‘The Surfin Birds’ began life at the end of 2010 by the Sharod brothers, Paul (guitar/vocals) and Liam (drums). Paul and Liam share a mutual passion of garage/surf and rock from the 60’s through to modern music, and so the collaboration between the two was a natural development. They've had a succession of bass player since 2010 but have always maintained the brotherly structure.

    They started recording their first self released E.P. ‘The Bird Stroll’. Released in December 2011, this was a five-track E.P. that allowed the guys to show off the sound that had been created. Influences that can be heard on the record include the grittiness and driving drums of Link and Vernon Wray, the lyrical quirkiness of Reverend Horton Heat and bass-lines so dirty and disgusting ‘The Cramps’ would be proud of. Echoes of ‘Gene Vincent’s’ guitar player ‘Cliff Gallup’ can also be heard in Paul's lead work. Combining the guys individual styles with their mutual influences, this E.P. gives a great insight to what they’re all about.

    2012 started well for the band, branching out of their local territories and gaining support from further afield. They began making a name for themselves playing hotrod shows and supporting acts such as ‘Jack Rabbit Slim’, Wanda Jackson, members of 'The Specials', The Caezars’ and ‘Jake Allen’ amongst others.

   ‘Have You Heard?’ (Ambassador Records) is the ‘The Surfin’ Birds’ self-penned second E.P. This includes two surf instrumentals, one of which is a high tempo version of ‘the bird stroll’ and another ‘Dick Dale’ influenced track called ‘Shockwave’, which Paul wrote after a long session of surfing down the Cornwall coastline. ‘Have you heard’ also includes the garage influenced ‘Paranoid Bitchin’ Blues’, which is very different to their earlier rockabilly version. Most exciting of all the tracks however, is a loose jam called ‘I’m An Elvis Man’. This has heavy, prehistoric drumbeats and off the cuff lyrics that sound like the ramblings of a possessed rock ‘n’ roll psychopath...

    January 2013 they teamed up with up and coming producer Danny Adams to work on there third record 'The Surfin' Birds Live' E.p. + Demos for there first full length Album. The guys worked hard playing up and down the country every weekend hitting clubs, festivals, and venues sharing the stage/supporting such acts as Electric Six, The Blockheads, The Buzzcocks, The Pretty Things, The Computers, The Creepshow, to name a few. Also they had there first gigs abroad in the summer of 2013 when they were invited out to Sweden to do a mini tour, which went really well. 

   2014 ‘The Surfin’ Birds’ up and coming album promise to be an exciting new sound and a long-awaited addition to the British music scene. Ambassador Records will be releasing the album at the start of the summer 2014 but until then, be sure to catch them as their electrifying gigs are worth not missing!

written by M. Levitsky