There was a portion of America that hadn't been touched by the British Invasion in the mid-'60s. While many bands hunkered down in their garages attempting to transform themselves into
the Beatles or
Stones, there were groups that kept the music of
Chuck Berry,
Bo Diddley,
the Beach Boys, and
the Trashmen alive. Two of those bands happened to be in southeastern Michigan, and one of them happened to have
Cub Koda as its leader. And if it wasn't for
Koda and his passionate efforts to keep real rock & roll and blues alive, the music of
the Del-Tino's and
the Hesitations might never have made it to compact disc, let alone in a package as appealing as
Go! Go! Go! to Surfin' School!. Not only is
Koda well-known as the leader of the
Brownsville Station and as the author of the teen rock anthem "Smokin' in the Boys' Room," he's a music journalist and preservationist, which has helped earn him fans as both a writer and musician, which means that there is an audience for his early work as a
Del-Tino. Of course, there is also an audience for obscure garage rock, and both audiences should be pleased with
Go! Go! Go! to Surfin' School!. All known recordings of both
the Del-Tino's and
the Hesitations are featured on this generous 24-track collection.
The Hesitations pound out wild surf and garage rock, while
the Del-Tino's -- who learned how to rock on-stage from
the Hesitations, according to
Koda's liner notes -- are a little more adventurous, dipping into blues as well as surf and rock & roll. Both bands are a little raw, but their energy is infectious, especially on the
Del-Tino's covers. Some of the originals are a little undistinguished, but they're fun artifacts, and each group gets off at least one gem, whether it's
the Del-Tino's "Cheatin'" or
the Hesitations' "Wild Little Willie." You have to be an archivist or fetishist to dig this stuff, but if greasy rock & roll is your passion, you owe it to yourself to check this out. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine