I've heard of surf bands springing from many genres. PLENTY of punk-influenced surf bands, some from a jazz background, but I think traditional New Orleans style jazz is a first. 80% of JJ and the Trash Dogs are also members of Tuba Skinny, one of the most well-loved groups from that scene.

Despite New Orleans' historic charm and notoriety, we're simply often not a geographically ideal spot for a tour and our small size (New Orleans Metro Area sits just below 1 million) makes it a risky opportunity. That said, there's an unwritten law that says that if you name your album after a swamp, you have to tour at the swamp, so I'm glad Messer Chups complied with the law.

JJ and Trash Dogs are the newest New Orleans surf band, I believe with only 4 shows so far, two of which I attended and somehow missed the band. Arg.

New Orleans’ instro scene is a weird one but as of lately a surprisingly active one.

After 4 years this New Orleans local surf punk band has put out their third release. Every Bills release has sounded better than the last, and this one lets you know it right from the first loud and heavy note of guitar. And they're proud of it; even though half of this album is vocal, the guitars are always just as loud.

The Quaketones caught me with my pants down. I had only heard about them a day before this poped up on bandcamp despite them being from New Orleans.

Dr. Ike's bi-annual Rock & Roll record collectors' concert extravaganza is back this weekend, a BIG event for us music nerds down here. Though for the most part the lineup is pretty light on surf (Los Straitjackets are backing up Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon), the Sunday night afterparty features none other than Davie Allan and the Arrows, King of the Fuzz Guitar! Hopefully regular listeners are pretty familiar with him, but if you're not he's responsible for the soundtracks to a lot of biker movies.

At this point I've been doing this radio show in New Orleans for about 5 years, and in that time very few listeners have come to the obvious conclusion that they should start a surf band. So I was overcharged with excitement when I was shown a youtube video from a frequent listener of their new band Ghost Coast. A few days later, there's even a demo up on bandcamp!

NOTE: Case closed! Click here to jump to the bottom where I found out the details from the Daringers' drummer

Meant to get this out earlier but this Thursday the 14th Steelism is playing Chickee Wah Wah in New Orleans at 9pm.