Beachbuggy

Like the Welsh outfit McLusky, British rockers Beachbuggy draw directly from the zany, golden punk of early Pixies. But while McLusky works more with their forebears' inclination toward revved-up psycho-sexual venom, Beachbuggy goes in the tweaked punk-and-surf rock direction. Infamous for just pulling up in a trailer and playing impromptu shows on the street, Beachbuggy started out in the early '90s, initially as a bunch of friends just goofing around and writing music together. Because two of them wanted to play drums, the band actually has two drummers -- Danny Sicks and A.D. -- who play exactly the same beats! In 1998, the group released their home-recorded debut, Unsafe…At Any Speed! on Sympathy for the Record Industry. With Al B. Kirkey on bass, the band certainly had their rhythm section in full lo-fi bombast, leaving Jack Straker to lead with punchy guitar riffs and Black Francis-esque vocals. After being virtually ignored by the British press, the members of Beachbuggy pooled their money, flew to Chicago and paid for the recording of their sophomore release with Steve Albini. Sport Fury, recorded in only six days, was put out by Poptones after the label saw the group's crazy live show. Killer-B, again recorded with Albini in Chicago and with the two drummers sitting side by side, followed in April of 2003. As Beachbuggy's crowning achievement, the album takes their loose and wild surf punk and distills it into a catchy, hooky collection.
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