Since it’s too chilly to surf in Canada most of the time, Calgary’s Ramblin’ Ambassadors indulge their passion by re-creating the sounds of warmer weather and hanging ten with sizzling reverb-drenched instrumentals.

The Ramblin’ Ambassadors were formed on a dare by Huevos Rancheros’ guitarist Brent J. Cooper. Tired of hearing Cooper gripe about not playing enough, a local booking agent calls his bluff: “I need a band for next week, can you get one together?”

“Uh, sure,” replies Coop. “We’ll be called the Ramblin’ Ambassadors.” “Rambling Bastards? Great! I’m making a poster now!” Within three days, Brent J. lands Scott Nickless, former Agriculture Club bassist, and writes half a dozen songs. A co-worker of Brent’s volunteers his roommate to fill in on drums. Voila! A quick practice and off to the show. The Ramblin’ Ambassadors – not “Bastards”- are soon sharing stages with the Calgary punk-rockers The Von Zippers, Supersuckers, and Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys. Still without a permanent drummer, the band relies on help from Chixdiggit’s David Alcock. A chance meeting occurs with pizza drummer Tyler Pickering and the lineup is complete. Although comparisons to Huevos Rancheros are inevitable, the Ambassadors draw on more than just Cooper’s rock and roll instrumental primitivisms. Mariachi trumpet, sleigh bell percussion, and loopy, Theramin-sounding toy keyboards pop up on the recording. The first CD “Avanti” features local celebrities David Alcock, Russell Broom (Jann Arden’s right-hand man), R&B favourites the Mocking Shadow’s Ian Hartley, and world-famous saxophonist Michael Ibrahim (on organ).

The Band’s second album (2008’s Vista Cruiser Country Squire) comes five years after its debut. Lead guitarist Brent Cooper indulges his passion for all things tremelo and twang as he leads the band through a dozen tracks that a could be the soundtrack to any Spaghetti Western, beach movie, or 60’s gumshoe film noir. The band plays with passion and fire. Eight of the twelve are originals, but the covers, including a version of The Sadies’ “Rat Creek,” are so obscure they will be new to all but the most fanatical surf fan. It’s an album that could have been recorded anytime since the mid 60’s with plenty of variety in approach and influences (surf, garage, rockabilly, Tex-Mex, Link Wray) to keep things interesting. Tunes such as the roaring “Cabbage Diablo” tear through their paces at a breathless high-speed pace with enough twists and turns to satisfy a stock car racer. Only the thudding “Lonesome Rambler” clocks in at over four minutes, with a handful at three and the rest getting the job done in even less time. There is no fluff, padding, or filler making this music cruise like the titular vehicles tuned up and ready to cruise to the nearest beach.


Ramblin’ Ambassadors are:

Brent J. Cooper - guitar
Scott Nickless - upright bass
Tyler Pickering - drums
Doug Waite - guitar


Influences:
Link Wray, Bo Diddley, Evan Johns, Ennio Morricone, The Astronauts, Joe Meek