The Kilaueas And Surfer Joe Play The Astronauts & More LP

Side A - The Kilaueas

On this album The Kilaueas play with Gary Schmalzl as third guitar. Gary is a professional guitarist from Berlin, a very good and versatile musician interested in thousand styles like Punk, Rock, Jazz, Surf. The band met him in 2010 when playing as support act for Bela B. in Germany and since then Gary came to Kilaueas’ gigs and asked for a collaboration.

Another thought for this project was to play original songs in the style of the Astronauts (three guitars). Astronuts #1 and Reverborama are exclusively composed for this album by the Kilaueas, while Gary composed Deo In Expensivo. There is also a brand new arrangement for Koi-O-Surunara, a song that the Astronauts recorded in Japan around 1965, and for Banzai Pipeline which is quite different to the original of H. Mancini.

Recorded by Harrison Silverfox at Paul Lincke Studio on March 13th 2016.

Produced and mixed by Micki Meuser. Front cover photo by Catty Rogalski (Catberry Studios).

Side B - Surfer Joe

Lorenzo has recorded himself all instruments for his part of this album, trying to translate in music all his passion and love for the Astronauts, while focusing on the little details that made those 60s songs so unique. The guitar parts, the drums and the rhythm are the key elements to re-create the Astronauts’ sound and these are all featured into Lorenzo’s 8-tracks.

Like the Kilaueas, Lorenzo also wanted to add some original music recorded in the Astronauts’ style and so the Astrobeat Stomp was born, a very pushing instrumental with the drippiest guitar ever!

Recorded at the Surfer Joe Music Studios on April 2016.

Produced by Lorenzo “Surfer Joe” Valdambrini. Photo by Anne Wendschuh.

Dedicated to Frida and Carl.

Liner Notes

So, what is the idea behind this album? And who are The Astronauts?

Nearly everyone who is interested in surf music listens to Astronauts songs. In 1963 The Astronauts were produced by RCA, in the middle of the surf era, and they collaborated with famous Lee Hazlewood who also composed some legendary surf songs, like Baja, The Hearse and Surf’s You Right.

But why has there never been an “Astronauts tribute album” or something similar? Today a lot of bands still have Astronauts’ songs in their set, but nobody has worked on a more complete “Astronauts project”.  We have all the weapons we need: Fender Showman Amps, Reverb tanks, Jazzmaster and Jaguar guitars!

Lorenzo “Surfer Joe” Valdambrini, the International Surf Music Ambassador, is a well known musician in the modern surf scene, constantly on tour worldwide with his band spreading out the sound of traditional surf music. Lorenzo is also the co-producer of the Surfer Joe Summer Festival which is today’s biggest surf music event.

The Kilaueas are a German band from Berlin active since 1998 dedicated to the traditional surf sound and acclaimed as one of the best surf combos for their compositions and their amazing live performances.

Since 2011 Lorenzo has played drums on some tours with the Kilaueas and they had the idea to do a tribute album to the Astronauts. In a few shows, where also Alex Faide (Los Twang Marvels) was added on third guitar, the extended Kilaueas played a long set of Astronauts’ tunes. The audience liked it a lot as it was really featuring that particular kind of sound impact! 

So the time to transform that idea in reality has come: with this album we want to honor The Astronauts for their great work and unforgettable surf sound!

Ralf Kilauea & Lorenzo Valdambrini, May 2016