Strange but Surf at Otto's Shrunken Head

Guitarist Barry Simon and drummer Angelo "Marbles Mahoney" Liguori were riding with a scooter club on Long Island when they discovered they shared a desire to play surf music. They formed Strange But Surf in 2003 in Liguori's garage in Levittown, New York. Staunch members of the North East Surf Music Association (NESMA), Strange but Surf annually invites bands to play Twangstock, a surf music festival in Levittown. Strange But Surf's second and most recent album, Swimming in Reverb, was released in 2009. The band presently consists of Simon, Ligouri, guitarist Greg Timm and bassist/keyboardist Joel "Dr. J" Levine.

Unsteady Freddie hosts his Surf Rock Shindig on the first Saturday of every month at Otto’s Shrunken Head, and Strange but Surf have been recurring guests for over a decade. At Otto's tonight, the spine of Strange but Surf was indeed surf music, although the band also spun into instrumental themes from television shows from the 1960s, rockabilly and British Invasion, all soaked in reverb. The band's few original songs were strictly surf, however. Unusual for a surf band, the set also featured singing, although even these songs were more instrumental than vocal. Strange but Surf provided an enjoyable, danceable rock and roll set for nostalgias.

Visit Strange but Surf at www.strangebutsurf.com.