Screechin Weezil Music
Imagine yourself sitting in the surf on an ordinary afternoon. The
day is not at all noteworthy and the waves are just as bad. Suddenly,
there's this strange sound coming from out in the distance. It's
frightening, but at the same time eerily captivating and inviting. You
think to yourself, "Man, I've got to find out what that thing is." Then
all of a sudden it hits you, literally, square in the chest. You wake
up on shore with a beautiful, bikini-clad, beach-goddess standing over
you. You say to yourself, "I guess that was the sound I was hearing.
Must have been one incredible wave."
"No," the radiant siren whispers, "Saturnalia." You realize you
have just had the greatest experience of your life. You have
experienced oneness with "The Tao".
"The Tao of Saturnalia" (Meatfish Records) is a surf rock
tour-de-force from Toms River, New Jersey's own Saturnalia. The trio of
Grand Alto-guitar, Matt Blammo-bass, and John Fiasco-drums; offer up a tasty platter of progressive, super-innovative tunes, grounded in the reverb-soaked surf
tradition and seasoned with healthy doses of rock, funk, punk, and jazz.
This is the second release for Saturnalia, following up on the
group's 1997 self-titled, Saturnalia (Meatfish Records), showcasing
their tight arrangements, clever knack for dynamics, romping, stomping
groovs, and insightful melodies. Guitarist Grand Alto avoids the
usual surf clich�s by incorporating a lot of sonic movement and
interesting voicings. Check out the twangy minor opening line of
?Science?...The Savage Frowned? and the spacious chords and lyrical
quality of ?Across the Deserts of Salt and Sand.? Listening to Matt
Blammo's powerfully melodic, and overwhelmingly broad-reaching bass
lines, one cannot help to think of influences such as Les Claypool of
Primus, virtuoso Jaco Pastorius, Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and
Victor Wooten of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. Matt's work, especially
his interpretation of the main theme on ?Science?,? slinky, sexy fills
on ?Across the Deserts,? and ?twaking? attack on ?Reverberation Bomb,?
adds a whole other level of melodic interest to already engaging
compositions. Where would surf be without a drummers? I mean, one of
the most famous surf instrumentals of all time, ?Wipe Out? owes it?s
success to that one skin basher who came up with that simply devastating
opening break. John Fiasco is just as crucial to the success of
this album. All I can say about his playing is that in it exists all
the thunder, fury, and power of the largest wave you have ever seen (or
heard) as exemplified in the all-out abandon of ?Reverberation Bomb? and
?Sailor Uranus.? Live, John is the Keith Moon of surf-rock.
Speaking of live, Saturnalia cannot be fully experienced unless it
is experienced live. Listening to this album is one thing but seeing
them is truly another. It?s almost as if there is this funnel of energy
that surrounds the stage and sucks you in pressing you to move your
ass. The band likes to call this signature voodoo ?The Great Reverb Blast.?
?I would say we are a surf rock band in the sense of the energy and
reverb, but there are so many other influences that come across.?
explains Grand Alto. ?We aren?t your run off the mill surf group.?
Clearly not, judging from those mentioned influences including such
groups as the Melvins, Primus, Sublime, the Descendents, Rocket From the
Crypt, nontraditional surf fare from shred king Dick Dale, Mike Watt,
and ?SOOO many others.?
Where do these fledgling surf wizards plan on casting their spells
in the future? ?I would like to make records and tour and bring our
music to lots of people, to show that surf music isn?t a novelty music
that is only used in t.v. commercials. Because so many surf bands today
just kick so much ass.? Grand Alto says. And what is this elusive
?Tao?? Grand Alto enlightens, ? ?The Tao? means ?The way.? This being
the first release from us, we are showing you the way of Saturnalia.?
We all hope that that way is a long and prosperous road.
~Check out Saturnalia Friday, February 5, 1999 at the Casino Skate Park
in Asbury Park, NJ. Also on the bill is the behemoth group LIVID. Door
times are from 6-7 PM. Come out for a bitchin? show; this one has the
potential to be the best of the season.~
Copyright 1999 Slippery Weezil Music, reproduced with permission of the author.