReverbo, mucho respeto!

I also absolutely love having physical copies of all the music I enjoy. In fact, I just ordered the vinyl edition of Acid Chalet! I’m always searching the web for new music recs and inspiration—I honestly just can't stop. Whenever I find something I truly love, I always try to get it on vinyl.

As soon as I stumbled upon your thread, the music immediately caught my attention. I’m definitely no surf rock expert, so this has opened up a whole new world of awesome music for me, and I can't thank you enough! I’ve been diving deep into everything you posted, and I even tried hunting down some surf, garage surf, or surf punk bands to contribute a few humble posts of my own.

I might be able to find new stuff for other users, but it seems totally impossible to surprise you—which is honestly amazing! Thanks a million for the inspiration and for all the fun, exciting music I've been discovering lately.
 
Awesome! I think that Acid Chalet is on red vinyl if I remember correctly.

I've always liked classic surf rock but really started getting into the modern stuff heavily in the 90's during the last resurgence. Been into it big-time ever since. I'm addicted!

Glad I could expose you to some of it. It's a niche' but it's a world-wide niche' that's still going strong.
 
The Pistoleros are a fantastic instrumental guitar group from Norway, formed in May 1997. Their source of inspiration was the group The Shadows and other bands from Norway and Sweden. The music they make is a mixture of their own tracks, big hits and special covers from Scandinavia. Definitely recommended for fans of instrumental rock'n'roll / guitar music.

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The Pistoleros - Dark Man (2001)

 
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"Harry Hoo" is a surf rock instrumental track released in 2016 by the Arizona-based band The Apaches. It is featured as the second track on their album, Musica Surfica Vol I & II. The song's title serves as a playful homage to the fictional Hawaiian detective character Harry Hoo from the classic 1960s comedic spy television series Get Smart.

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The Apaches – Harry Hoo (2016)

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Da Surfones are a lively instrumental surf rock and rockabilly band hailing from Badalona, Spain (Barcelona area). Known for their high-energy, reverb-drenched twang, the group features the collaborative musical styling of members Gemma, Marcos, Mario, and Xavi Surfone.

They are known for releasing classic, fast-paced guitar instrumentals that pay homage to traditional 1960s beach party sounds mixed with European rockabilly energy.

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Da Surfones - Tempesta (2004)​


 
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Kitten and The Tonics are a Midwest-based rockabilly and surf-rock band from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Known for their retro "after-hours surf" and rock 'n' roll sound, the trio consists of Kitten Redman (upright bass), Charley Redman (guitar), and Jacob Truitt (drums).

The band heavily leans into mid-century influences, utilizing vintage analog equipment to create an authentic 1950s and 60s sound. Their sonic signature blends Kitten's driving upright bass lines with Charley's wild, First Wave surf guitar, backed by Jacob Truitt’s steady rhythms.

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Kitten And The Tonics - Alarmium (2024)

 
Delicious Patricia is an instrumental three-piece surf rock band from Mid Cornwall, UK, formed by drummer Rob Smith, guitarist Simon Trundle, and bassist Tony O'Rourke. Known for mixing classic surf tunes with unexpected covers of artists like Kraftwerk and Focus, they released their debut album, Mordros – The Sound of the Surf, on Spinout Nuggets.

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Delicious Patricia - Patricia's Last Wave (2025)

 
The Cadillac Hitmen were an American instrumental surf rock band formed in New Hampshire in 1996, active until 2004. Rather than playing traditional beach-style surf music, they pioneered a unique style known as "desert surf" or "Westermental", heavily blending reverb-drenched surf guitar hooks with cinematic Spaghetti Western, twangy cowboy, and dark roots-rock atmospheres reminiscent of a Sergio Leone film score.

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Cadillac Hitmen - Black Hills (1997)

 
If you are a completist—the kind of music nerd who needs to know every single detail about the bands you listen to—Lost Desert will drive you crazy. Finding any information about them is nearly impossible.

Here are the objective facts:
  1. In 2014, they released an album titled Wasteland and an EP called Adenium.
  2. In 2015, they followed up with another EP, Ancient Elephant.
  3. All three releases are available on Bandcamp under a "name your price" model.
  4. According to their elusive website, they are based in Barcelona, Spain, and apparently, they still play live.
  5. According to secret insider info I managed to obtain, Lost Desert isn't actually a band, but a solo project by a musician named José María Ruiz.
  6. I like a lot their desert / surf raw and rich instrumental sound.
Since no photos of them exist, I can't show you any, Here is their only available track on YouTube:

 
The Abominable Showmen are an instrumental surf rock power trio based in Columbia, Missouri. The band is defined by a unique musical background: a heavy, aggressive blend of sound born when metal and punk rock musicians pivot to play reverb-drenched instrumental surf music.

They embrace the classic maxim that in surf music, you "cannot have too much reverb," layering their tracks with heavy, soaking wet tones. Rather than standard light instrumental twang, their guitar work features punchy, in-your-face, and aggressive riffing reminiscent of their metal and punk roots.

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The Abominable Showmen - Punch Drunk (2014)

 
is an all-star modern surf and instrumental rock project. It unites original members of the famous 1960s Spanish instrumental rock group Los Relámpagos with prominent contemporary surf-rock musicians.

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New World Relampagos – Macarena (2000)

 
Biarritz Boys are an instrumental surf rock band founded in 2001, based out of Nijmegen, Netherlands. Self-described as a hip, slick, ultra-violent, and super sexy surf band, they are known for high-energy live shows and heavy guitar reverb.

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The Biarritz Boys - Shogun (Live) (2023)

 
Thee Shatners were an underground garage-surf rock band active in the early 1990s, featuring members of the punk/party band The Ne'er-Do-Wells and future members of The Hi-Fives. Signed to Planet Pimp Records, they released instrumental surf music entirely themed around classic Star Trek.

Formed around 1994 the lineup comprised members of The Hi-Fives and former Green Day drummer Al Sobrante (John, Chris, Jess, and Al).Maintained a playful mythos that they were actual Starfleet crewmates from Federation-controlled systems who "beamed down" to play sets. They released a self-titled full-length LP on Planet Pimp Records containing a dozen high-energy surf tracks.

Songs featured original instrumental surf melodies laced with authentic audio snippets of bridge ambiences, tricorder bleeps, phaser fire, and transporter sounds. Focused strictly on classic Star Trek (Captain Kirk worship) rather than contemporary spin-offs.

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Thee Shatners - Uhuru (1995)

 
The Swiv-O-Matics were a regional American instrumental surf rock band from Maryland known for playing classic reverb-heavy guitar instrumentals. They built a cult following within the mid-Atlantic and international surf music scenes with prominent releases through the late 1990s and early 2000s.

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The Swiv-O-Matics - The Bare Naked Bed Dance (1998)

 
Bonney & Buzz is an instrumental rock and surf-styled duo featuring veteran 1960s British musicians Bill Bonney (of The Fentones) and Pete "Buzz" Miller (also known as Big Boy Pete, formerly of Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers and the duo Shig & Buzz).

Bill Bonney provides driving bass lines, while Pete "Buzz" Miller handles twangy, melodic lead guitar and production out of his Ocean Beach Studio in San Francisco. Their music combines classic early-60s British instrumental rock, surf rock, and European-instro sensibilities. Released through Double Crown Records, the duo recorded three acclaimed full-length instrumental albums.

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Bonney & Buzz - The Sunburst Kid (2005)

 
Ben Rogers' Instrumental Asylum is a high-energy, genre-fluid power trio based in Melbourne, Australia. Formed and led by guitarist Ben Rogers, the group specializes in reverb-drenched surf rock, spy themes, and guitar noir.

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Ben Rogers' Instrumental Asylum - The Ninth Wave (2006)

 
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