Written by: Franky

Category: Search for Reverb in Canada

Published: 01 October 2017

Hi! Today, I have the pleasure to chat with Buck Slater, lead guitar from The Hang Ten Gallon Hats 3rd wave band! Thank you Buck for taking time to answer us. Let's surf and start the interview if you please. ?

SRR: What year was The Hang Ten Gallon Hats founded?
Buck Slater: We started in the spring of 2015.

SRR: Who are the members of The Hang Ten Gallon Hats?
Buck Slater: I’m on guitar; Laird Haggard, drums and The Bull is on bass.

SRR: From which city did The Hang Ten Gallon Hats originate?
Buck Slater: Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

SRR: Where did the idea to form an instrumental band come from?
Buck Slater: It had been brewing for some time - I’ve been a fan of surf/guitar instrumental music for over 25 years. It all started in my mid-teens with The Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet’s Kids in the Hall interludes and their album ‘Savvy Showstoppers’. Later, the Pulp Fiction soundtrack and a compilation called ‘Surf Monsters’ sparked an interest to dig deeper into the genre. Fast-forward many years and I was regularly going to see Atomic 7 and Ancient Chinese Secret play their dinner shows at the Cadillac Lounge and started to think it might be cool to do something like that.

SRR: How did you meet each other?
Buck Slater: We met in 1995 while at the University of Waterloo and played together in an indie rock band. We’ve been playing together in various forms ever since. The early seeds of the actual band started around 5 years ago when I was fooling around with Photoshop and made a poster for a fictional band with cowboy and surf images and came up with a band name for the poster: ‘The Hang Ten Gallon Hats’. A couple of years later I showed this poster to Laird and we were like ‘we should start a surf band, we already have a name’.

SRR: What are the influences of the band?
Buck Slater: My main influence is Brian Connelly and the work of his bands (Shadowy Men, Atomic 7, Ancient Chinese Secret). The Sadies, Los Straitjackets and The Fathoms are also high on the list. And, while not a surf guitarist, Matt Murphy (Super Friendz, Flashing Lights) has been an influence as well. Laird and Bull are new surf fans and their main influences come from 60s garage and other rock genres.

SRR: How did you guys describe the band at the time?
Buck Slater: We’re trying to mix surf with classic country/spaghetti western. I also hear hints of indie rock slipping in there from time to time.

SRR: When was your first gig?
Buck Slater: At the Ein-Stein pub in Toronto, March 2016.

SRR: What year did you do your first recording?
Buck Slater: We don’t have a recording yet, but we have a bunch of original songs we’re hoping to put to tape in the near future.

SRR: Which instrument do you use?
Buck Slater: I play a Gretsch White Falcon 6136T with stock pickups. I also have a late 90s American Strat with Lollar Blackface pickups, recently modified with a neck-bridge blend pot by Ben from The Calrizians. The Bull plays a Rickenbacker 4300 series bass. Laird plays a 3-piece kit, using an 18” floor tom for a kick and a Ludwig Acrolite snare.

SRR: Which amplifier do you use?
Buck Slater: I’m playing through an old solid-state Fender Deluxe 112. I’ve been using pedals to thicken my tone and make it sound more tube-y. It actually sounds surprisingly good, though would love to pick up a tube amp with a reverb tank one of these days.

SRR: Do you use a reverb tank?
Buck Slater: No.

SRR: What are the effects used on the guitar?
Buck Slater: Diamond Compressor, Fat-Boost 3, Supa-Trem, Boss SD-1, Boss DM-2w, Line 6 DL-4 and a Holy Grail Reverb.

SRR: What type of strings do you use, flatwounds or roundwounds?
Buck Slater: I use roundwounds, 11-49.

SRR: Where can we buy and follow The Hang Ten Gallon Hats?
Buck Slater: You can follow us on Facebook.

SRR: Thank you very much Buck for taking time to answer me today.
Buck Slater: Thank you very much for talking to us!

Written by: Franky

Category: Search for Reverb in Canada

Published: 24 September 2017

Hi! Today, I have the pleasure to chat with Jean-Marc Singaram, lead guitar from The Aquamaniacs 3rd wave band! Thank you Jean-Mark for taking time to answer us. Let's surf and start the interview if you please. ?

SRR: What year was The Aquamaniacs founded?
Jean-Marc Singaram: We formed in early 2014.

SRR: Who are the members of The Aquamaniacs?
Jean-Marc Singaram: Me, guitar; Jay Cutaia, guitar; Chris Chown, bass; Peter Baumann, drums.

SRR: From which city did The Aquamaniacs originate?
Jean-Marc Singaram: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.

SRR: Where did the idea to form an instrumental band come from?
Jean-Marc Singaram: Jay had the idea to form the band as a side project, but it seems to have taken on a life of its own. He had been exposed to surf music from members of his family, so i'm thinking that it was lurking in his subconscious waiting for the right time.

SRR: How did you meet each other?
Jean-Marc Singaram: Jay and I were both in a covers band playing in bars and he suggested forming a surf rock band to keep us busy. So it all started with that. Both Chris and Peter answered adverts "Bassist/drummer wanted" and to be honest we are so fortunate to have found them as they both outstanding musicians.

SRR: What are the influences of the band?
Jean-Marc Singaram: When you look at our setlist it truly is a mixture of old and new surf as well as originals of course, for example: The Ventures, Dick Dale, The Atlantics. But then we really like the more modern surf bands too like The Bambi Molesters, The Coffin Daggers, The Ghastly Ones and Daikaiju.

SRR: How did you guys describe the band at the time?
Jean-Marc Singaram: We have always described ourselves as a Surf Rock band. The best compliment was that someone described us a cool, retro sounding band.

SRR: When was your first gig?
Jean-Marc Singaram: We played in my back yard in 2014.

SRR: What year did you do your first recording?
Jean-Marc Singaram: We recorded some demos early on in 2014, but our first original tunes were recorded in April 2017.

SRR: Did you have a label?
Jean-Marc Singaram: No, but always open to offers.

SRR: Which instrument do you use?
Jean-Marc Singaram: Jay and I both use Fender Stratocasters. Chris has a number of basses, recently he has been using a Fender P-bass, sometimes a Fender Jazz bass, it always changes. The interesting thing about Peter is that he designs and makes his own snare drum but also has a collection of antique snare drums, so between Chris and Peter it's always a surprise as to what they will be bringing on any given day.

SRR: Which amplifier do you use?
Jean-Marc Singaram: Jay and I both use Fender Blues Deluxe Reissues.

SRR: Do you use a reverb tank?
Jean-Marc Singaram: No.

SRR: Can we know about which tube you used?
Jean-Marc Singaram: I still have stock tubes in my amp, Jay upgraded to TAD tubes in his amplifier.

SRR: What are the effects used on the guitar?
Jean-Marc Singaram: Jay uses a compressor, a few different overdrives, chorus, and tremolo. I uses a Mooer Hustle Drive overdrive,  Boost/Distortion but I only use boost part, a tremolo and a Flashback Delay.

SRR: What type of strings do you use, flatwounds or roundwounds?
Jean-Marc Singaram: Jay uses Roundwounds Dean Markley Nickel Helix 10-52. I uses D'addario 9-42 and 10-46, I have two strats with different sets of strings on.

SRR: Where can we buy and follow The Aquamaniacs?
Jean-Marc Singaram: we are on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and our latest tunes are on Soundcloud, and there are another 4 songs completed waiting to be recorded.

SRR: Thank you very much Jean-Marc for taking time to answer me today.
Jean-Marc Singaram: You are welcome! It was a real pleasure. Speak to you soon. A bientot!

Written by: Franky

Category: Search for Reverb in Canada

Published: 16 September 2017

Hi! Today, I have the pleasure to chat with Todd Maduke, lead guitar from The Bigfoot Rocketship 3rd wave band! Thank you Todd for taking time to answer us. Let's surf and start the interview if you please. ?

SRR: What year was The Bigfoot Rocketship founded?
Todd Maduke: In the spring of 2006.

SRR: Who are the members of The Bigfoot Rocketship?
Todd Maduke: Me, guitar; Herb Sawatzky, guitar; Doug Robertson, guitar; Gerry Sobie, bass; Mike T, drums.

SRR: From which city did The Bigfoot Rocketship originate?
Todd Maduke: Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

SRR: Where the idea of the band name come from?
Todd Maduke: There was a university radio CJSW show called The Interplanetary Bigfoot Rocketship hosted by my pal Andrew Henry. I always thought that’d be a cool name for a band.

SRR: Where did the idea to form an instrumental band come from?
Todd Maduke: I lived and worked in Korea for a few years and I met a drummer there who turned me on to instrumental surf music. We had a band together called The Drift and we did a few instrumentals but I was on mandolin in that band! When I returned to Canada, I started The BFRS.

SRR: How did you meet each other?
Todd Maduke: Herb and Doug answered my ad in the local paper. They came together, having played together in a band before, and so we ended up with 3 guitarists.

SRR: What were the influences of the band?
Todd Maduke: The Ventures, Los Straitjackets and local legends Huevos Rancheros. Herb is a very bluesy player, so that comes in a lot.

SRR: How did you guys describe the band at the time?
Todd Maduke: We’ve always called it surf music and then you have to explain to people who think it’s Jan and Dean or something that there’s no singing.

SRR: When was your first gig?
Todd Maduke: I think it was late 2006 at a local rockabilly clothing store called The Swagger Shop. We played 3 sets that night!

SRR: What year did you do your first recording?
Todd Maduke: A guy who was at our first gig contacted us and offered to record us for free. We went to his basement studio in the spring of 2007.

SRR: Did you have a label?
Todd Maduke: No. It has been DIY from the start.

SRR: Which instrument did you used?
Todd Maduke: I had an Ibanez Artcore. It was the best I could afford and over the time I owned it I put on a Bigsby and put in TV Jones pickups. I played that on our first record. Herb had a guitar which he made that had a Telecaster pickup in the bridge spot and a vintage p-90 at the neck. Doug put his own Stratocaster together with Warmoth parts, I think. We just played what we could afford at first! Herb and I have moved on to various Gretsches since. Gerry has a few vintage Fender basses. Mike has a custom set of Ayotte drums.

SRR: Which amplifier did you use?
Todd Maduke: My amp was an SG Systems amp - 2 x 12 - big and heavy. I got it locally. A guy advertised it, without pictures, as “big old tube amp $200”. Herb has a trusty old first generation Fender Blues Deluxe and Doug played a vintage Fender Pro amp that he bought in the late 60s when he was a teenager!

SRR: Did you use a reverb tank?
Todd Maduke: Doug has a vintage Fender tank that he used on the recordings. He used it on stage some, too, but any kind of bouncy stage and that thing would just splash and splash. Herb and I just crank our amp reverbs, though I have messed around with the EHX Holy Grail pedal and sometimes just analog delay.

SRR: Was it an original or modified tank?
Todd Maduke: Original. Gerry sold it to him - Gerry’s a collector.

SRR: What are the effects used on the guitar?
Todd Maduke: I’ve always had some kind of clean boost. I like the sound of a guitar turned all the way up, but then you need some extra. So you need a boost! I’ve had so many over the years. Herb has used both WahWah and RotoVibe with The BFRS. Doug goes in clean.

SRR: What type of strings did you use, flatwounds or roundwounds?
Todd Maduke: Doug, our rhythm guitarist, has used either flat or semi-flatwound strings since day one. Herb and I trade leads and prefer roundwounds. We like the heavy-bottom/med-top sets.

SRR: How long has The Bigfoot Rocketship been active for?
Todd Maduke: 11 years or so. Maybe 12!

SRR: Were the members in any band(s) other than The Bigfoot Rocketship?
Todd Maduke: I started The Culls with Agriculture Club founder Rick Overwater at the same time as The BFRS got going. Then when that folded, I started The Ruminants. Both are alt-country bands. Gerry and Mike were in one called The Blacktop 5 for a while. Herb and his spouse Shona have Shona Rae and The Voodoo Hand, a band that’s going strong. I put out a solo album last year.

SRR: Where can we buy and follow The Bigfoot Rocketship?
Todd Maduke: Our CD of originals is available at Kerf music and our CD of covers can be bought at shows. We also have a Bandcamp, our Facebook page is the best bet to keep track of our shows.

SRR: Thank you very much Todd for taking time to answer me today.
Todd Maduke: It was our pleasure! Keep on rockin’, Franky!

Written by: Franky

Category: Search for Reverb in Canada

Published: 10 September 2017

Hi! Today, I have the pleasure to chat with Mike Sheehan, lead guitar from The Thing From Outer Space 3rd wave band! Thank you Mike for taking time to answer us. Let's surf and start the interview if you please. ?

SRR: What year was The Thing From Outer Space founded?
Mike Sheehan: We started the band, February 2015.

SRR: Who are the members of The Thing From Outer Space?
Mike Sheehan: Duke Sedan, guitar; Doug "Raygun" Tasker, guitar; Chris "Area 51" Arenburg, bass; Mike "Mars Attacks" Sheehan, drums.

SRR: From which city did The Thing From Outer Space originate?
Mike Sheehan: London, Ontario, Canada.

SRR: Where did the idea to form an instrumental band come from?
Mike Sheehan: It was pretty much a group decision. We started out playing surf and rockabilly and quickly found out we had more enjoyment from the surf side of the music.

SRR: How did you meet each other?
Mike Sheehan: Duke and I knew each other from a previous band, we had a mutual friend in Chris and we found Doug through the internet.

SRR: What were the influences of the band?
Mike Sheehan: Everything from classic to new surf, rockabilly and punk.

SRR: How did you guys describe the band at the time?
Mike Sheehan: Surf Rock.

SRR: When was your first gig?
Mike Sheehan: April 2015. At a bar in London called the Wortley Roadhouse.

SRR: What year did you do your first recording?
Mike Sheehan: 2016, released October of that year.

SRR: Did you have a label?
Mike Sheehan: No.

SRR: Which instrument did you used?
Mike Sheehan: Mapex drums, Paiste cymbals, Fender Jazzmasters and Stratocasters, Thunderbird bass.

SRR: Which amplifier did you use?
Mike Sheehan: Everyone uses Fender.

SRR: Did you use a reverb tank?
Mike Sheehan: No.

SRR: Can we know about which tube you used?
Mike Sheehan: Stock.

SRR: What are the effects used on the guitar?
Mike Sheehan: Just reverb from the amps.

SRR: Where can we buy and follow The Thing From Outer Space?
Mike Sheehan: We have a Facebook page, Instagram page and Bandcamp. Also a Youtube channel.

SRR: Thank you very much Mike for taking time to answer me today.
Mike Sheehan: Thank you, it was our pleasure.