The very 1st campfire story in this ongoing series about a Long Island Trop rock musician’s quest to become the next king of the surf guitar after the death of his mentor, the late great king of the surf guitar, Dick Dale.
Depressed over the death of his surf guitar teacher, Long Island Trop rock artist Beachfront Vinny is unable to record his first original album of surf rock music.
Then, he is visited at his recording studio on Long Island, the Surf Spot, by a strange old man with a flowing white beard who sounds eerily similar to the late comedian George Burns.
The let’s just call him George Burns guy says nothing and hands Vinny a package containing Dick Dale’s last 💯 pure silver whammy bar he used on his final tour.
Armed with an mp3 text message sent from beyond by the late king of surf himself, Vinny is reminded to “use the twang” and extra special pre-caution around the surf rock instrumental purists in the High Surf Council Association (“HSCA”) and their tribute band loving peers who will stop at nothing to take Dick Dale’s last silver whammy bar from Vinny.
Of course, this causes Vinny to have a nightmare, hosted by the real Alice Cooper himself, who reminds Vinny to use the twang and to keep surfing!
After learning of the HSCA plot via an old AM radio news reel, Vinny finds himself facing trumped up surf rock fraud charges during an official legislative inquiry conducted by Judge Edward Oggen who finds Vinny guilty on all counts.
Judge Oggen’s sentencing was harsh. It included a life sentence of Long Island tribute bands who blatantly steal band names, catalogues, likenesses, & logos, using it in promotional materials, without any authorization or paying any “tribute”, and without any repercussions or penalties. In fact, it is encouraged by the people of Long Island who downright demand that only oldies music be played live exclusively by bands who look, act, and sound exactly like they do on the records.
Can Vinny create new surf music in such a hostile musical environment like the fake Long Island music scene?
Can he play the surf guitar without Dick Dale’s last 💯 pure silver whammy bar?
Find out by listening 👂
