Nicky Del Rey, Melbourne’s Titan of the Telecaster and guitar-for-hire for Intoxica, Lisa Miller, Sherry Rich, Jack Howard, Moonee Valley Drifters and countess others over the years, takes you on a wild ride of classic surf and street instrumentals and non-stop dancing.
Nicky Del Rey’s Misadventures is both a band – one which plays around Melbourne and calls St Kilda home – and an album – which is out now. It is the current outlet for and new release from one of Melbourne’s most-beloved and esteemed guitarists – a man who has made his name unleashing Telecaster licks over a range of roots music styles – primarily country – and as both a bandleader and sideman.
Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips hung five with Nicky Del Rey to discuss surf rock, Nicky’s new album and his gear.
MORE ABOUT NICKY DEL REY’S MISADVENTURES
The band and the album both see Del Rey stepping boldly into the much-overlooked genre of ’60s Instrumental Surf Guitar music – a genre that developed out of California in the early 60s and which was known for both startling original compositions and guitar-led instrumental rearrangements of popular songs from outside the genre.
In addition to paying tribute to Surf Guitar masters with his own versions of tracks by Dick Dale and the Ventures, the new album finds Del Rey and band continuing both of those Surf Guitar traditions, with fine originals like “Point Impossible” and “Green Ham” sitting alongside a stunning instrumental version of Nirvana’s “Heart-Shaped Box” that will wow surf and grunge fans alike.
Of course, Australia has a great tradition of Surf Guitar, going back to the Atlantics and their international smash “Bombora” in 1963, through to the Midnight Oil-related project The Break.
Del Rey first appeared on the thriving mid-80s Melbourne alternative scene up front of the King Jerklews (who appeared on Au-go-go’s legendary A Slab of Vic compilation album in 1986) and then in the Corpse Grinders and Intoxica. He soon became an in-demand side man, working alongside the likes of Lisa Miller (in the band Truckasauraus), Sherry Rich (replacing Steve Connolly in the Grievous Angels) and even renowned comedian Anthony Morgan in the band Crane Trash. He went on to work with Monique Brumby and perennial honky tonk institution the Moonee Valley Drifters, and more recently Hunters & Collectors brass man Jack Howard in his outfits the Long Lost Brothers and Epic Brass, as well as singer-songwriter Alyce Platt. He also has his own country outfit the Slowtown Social Club, is a member of all-star Melbourne country outfit the Cartridge Family and is a regular accompanist for popular country sister act the Sideshow Brides, whose Layla Fibbins returns the favour by playing in the Misadventures.
The Misadventures are:
Layla Fibbins (Sideshow Brides) – Guitar
Dave Folley (Mick Thomas, Man In Black) – Drums *
Tom Heathcote (Midnight Woolf) – Bass
* Lluis Sanchez (aks Lluis Fuzzhound, Thee Cha Cha Chas) – Drums (on the album)
NICKY DEL REY’S MISADVENTURES IS OUT NOW ON LIMITED EDITION VINYL LP AND DIGITALLY. PRE-ORDER NOW FROM
Nicky Del Rey’s Misadventures | Nicky Del Rey (bandcamp.com)
Nicky Del Rey’s Misadventures LP
Side One
1. Point Impossible (Grant) Original Composition
2. Thirteenth Beach (Grant/Pennington) Original Composition also recorded by Intoxica on the album Dragstripper
3. Diamond Head (Hamilton) The Ventures
4. Point Addis (Grant) Original Composition
5. Come With Me To The Casbah (Ganimian) Ganimian & His Orientals also recorded by Eddie Angel
Side Two
1. Playa Azul (Grant) Original Composition
2. Heart Shaped Box (Cobain) Nirvana
3. Green Ham (Grant) Original Composition
4. Pass The Hatchet (Leon/Theriot/Oropeza) Roger & The Gypsies
5. Hava Nagila (Idelsohn/Traditional) Dick Dale, Meshugga Beach Party
Recorded at Hothouse Audio, St Kilda in 2021 by Craig Harnath and Jez Giddings.
Produced by Nicky Del Rey
Mastered by Craig Harnath
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