CATHARTIC REVERB SPECIAL

What you have here is a collection of lost studio recordings. Significant for a few reasons, one being that they are the only studio recordings of the early 80's surf band the Evasions as a four piece. Another is that they have never been released. The big reason they hold significance for me is that my late brother Tim was in the band. He was an amazing guitarist, and he was well versed in everything from rockabilly to acoustic bottleneck, but his real passion was surf music.

Today is my brother's birthday. When he passed away in 1997, my Mom's preference was that his possessions remain intact, where they lay, until she decided how to proceed. When she passed away a few years later, it was up to my siblings and I to sort through, not only my Mom's estate, but my brother's as well. As you can guess it was a long, drawn out process, with emotional moments, and some falling down laughing moments. During the process (which lasted nearly a year), one of the most extraordinary finds was a tape reel containing studio recordings of the Evasions that, amazingly, none of us knew existed.

It was the early 80's when my brother put an ad in the local weekly, looking for others to play in a surf band. The first, and only response (that I know of), was from Richard Banke (better known now as Skid Roper), a fellow all-around roots fiend who also had a thing for surf music. As most surf music requires two guitarists, both capable of rhythm and lead duties, meeting Banke was the hard part. They quickly filled out the band with Mark Zadarnowski (who was best known locally as the bass player for the now-legendary R&B outfit, the Crawdaddys) and a friend of Tim's from the beach, Tim Rutheford, on drums. There was nowhere they really fit in the local music scene, primarily because the surf music revival had not yet happened. With the exception of a few of the original surf bands, there was Jon Blair's Jon and the Nightriders (in L.A.), and that's about it. But that didn't keep them from ending up on some odd bills at some of the local clubs, and given the dissimilar bands that they opened for, their fan base would include everyone from the beach crowd, to mods and punks; even industrial music icon, Boyd Rice.

Undoubtedly, the venue where they really shined was the backyard party. That's because, despite the supposed coolness of punks, mods, et al, the beach crowds really went nuts. Especially after Zadarnoski exited, and another local surfer, Dave Goodwin was brought in on bass. Folks, I've been to a lot of parties in my time, and a lot of shows. I've seen a lot of wild, sometimes dangerous, sometimes joy-filled rooms. But there is nothing that compares to the incendiary mixture of kegs, surf music and a crowd from the beach. It was a scene unto itself.

A few thank yous are in order: First to Pea Hicks, who not only transferred and annotated the complete reel, but helped in selecting the most salvageable takes; to photographers Ken Ables, (cover photo and early group shot) and Peggy Sue Amison (bonfire photo).; to band members Richard "Braniac" Banke (aka Skid Roper), Mark Zadarnowski, Tim Rutheford, and Dave Goodwin. To Dave Doyle who confirmed the recordings origins, and Mark Neill for recording them (see post dated 1/14 for the details). To the OSPAC crowd who were, far and away, the most ardent, vocal, and sloppy drunk members of the Evasions' audience. And finally, on his birthday, a big fat thank you to the best damn friend I ever had, Tim Griswold. Rest In Surf brother.

All tracks produced by Mark Neill, about 1980-81.
The Evasions - Gasser mp3
The Evasions - Road Agent mp3
The Evasions - Mr. Moto mp3
The Evasions - The Wedge mp3
The Evasions - Hot Doggin' mp3
The Evasions - Caravan mp3
The Evasions - Decoy mp3