The Surf Trio – Almost Summer

The Surf Trio: gli inizi e Almost Summer

The Surf Trio began in Eugene, Oregon, in the mid-1980s as an instrumental band inspired by 1960s surf music, garage rock, and artists like Davie Allan & The Arrows. The original lineup featured Ron Kleim (bass), Peter Weinberger (guitar), and Aaron Temple (drums). Soon, Dave Meyer joined on bass, allowing Ron to switch to guitar, and later Jeff Martin replaced Meyer, bringing vocals and a stronger punk influence to the band’s sound.

A key figure in the band’s early development was Dave Gibson, host of the influential Goin’ Back radio show on KRVM and founder of Moxie Records. After hearing the band’s demo, Gibson championed The Surf Trio on his program and released their debut EP in 1985. Although Moxie operated on a shoestring budget and production was slow, the record gave the band valuable exposure.

Ron Kleim actively mailed demo tapes to independent record labels across the United States. One of those tapes reached Greg Shaw, founder of Voxx Records and one of the leading figures in the American garage rock revival. Shaw was impressed by the band’s combination of surf music and Ramones-inspired energy and invited them to Los Angeles to record their first full-length album.

In 1986, The Surf Trio travelled to Los Angeles and recorded Almost Summer in just a few days. The album was produced and engineered by Brett Gurewitz, then guitarist of Bad Religion. The sessions were relaxed and efficient, reflecting how well rehearsed the band was.

One unexpected surprise came when Greg Shaw licensed the track “Surfin’ in the Millrace”—written by the band’s friend Jon Wallace—to the Walt Disney television film The Brat Patrol. Ron first discovered the placement by chance while watching television after returning home from a gig.

The Los Angeles trip also exposed the band to the city’s vibrant rock scene. They stayed at the legendary Tropicana Motel, saw The Smithereens at the Roxy Theatre, and experienced a memorable incident when drummer Aaron Temple was mugged during a late-night beer run.

Almost Summer became the record that introduced The Surf Trio to a wider audience, capturing their distinctive blend of classic surf instrumentals, garage rock, and punk energy.
It remains one of the defining releases of the 1980s surf revival.

TRACKLIST:

LATO A

Fun In The Summer
Surfin’ In The Millrace
Can’t Stand This Love, Goodbye
Surfin’ Cat
Girl Ain’t Good For Me
She’s Too Good
Pete’s Mood

LATO B

Almost Summer
Monster Beach
Kuk
Cape Perpetua
Can’t Be Myself
Snug Harbor
Where Ya Gonna Go?