The 427's

The 427's have quietly become one of Canada's top surf bands. With little fan fare they have managed to garner enough airplay to achieve some top chart success on college radio across the country. Hell, for a surf band that's pretty much unheard of. Their "Surf Noir" ep and the debut album "Mavericks" will convince you that this outfit is a serious contender. The band's latest offering "Stay Gold" has now washed ashore and once again they have another winner on their hands. This time out we get 14 original tracks of kool surf. From traditional to noir (spy) to spaghetti and even shades of exotica. This is one sweet and well produced slab of surf that delivers. Highlights include: "Bullitt", "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid", "Escape From Alcatraz", "Bikini Thief " and the fun romping "Liberty Belle". Overall this is The 427's best effort to date and you just know that that they haven't shown their full hand yet. It's smart and sexy surf that will definitely colour you impressed. Highly recommended. - John Slam

Canadian guitar four-piece The 427's have graced these pages before with their previous releases Surf Noir in 2014 and Mavericks in 2016. Continuing their excursion into the world of surf and spy culture, guitarists Rob Day and Chris van Keir welcome new members Eve Hell on bass and drummer Wrayne Ramone for their latest 14-tracker Stay Gold. There are also significant contributions from other players on trumpet, sax, keys and pedal steel that give great variety to the sounds and facilitate more complex arrangements.

All of the tunes are originals by Rob and Chris and I was hooked straight away by the intro to The Big Sleep with its strummed rhythm and instant guitar melody that is enhanced later by mournful trumpet. The uptempo twang of Liberty Belle makes a refreshing change and there is a distinct surf style about Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid with its revered picking. Surf chords also decorate the spiky Redline and Escape from Alcatraz is another surfer while Diablo is a twanged western theme. Baritone sax joins the fray for the spy theme Julie Newmar's Guitar - another plus in this surfin' n' spyin' collection. - Pipeline Instrumental Review UK

Nothing better than ’60s spy-fi surf and Calgary’s The 427’s just nails it. - Mark Anthony Brennan

After releasing a great CD-EP, Mavericks is the debut full-length CD release by this Calgary, Alberta surf n' spy combo - great twangy instrumental rock n' roll from north of the border. Great twangy, old-school sounds abound on this disc - not early 60's old-school, but more like late 90's. It takes me back to the stuff I listened to when I first got into surf-instro rock, a beguiling mix of Ventures-style melodies, with the spaghetti western sounds of Morricone and b-movie cheesiness through the use of theremin. Even a dash of spy-fi is mixed in for good measure. This disc is bound to please even the most discriminating instro aficionado. - The Continental Magazine

Authenticity is the key when it comes to most things.

You want to know that someone lived what they’re selling you, that it really is as much a part of them as they would have you believe, that deep down inside it actually is part of their genetic makeup.

On first blush, or actually first listen, it’s difficult not to think that instrumental surf rock outfit The 427’s are coming from a genuine place, somewhere that the waves do rise, the boards do cut, the cars do cruise, the movies do B, the girls do tan and the sun does set.

Even knowing that they’re landlocked locals, it is easy to imagine that the core of the quartet, guitarists Rob Day and Chris van Keir, were raised in Southern California, where the living was easy and surf culture was part of public school curriculum.

“No, I grew up in southern Saskatchewan,” says van Keir with a laugh sitting inside the Ship & Anchor with cohort Day.

Ah. Um. Well.

Not to worry. As he soon reveals, the musician actually did spend a great deal of time on the Cali coast, learning the hanging of tens, riding of tubes, etc., and is an experienced and skilled surfer, in the ocean and even on the rivers.

And Day?

“I call it pushing water more than surfing,” he says self-deprecatingly, noting also, that he did take many a lesson while spending time in Hawaii.

So, yes, while neither one of the two can actually claim to have saltwater in their veins, they, unlike “Charlie,” do surf.

But maybe that’s not even really that necessary, as it’s the two musicians’ love and respect for the music where the authenticity comes shining through. You can hear it on The 427’s super boss full-length debut Mavericks, which was released late last year but will get its official launch Friday at the Palomino.

It wears its influences so incredibly well, being true to the roots of the music — the sound, the style, the esthetic — while taking it further.

Van Keir admits to as a music fan and a guitarist first honing his skills being drawn down the path laid out by such acts as The Ventures, Dick Dale, Link Wray, as well as “the original rock ’n’ rollers like Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly.”

Day acknowledges a similar path, but notes that his love of the music began in the early ’80s with bands such as Surf Punks and the Dead Kennedys, which then led to Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet and local heroes Huevos Rancheros, and even more mainstream brushes with surf culture à la things such as Pulp Fiction.

“It was always in my face, it felt like,” Day says. “It was just following me through my life, so it was very natural to sit down and start writing it and start a band and start doing it.”

Unfortunately, Day says despite being in a bunch of basement bands, he didn’t have a lot of luck finding someone until he and van Keir found each other. And how did that happen?

“That’s a crazy story,” says Day. “Kijiji ad.”

Van Keir laughs. “Yeah, Kijiji ads. You know: ‘Single white male looking’ — just kidding.

“We had virtually the same ads posted looking for musicians. I had my ad posted and I had the influences (listed): Link Wray, Dick Dale, The Ventures, Misfits, Ramones — something like that. And I get this e-mail from this guy sitting here,” he says, nodding in Day’s direction, “and he said, ‘Hey, you may want to check out my ad, I think we’re looking for the same thing.’ And he had (listed): The Cramps, Misfits, Agent Orange and all of these bands.

“And it was like, ‘All right, all right, let’s have a chat.’ ”

They did, and after getting together once, they’d already mastered a few covers of those acts and artists, and realized that they truly were on the same wave.

Soon after, they began working on their own material, setting out into the wilds of the Calgary indie scene.

Two-and-a-half years in, and after recently cementing their lineup with the excellent rhythm section of bassist Eve Hell and drummer Lorne Petersen, they’re now firmly entrenched, having released a five-song EP, Surf Noir, and taking the city’s stages for dozens of gigs with an eclectic array of acts.

The inherent sound and novelty of the music, The 427’s have found, has opened them up to a much broader audience than many might expect.

“Surf’s kind of funny,” Day says, noting the rockabilly scene and acts such as Peter and the Wolves and The Hi Strung Downers have certainly embraced them. “It does fit in with that, but we’re talking with a reggae band about sliding over with them and playing a bit, and Miesha and the Spanks and stuff like that. So it does just slide nicely over into different things.”

Van Keir agrees. “Even punk shows, too. It just works. I think it’s because there’s nothing mainstream about instrumental surf rock ’n’ roll.”

“I think a lot of people like surf,” Day says, “and they don’t even realize they do until they’re there and they’re listening to it and they’re like, ‘This is kind of cool.’ So, it’s a nice little novelty.”

But to dismiss them as merely that, a novelty would be a remarkable disservice, as the quartet display on Mavericks the chops and an understanding of the music that transcends merely being a tribute.

The 10 original tunes make their own statement, sticking to the things that most associate with surf culture, such as B-movies, pulp novels, spies, spaghetti westerns, waves and boards, but it’s done so masterfully and, yes, authentically that it feels as if it’s updating the genre.

“We want to say something, we want to modernize it, without straying from the actual authentic traditional, quote unquote, surf sound,” admits van Keir.

“There are so many avenues to explore with it,” Day says before adding, “so we’re just beginning.”

The 427’s release their new album Mavericks with a show Friday at the Palomino. - Calgary Herald

A 427, if you don’t already know, is a “big block” engine that was favoured by hot-rodders in the ’60s and ’70s and also dropped into factory muscle cars out of Detroit during its heyday. The 427’s, Calgary-based surf outfit, has the power-burst of those sleek machines along with the smooth stylistics of a sultry cocktail act playing Dino’s Lodge off Sunset Strip circa 1964. In 2015 their first EP, Surf Noir, was nominated for an instrumental award. Lead guitarist, Chris van Keir, talks to BeatRoute about his band’s upcoming release, Mavericks, and how they put the noir in surf.

BeatRoute: Obviously the 427s are purists to a large degree, and embrace traditional surf. But there’s a lot more going on in the music than just beach blanket melodies. For instance, you list Neil Levang & Buddy Merrill, a pair of Texan twangers, as one of your influences. What do you think are some of the main music ingredients that fuel surf, and what do you like to throw in the 427s’ tank?

Chris van Keir: Surf is catchy guitar hooks played by reverb-soaked Fender guitars coupled with danceable beats to create a vibe of black skinny tie, Wayfarer coolness. We apply ideas and influences from jazz, punk, novels, film, and visual art to avoid becoming another three-chord wonder.

BR: You gave your first release, Surf Noir, an interesting title. What did you have in mind or envision by calling it that?

CvK: Our music has a dark edge to it, giving it a moody, smoldering vibe. And we draw from the film noir aesthetic, which is sexy and stylish, with a sense of mystery lying just beneath the surface. We like to explore that mystery.

BR: Mavericks sounds much smoother, slinkier and fuller than Noir, which has a rough-around-the-edges garage tone. Were you deliberately aiming to switch up the production and make it bit more ‘chill’?

CvK: Absolutely. There was a very deliberate decision to spend a lot more time and effort recording Mavericks. Surf Noir was our preamble; Mavericks is our first chapter.

BR: You have a couple of videos out. “The Spy Invasion” is filmed in a distinct noir aesthetic with props and fashions borrowed from the private eye TV series 77 Sunset Strip. Can you discuss a little about the inspiration and making of the vids?

CvK: We believe a music video is simply a short film. It tells a story. We pay homage to Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe with “The Spy Invasion” while we embrace the digital world with Fake Betty, giving people the control to experience our live show at their convenience.

BR: Fake Betty? What’s that?

CvK: It’s a crush with eyeliner.

BR: Even though Surf Noir leans towards lo-fi, the playing on both your recordings is tight, precise, deep in the pocket. But onstage the band lets loose and rips it up. There seems to be a very definite distinction between making records and playing live. What’s your take on that?

CvK: Our records are meant to be heard; our stage show is meant to be seen. A live show should be interesting and engaging, not emulating your album note-for-note. Isn’t that what rock n’ roll is all about? - Beatroute

Back in early 2014 Calgary's The 427's released "Surf Noir", a very strong ep and campus radio stations across Canada picked right up on it. Hell that 5 song ep has charted across the country and is still getting a ton of airplay a year later. Believe me that's no small feat especially for a surf band. The band also managed to gain some attention south of the border in America as well. Seizing on the so called moment the band has just released it's debut album "Mavericks" and this puppy nails it. We get 11 (1 hidden) original tracks of basically first wave inspired surf that are smooth ,slick and damn good.Throw in some spaghetti and spy and the result is one very impressive debut. Highlights include: "The Spy Invasion", "Yellowbelly", "Urchin Stomp" and "The Score". The 427's are still a young outfit since they formed in 2013 and that makes " Mavericks" even more impressive.This is one mature, sexy and kool ride that leaves you feeling fresh.Recommended !!! - Slams Reviews

Canadian surf-noir band, The 427’s, has released its debut album, Mavericks. This 100% instrumental album is tons o’ fun and sprinkled sparingly with vintage film samples. The surf rock theme is present throughout, and many tracks have a distinct soundtrack kind of feel. The tracks stay short and sweet, which is a plus because without any vocals longer tracks would get stale.

Any track would work but some recommend tracks would be “The Spy Invasion,” “Night of the Living Surf,” and “Urchin Stomp.” There is a hidden track that follows the tenth but you have to wait 15 minutes to hear it and it is not anything superior to the official track list.

Recommended If You Like: Spaghetti Westerns, La Femme, 60s California surf rock

Recommended Tracks: 1 (The Spy Invasion), 3 (Night of the Living Surf), 8 (Urchin Stomp)

Do Not Play: None

Written by Meredith Vacek on 02/18/16 - KJHK 90.7FM

I'm under the impression that The 427's EP Surf Noir got a bit of a attention in surf circles, and I don't doubt that they'll find an audience with their first full-length Mavericks. They've got a pretty trad sound with two guitars, bass, and drums, but the arrangements and riffs are all very catchy and memorable. On one listen, "Fake Betty", "Night of the Living Surf" and "Urchin Stomp" were standouts. On "Yellowbelly" and "The Blue Cactus" they stretch out a bit with added instrumentation for a spaghetti western sound. - Storm Surge of Reverb

If the Atomicos were good, The 427's took things to a whole other level with their set of catchy, bright, more straight ahead traditional surf music including several Ventures songs.

Bassist Eve Hell, who usually plays with her rockabilly band Eve Hell and the Razors stepped in like a pro for her first gig with the 427s. Guitarists Chris Van Keir and Rob Day took turns playing lead lines while drummer Geoff May held everything together perfectly with tasteful fills and a solid beat, locking in all of the members. Chris van Keir grinned ear to ear and jumped around centre stage. - L.A. Beat

Formed in 2013 out of a shared love of surf culture, Canadian guitar band The 427's favour a blast of reverb-drenched guitar to the inevitable "Where's the singer?" question. Sweetly intertwined reverb guitars deliver the catchy hook of The Stingray Shuffle and the intro to Blue Hawaii features the effect almost unaccompanied. The number then opens with a rolling snare and continues with another infectious hook, rather like a more melodic Wipe Out. The rambling sparseness of Mojave is lifted by its strummed rhythm before Rhino Chaser kicks off apace with its lively jangled twang. Winding things up is El Desperado, a plaintive slow with its very tasty lead and rhythm guitars. Very neat indeed. - Pipeline Instrumental Review

This is a great 5 song debut CD-EP from this Canadian four-piece surf/instro combo - all original tunes from the Great White North. While the sound could have used a tad more production work, the tunes stand out quite well, with dark and moody intros countered by upbeat stompers. The bold performances are just let down a bit by the slightly thin sound - these songs would have been absolute monsters with just a bit more heft to them. However, I really like where they're going and it'll be exciting to see what this band does next! - The Continental Magazine

On Surf Noir The 427’s have created a sun soaked love letter to the sixties surf guitar genre, providing the perfect soundtrack for any backyard luau or beach bonanza. A band I would definitely see live, The 427’s will make you want to rev up your woody and go stuff a wild bikini. - BC Musician Magazine

Calgary’s The 427’s play twangy, ’50’s sci fi, surf rock. It’s like The Ventures from a different planet. - Ride the Tempo