Laramie Dean
Encyclopedia
Laramie Dean is an American
guitar
ist.
and grew up on the Hudson River
. In 1995 he moved to Portsmouth, New Hampshire
.
Dean began playing at the Elvis Room, and recording with Jim Tierny, as well as Joe King a.k.a. Joe Queer of New Hampshire pop punk band The Queers
. At his first show at the Elvis Room, Dean met Tamara Collins. Collins gave Dean extensive airplay on her punk rock radio show "No Rules" which aired on New Hampshire’s college radio station 91.3 WUNH
.
In 1999, Dean released his first 7" EP titled "Listen to Laramie Dean ...you can almost smell the rubber burn!" One of the songs on this EP was also featured on the "Food Not Bombs" benefit compilation for Amnesty International
, which also included tracks from The Unseen, The Ducky Boys
and Anti-Flag
.
In June 2007, Dean recorded the full-length LP "Laramie Dean Plays Surf Riot!" in Miami Florida, which was released at the Misfits’ 30th anniversary tour.
In January 2008, Dean relocated to Los Angeles and made his first L.A. appearance at Largo
with his friend, comedian and author Greg Behrendt
. Backing Dean was Behrendt's band, The Reigning Monarchs. A month later, Dean toured with Mike Palm and his band Agent Orange
, and continues to tour with them on occasion.
In July 2010, Dean began his first solo national headlining tour (from San Diego through Seattle and as far east as Ft. Lauderdale), joined with former Aggrolite
member Korey “Kingston” Horn (drums), Jeff Bennet (saxophone) and Galaxia Records surf jazz musicians The Mattson 2 (bass/keyboards).
In September 2010, Dean completed a second US tour as a three-piece band beginning in Florida and ending in New Mexico, with "King of the Surf Guitar" Dick Dale
’s 18-year-old son Jimmy Dale on drums and newcomer Trevor Lucca on bass guitar
.
January 2011 saw Dean completing just over 400 shows with the aforementioned Agent Orange, touring the US, Canada, Europe and the UK.
In June 2011, Laramie embarked on a rare national tour with Dick Dale himself, beginning with their first appearance together at Tucson
's The Hut. Joined again by Dale's son Jimmy on drums, and Trevor Lucca on bass, Dean's act is rounded out with latest newcomer, Japanese import Hideki Ikeura on trumpet
and keys
.
wrote that “Laramie Dean, the self-proclaimed surf-punk machine, disciple of surf-guitar god Dick Dale,” has a “(louder) brand of classic surf punk,” stating that Dean’s “virtuosity definitely kept the crowd’s attention, while providing a great segue to the main act.”
Flavorpill’s Jason Jeffers commented that “Surf-punk star Laramie Dean[’s] … ripping, growling guitar transports anyone within earshot to 1960s California” and that “Dean has amassed nationwide acclaim.”
The Crossfire’s Pete Craven commented that “the very dapper Laramie Dean” was “easily one of the highlights” of Agent Orange’s European tour date at the legendary Camden Underworld.
Maribel Santoyo of El Paso's EP Culture Beat writes, "After 100 shows under the scrutiny of the legend [Dick Dale] himself, Laramie Dean put together an LP titled Surf Riot with probably a similar, furious inspiration that possessed Jack Kerouac
to pound out On The Road
on a roll of telegraph paper in a few days."
Regarding Dean's tour with Dick Dale, TX Underground wrote of Dean's sound at the June 8 show at Houston's Continental Club: "Authentic reverb heavy Surf music, but with crunchy distortion, and a Punk attitude, it makes the term 'Surf Punk' well warranted." Brian Mahar of St. Petersburg's Patch, reporting on the June 11, 2011 sold out show at the State Theater, calls Dean "a legendary surf guitar player in his own right," noting that Dean booked the entire Dick Dale-Laramie Dean tour without the help of a separate agent.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist.
Biography
Dean was born in Troy, New YorkTroy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
and grew up on the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
. In 1995 he moved to Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
.
Dean began playing at the Elvis Room, and recording with Jim Tierny, as well as Joe King a.k.a. Joe Queer of New Hampshire pop punk band The Queers
The Queers
The Queers are a punk band formed in 1981 by Portsmouth, New Hampshire native Joe King . The band originally broke up in 1984, but reformed with Joe Queer and a new line-up in 1986. In 1990, the band signed with Shakin' Street Records and released their first album Grow Up...
. At his first show at the Elvis Room, Dean met Tamara Collins. Collins gave Dean extensive airplay on her punk rock radio show "No Rules" which aired on New Hampshire’s college radio station 91.3 WUNH
WUNH
WUNH is a non-commercial college radio station at the University of New Hampshire, in Durham, New Hampshire. The station broadcasts alternative music, news, sports, and more to the community on 6000 watts.-History:...
.
In 1999, Dean released his first 7" EP titled "Listen to Laramie Dean ...you can almost smell the rubber burn!" One of the songs on this EP was also featured on the "Food Not Bombs" benefit compilation for Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
, which also included tracks from The Unseen, The Ducky Boys
The Ducky Boys
The Ducky Boys are a street punk band from Boston, Massachusetts. Since forming in 1995 in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston, the band has spanned over ten years with two tenures that have led to four full-length albums and over 50 songs. The band derives its name from the name of an Irish...
and Anti-Flag
Anti-Flag
Anti-Flag is a punk rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States, formed in 1988. The band is well known for its outspoken political views. Much of the band's lyrics have focused on fervent anti-war activism, criticism of United States foreign policy, corporatism, U.S. wealth...
.
In June 2007, Dean recorded the full-length LP "Laramie Dean Plays Surf Riot!" in Miami Florida, which was released at the Misfits’ 30th anniversary tour.
In January 2008, Dean relocated to Los Angeles and made his first L.A. appearance at Largo
Largo (nightclub)
Largo is a nightclub and cabaret in Los Angeles, CA, known informally as Café Largo or Club Largo, known for its retinue of musical and comedic performers and for the Friday night "residency" of singer-songwriter Jon Brion, which has made the club a must-visit for fans and professional...
with his friend, comedian and author Greg Behrendt
Greg Behrendt
Gregory Behrendt is an American stand-up comedian and author. His work as a script consultant to the HBO sitcom Sex and the City, starring Sarah Jessica Parker, paved the way for co-authoring of the New York Times bestseller He's Just Not That into You , later adapted into a film by the same name...
. Backing Dean was Behrendt's band, The Reigning Monarchs. A month later, Dean toured with Mike Palm and his band Agent Orange
Agent Orange (band)
Agent Orange is an American punk rock band formed in Orange County, California in 1979. The band is one of the first to mix punk rock with surf music. They first gained attention with their song "Bloodstains" which they released on their own 7" E.P. An early demo of the song was presented to...
, and continues to tour with them on occasion.
In July 2010, Dean began his first solo national headlining tour (from San Diego through Seattle and as far east as Ft. Lauderdale), joined with former Aggrolite
The Aggrolites
The Aggrolites are a reggae and ska band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2002.- Overview :The Aggrolites are an amalgamation of two previous Los Angeles reggae and ska bands, the Vessels and the Rhythm Doctors. They formed in 2002 as a live backing band for reggae icon Derrick Morgan, and...
member Korey “Kingston” Horn (drums), Jeff Bennet (saxophone) and Galaxia Records surf jazz musicians The Mattson 2 (bass/keyboards).
In September 2010, Dean completed a second US tour as a three-piece band beginning in Florida and ending in New Mexico, with "King of the Surf Guitar" Dick Dale
Dick Dale
Dick Dale is an American surf rock guitarist, known as The King of the Surf Guitar. He experimented with reverberation and made use of custom made Fender amplifiers, including the first-ever 100-watt guitar amplifier.-Early life:Dale was born in South Boston, Massachusetts and lived in nearby...
’s 18-year-old son Jimmy Dale on drums and newcomer Trevor Lucca on bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
.
January 2011 saw Dean completing just over 400 shows with the aforementioned Agent Orange, touring the US, Canada, Europe and the UK.
In June 2011, Laramie embarked on a rare national tour with Dick Dale himself, beginning with their first appearance together at Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
's The Hut. Joined again by Dale's son Jimmy on drums, and Trevor Lucca on bass, Dean's act is rounded out with latest newcomer, Japanese import Hideki Ikeura on trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
and keys
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
.
Critical acclaim
Ben Thacker of the Miami New TimesMiami New Times
The Miami New Times is a free weekly newspaper published in Miami and distributed every Thursday. It primarily serves the Miami area and is headquartered near Miami's Design District.-Overview:...
wrote that “Laramie Dean, the self-proclaimed surf-punk machine, disciple of surf-guitar god Dick Dale,” has a “(louder) brand of classic surf punk,” stating that Dean’s “virtuosity definitely kept the crowd’s attention, while providing a great segue to the main act.”
Flavorpill’s Jason Jeffers commented that “Surf-punk star Laramie Dean[’s] … ripping, growling guitar transports anyone within earshot to 1960s California” and that “Dean has amassed nationwide acclaim.”
The Crossfire’s Pete Craven commented that “the very dapper Laramie Dean” was “easily one of the highlights” of Agent Orange’s European tour date at the legendary Camden Underworld.
Maribel Santoyo of El Paso's EP Culture Beat writes, "After 100 shows under the scrutiny of the legend [Dick Dale] himself, Laramie Dean put together an LP titled Surf Riot with probably a similar, furious inspiration that possessed Jack Kerouac
Jack Kerouac
Jean-Louis "Jack" Lebris de Kerouac was an American novelist and poet. He is considered a literary iconoclast and, alongside William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, a pioneer of the Beat Generation. Kerouac is recognized for his spontaneous method of writing, covering topics such as Catholic...
to pound out On The Road
On the Road
On the Road is a novel by American writer Jack Kerouac, written in April 1951, and published by Viking Press in 1957. It is a largely autobiographical work that was based on the spontaneous road trips of Kerouac and his friends across mid-century America. It is often considered a defining work of...
on a roll of telegraph paper in a few days."
Regarding Dean's tour with Dick Dale, TX Underground wrote of Dean's sound at the June 8 show at Houston's Continental Club: "Authentic reverb heavy Surf music, but with crunchy distortion, and a Punk attitude, it makes the term 'Surf Punk' well warranted." Brian Mahar of St. Petersburg's Patch, reporting on the June 11, 2011 sold out show at the State Theater, calls Dean "a legendary surf guitar player in his own right," noting that Dean booked the entire Dick Dale-Laramie Dean tour without the help of a separate agent.
Discography
- Amnesty International:Food Not Bombs Compilation/Limited Edition LP (1998) Impulse Buying Records
- Listen to Laramie Dean ... You can almost smell the rubber burn! 7” EP (1999) Dead End Records
- Laramie Dean plays Surf Riot! LP (2007) DeFi Records
- Listen to Laramie Dean ... You can almost smell the rubber burn! (Re-issue) 7” EP (2009) DeFi Records
- Laramie Dean is the Creeper! 7” Split Single (b/w: The Reigning Monarchs’ Tijuana Snakefight) (2010) DeFi Records