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Surf City
"Records of a Flagpole Skater" (mp3)
from "Surf City"
(Arch Hill Records)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album
Surf City first came in to existence when bored friends Davin Stoddard and Josh Kennedy met at a party in Mt Roskill in 2004. Tired of the heavy avant-garde music that was prolific at the time Stoddard and Kennedy teamed up with Josh’s brother Jamie and Logan Collins to form the band. Originally called The Fibs and then Kill Surf City their fascination with fast guitar pop and the early 80’s sound of Dunedin soon saw them develop their own unique and catchy sound.
Known as Kill Surf City for the last 3 years they recently shortened their name to just Surf City. As the name is a throw back to an old Jesus and Mary Chain B-side a couple of other bands in America and the UK had adopted the same alias. With the likelihood of overseas travel in the future and to avoid subsequent confusion the name was changed.
Following a couple of tours of New Zealand, numerous day jobs and several flat evections Surf City are to release their debut self titled EP on Arch Hill Recordings on August 6th. The majority of the six song EP was recorded in 2006 in various lounges and bedrooms around Auckland. Some in Eden Terrace and Kingsland and most of the vocals at Davin’s mum’s place. After the mixes were finalised by Murray Fisher, Davin hunted out infamous American artist Steve Keene to produce the EP’s artwork. Keene has created paintings for bands like the Silver Jews and Pavement and was more than happy to design for Surf City. With the direction of ‘chickens, guns and the desert’ Keene has created a perfectly colourful haphazard scene.
‘It seems like decades since any New Zealand band has managed to evoke The same feeling that The Clean and Straightjacket Fits did. Mix that with how you feel about Interpol and maybe Sonic Youth and you have a fair idea.’
Pavement
‘Their live shows fluctuate form raucously fun to fantastically loose. That genuine vulnerability and intensity is what makes them engaging not to mention entertaining.’
Rip It Up
Surf City are listed as one of the "Anticipated albums on Winter 2009" by US Magazine Under the Radar, they write
"Sure, it’s easy to pin down the provenance of Auckland, New Zealand act Surf City’s self-titled debut EP. There are delectable dashes of Pavement-style melodies, nods to the roughshod pop of the ’80s Flying Nun roster, and elements of the stomping tribal rhythms of Animal Collective...." read more
Surf City will be supporting MGMT for all three of the shows at the Powerstation in Auckland on 21st, 22nd and 23rd of July. The Tall Dwarfs were originally opening for two of the nights but have been unable to due to Chris Knox's stroke. All three shows are sold out
Surf City are taking a break from recording their album and heading out on tour around New Zealand - check these dates
25th June - Cassette Number Nine - Auckland - Vice Party
9th of July - Goodbye Blue Mondy - Christchurch
10th of July - Chicks Hotel - Port Chalmers/Dunedin
11th July - The Dux - Queenstown
21st of July - The Powerstation - Auckland - opening for MGMT (sold out)
Surf City's EP released in Europe and the USA on Morr music is getting some great reviews and tons of College Radio in the USA...here are a few snippets
"for the time being, Surf City's pleasure for pleasure's sake approach already has me pining for more." Pitchfork (7.4/10)
"A youthful energy that sounds like Pavement letting their hair down" NME (8/10)
"We've never been to New Zealand, but this EP has convinced us that the whole country is just a golden beach butted by cliffs and smelling faintly of freshly poured beer, ie heaven" Fader Magazine
"Their sound is uniquely their own, an energetic, wide eyed blend of early New Order and Jesus and Mary Chain and the Flying Nun bands for which their country is so well-known." emusic USA
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