It’s fitting Nicky Del Rey’s Misadventures call St Kilda home. Melbourne’s bayside and arts haven might not pump big waves, but it is our summer culture icon, much the same as Instrumental surf music was associated with basking in the warm California sun and its attendant surf culture.
If you wish to discover or revisit the famed genre of Surf Music you could go far to see a better exponent than Nicky Del Rey’s Misadventures, launching its self-titled debut at what is fast becoming another St Kilda icon, George Lane on a late October evening.
Traditionally awash with guitar-based reverb and vibrato, as it’s been said, the musicians tried to evoke the sound and feel of crashing waves, the genre was only popular on a mass scale for a few years in the early ’60s. Misadventures is a band true to this sound while adding layers of sophistication in both sound, feels and arrangements.
Nicky Del Rey, is one Melbourne’s most loved and esteemed guitarists. He has played with many over the years from Corpse Grinders in 80s, Intoxia in the 90s and he has been local icon, Jack Howard’s partner on guitar for 20 years. Add to this his many country music credits and being sideman to many others. He brings his well-known and respected sounds to this band in spades. His beloved Esquire tele through his Fender Bandmaster emit styles and sounds drawing from his broad musical library and applies them to an original album (and killer live show) of varied textures.
There are plenty of hooks over the underlying rhythms typical in old tunes by the Atlantics, Dick Dale and many others, tightly played by Dave Folley. There are more solid bass patterns under these tunes too. Provided by Tom Heathcote they present a more contemporary approach to this genre. Driven by some great riffs while moulding in rhythm and blues feels and even a little punk in places. Guitarist, Layla Fibbins, also providing texture and harmony lines aplenty to compliment her tasteful rhythm playing, driving a signature Strat sound, providing an essential layer to Nick Del Rey’s use of wide chords and crisp note selection.
On the whole a memorable night for music lovers in St Kilda. The Misadventures were on fire burning an enthusiastic and appreciative crowd. Get your own taste by checking out the debut album on Spotify, Bandcamp and the usual outlets.
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 SEPTEMBER 27, 2024, ON LIMITED EDITION VINYL LP AND DIGITALLY. PRE-ORDER NOW FROM Nicky Del Rey’s Misadventures | Nicky Del Rey (bandcamp.com)