10 Instrumental Surf Rock Songs You Need To Hear Now: Insect Surfers “Mojave”
— Damian Fanelli, Guitar World, 2019
“…reflecting [Washington D.C.’s] unusual taste for surf, punk and roots-rock….clean tones and snappy chord vamps…has a Third Man spy vibe and a speed-freaked finale that puts the word ‘insect’ in the band’s moniker…sounds fabulous.”
— Pete Prown, Vintage Guitar Magazine, June 2018
“Datura Moon proves that a formula of great instrumentalism and song-crafting can prevail for decades. 9/10”
—Fuchsia Black, Music Connection, Mar. 2018
“Infra Green…showcases the Insects’ mix of surf, psychedelic, and punk at its best.”
— Dan Forte, Vintage Guitar Magazine Feb. 2014
“Insect Surfers mix up disparate influences such as Link Wray, John Cipollina, Ron Asheton, Ricky Wilson, Ravi Shankar, Thelonious Monk, Buddy Guy, Frank Zappa and Slayer into a unique and trippy take on the Dick Dale formula.”
— Michael Molenda, Guitar Player Magazine, Holiday 2013
“They have recorded some of the most adventurous and magnificent surf instros around”
— Phil Dirt, KFJC Radio, 2004
Best Instrumental Band Award
— L.A. Weekly, 2003
Music For Nimrods Band Of Distinction Award
— Reverend Dan on KXLU 88.9FM, 2001
“Insect Surfers blend eclectic rock and Surf for a great sound…catchy…the contrasting guitar styles keep things interesting.”
— Vintage Guitar Magazine, April 1999
“One of my favorite bands”
— Deanne Stillman, Los Angeles Times Magazine, 1998
“If you’re expecting to hear Jan and Dean revisited, prepare for a refreshing surprise. Their highly energetic and inventive music has traces of Dick Dale, Link Wray, garage and sci-fi, but it’s thoroughly original and highly contagious.”
— 9:30 Live liner notes, Adelphi Records 1997
“I see a guy on the nose of a longboard, sun goin’ down, wind blowing through his hair, going across the face of a wave.”
— Dick Dale, BAM Magazine, Sept. 1994
“Instead of coming off as kitschy or retro, the quartet use the beach as a metaphor, as a jumping-off point for deeper, moodier explorations—often psychedelic, but never succumbing to mere noodling. An underrated local institution since re-forming in L.A. in 1985.”
— Falling James, L.A. Weekly, Nov. 2003
“These guys are one of the absolutely finest instrumental bands to be found anywhere.”
— Anthony Mark Happel, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Sept. 1997
“L.A.’s Insect Surfers have never been obsessed with slavish imitations of vintage sounds so much as recapturing the proto-punk abandon of early instrumental rock.”
— Guitar Player Magazine, Dec. 1996