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  If the sound of a reverb-drenched guitar gets you off, you must hear Slacktone. Dave Wronski, the band's inventive 6-stringer, melds surf's slurpy wang-bar bends and twangy, thrumming bass-string riffs with jazzy voicings and intricate, white-knuckle lines. On Slacktone, this guitar, bass, and drums trio plays with the dynamics and precision of a bebop ensemble, yet their music curls and churns like a barreling nine-foot wave. Slacktone is all about empathetic interplay: The band can turn on a dime and often changes time signatures, tempos, and modes in the middle of a tune.
Slacktone reveals Wronski's many musical influences. In "The Bells of St. Kahuna," for example, his chimey textures evoke David Torn as much as Dick Dale. Chuck Berry meets Al DiMeola in "Skateboard Commando," "Mysterioso" features Kenny Burrell-style double-stops, "Nocturne" ends with a burst of Hendrix-inspired "Little Wing" hammers and slides, and "Reflection: Life or Lemming" weaves ringing Spanish arpeggios, bluesy riffs, angular bass runs, and eerie volume swells into a radiant soundscape. Wherever Wronski goes melodically and harmonically, however, he never strays far from a surf-approved Fender twang, doused with splatty reverb and haunting trem-bar vibrato.
By merging the disparate elements of surf and progressive jazz, Wronski and his Slacktone cohorts have created one of the freshest instrumental sounds to fill GP's hallways in many moons. Deep stuff - GUITAR PLAYER.COM
 MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN
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| DAVE WRONSKI KICKIN' SOME MAJOR ASS IN TEXAS |
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Dave Wronski, Ashley(Thrusters) and Dusty Watson at The Oasis in Florida. |
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The AMAZING DAVE WRONSKI at work! DUSTY WATSON
"The King of the Surf Drums"
- DEVYN DUKES
 SLACKTONE "Into The Blue Sparkle" *****
The wait is always so-o-o long, but finally the new Slacktone CD. Into The Blue Sparkle is a brilliantly powerful sparkling experiential sonic flow. Dave Wronski's sense of riff is unique. His writing is immediately identifiable, yet always fresh. This is the mark of a great writer, like Henry Mancini, Ennio Morricone or Jim Thomas. Brilliant guitaristry supported by the trademark excellence of the best rhythm section in surf music. Dave Wronski's gorgeous guitar work, Mike Sullivan's perfect bass lines, and Dusty Watson's incredible drums... What's really hard is writing concise descriptions of talent this strong without seeming to gush on incessantly. Simply one of the best trios out there, Slacktone has put together yet another exceptional release. All I can say is SEE 'em, HEAR 'em, BUY 'em! -PHIL DIRT
Picks: Coffin Closer, Longboard Lagato, Bird Bone, Daytona Mona, Into the Blue Sparkle, Blast Bolero, Brian's Beached Piano, Rell Sunn Aloha, Stickman, Glide, Saga (of the Floating Cowboy hat), Slanky, South Run, Tiki Bar Crawl, Avalon Slip, Secret Exit Man
 DUSTY, MIKE, PHIL DIRT & DAVE WRONSKI AT KFJC |
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The HARDEST WORKING drummer around
DUSTY WATSON MIKE SULLIVAN
4.22.1960 - 8.19.2001  Mike grew up in San Bernardino, CA. He started playing bass when he was 12 years old. He was playing local clubs at age 17, having to be escorted in through the back door many times! By the time he was 19, he went on a year and a half tour of the States and Canada. Being well versed in many different styles of music including funk, jazz and rock, he has stayed busy around the LA club scene, including a two year stint at Disneyland. Dusty Watson and Mike were starting to become one of the most awesome rhythm sections ever - in a local alternative band. They teamed up with Dave Wronski and quickly became one of the hottest surf instrumental bands around, playing at surfing events up and down the California coast. SLACKTONE has been featured in promotional videos and television commercials.
Mike Sullivan was an integral part of the musical accomplishments Slacktone was to achieve. He helped to more clearly define the"no boundaries" approach that was the original intention of the formation of the band. Mike played a five-string bass with his fingers instead of using a pick to produce a huge sound not normally associated with surf instrumental music. Because of using the five-string, songs were able to be written in all possible keys-- another thing not traditionally found in surf.. Mike's fellow band mates want it to be known by all just how much they depended upon him for all he had to offer musically and in his companionship.
After a very brief illness on August 19,2001 at 8:30 PST Mike Sullivan passed away. Kate and I will miss him very much he will be remembered fondly.
MAY GOD BE WITH HIM  DAVE WRONSKI, MY LOVELY KATE, MIKE SULLIVAN & DUSTY WATSON AT SPANKY'S IN WEST PALM, FLORIDA. |
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