THE VARA-TONES
Jetty Subject To High Surf (no label)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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Nothin' like good, old-fashioned, authentic instrumental surf music. There are several bands today that strive to sound like the bands of the first wave who made their mark in the earliest part of the 1960s. The Vara-Tones have it down pat. Course, they were PART of that first wave! Here they are again, 35 years after hanging up the reverb tanks and calling it a day, and they sound wonderful. Led by guitarist Bill Epps and drummer Rich Campbell, and aided by bassists Gary Sunda and Terry Zimmerman, The Vara-Tones take us on a joy ride through crashing waves and beaches lit by tiki torches, where reverbed, chunky guitar rhythms kick up one hell of a mist. Epps obviously prefers substance to flash, as most of his solos are about the song and that's what the listen focuses on, but on "Groo-V-Chicken," he cuts loose with his claim ticket for entry in the Guitarists Hall Of Fame. He chicken-scratches, slices and dices, making us mortals burn our guitars in despair. The final tune, "Repeto '65," is one of four songs the band did in the glory days, but it's extra special because it was written by the late Dick Smith, their sax man. It's just one of many highlights on a splendid album. [Check them out at www.speakerrepair.com/varatones.]

© 2000 - DJ Johnson