Martin Cilia

Featured Guitar: 1958 Fender Stratocaster (Serial Number 024609)

This is the guitar I like to play at home, it has a great unplugged sound and I have written many songs on it. I got this guitar around the time of The Atlantics "Flight of the Surf Guitar" album but it didn't get used until after those sessions. I'm not a big fan of maple fingerboards but there is something about the 50s Fender maple boards that works. All in all a fun guitar to play.

Gibson 1958 Les Paul Gold Top (S/N 8 1113) Ok take a deep breath... This is about as good as it gets... This one guitar literally cost me - a 1957 Stratocaster, 1964 Stratocaster, 1956 Les Paul Custom, 1956 Les Paul Soecial TV, an L series Fender Jazzmaster, and a refin but otherwise all original 1962 strat. All these guitars were 100% original bar the '62 refin strat. That's how good this 1958 Les Paul (standard) Goldtop is. It's also the rarest PAF 50s Les Paul made with only an estimated sum of 217 being produced in 1958. How many are still around in their original condition? Think of how many Gibson Les Paul guitars have been made.This guitar falls in that elusive top 0001 per cent of all Les Paul's ever made. The materials, workmanship, attention to detail will never be repeated. The materials are no longer available. The metals alone are made of different materials today, different density to the originals. A classic, often imitated but never repeated.

1964 Gibson ES335 Red (Serial Number 70664)

I'll start off by saying that this is one of the best sounding guitars ever. A big rap I know, but it's true. I'd previously owned several Gibson 335s, all of which were good guitars but this one really shines above them. At one time I almost traded it in on an original dot neck 335 (a very desirable guitar) but this one sounded so much better and I'm very glad I still have it.

I've been enjoying traveling around Australia playing guitar with legendary Australian band Mental As Anything. The last few weeks we've been in Queensland and Southern NSW. In June we have gigs around New South Wales and in July we're back in WA and then SA. Check out my site for gig details.

This is us at Cronulla on Australia Day (January 26th).

In March this year my Spanish friends Los Coronas visited for an Australian tour. They played two gigs at the Basement in Sydney and I joined them on stage for Big Swell.

I supported them with my band and David and Fernando got up for a jam.

On Sunday (June 1st) I'll be playing at the Sydney Rock N Roll Alternative Market - http://rocknrollmarket.com.au/ - again. We had a great time last year. We're playing at 1.25pm.

On Friday 27th June I am hosting an Instro Surf night at the Petersham Bowling Club in Sydney. The White Pointers and the Mighty Surftones will also be playing. I hope you can come along, it's going to be a lot of fun.

When I brought my band to California from Australia last year I had plans to record a film clip of Mrs Moto, from my 2013 album "Going to Kaleponi", hopefully with Paul Johnson. I ran it past him and he agreed.

We decided to film at Huntington Beach. It was the perfect day for it. We got some great footage along and under the pier and also live as part of my set. Afterwards Paul surprised me by asking if we'd like him to edit the clip. We jumped at the chance to have him do it.

Paul went above and beyond - sourcing live audio of us playing the song onstage (thanks Chrome Oxide) and some extra footage from the Purple Orchid (thanks Unsteady Freddie (would you hire a cameraman called "unsteady"?))

We recently played at the Manly Market Place in the Sydney beachside suburb of Manly. 

The theme for the night was "retro surf". There was a surf movie screened before our set. It was a great spring evening an thanks to everyone for coming along.

Back in Sydney on a great spring evening for our gig at the Bridge Hotel, Roselle,Sydney.

It may appear to be a peaceful evening although the police were right outside with their RBT.

There are 4 acts on tonight and I'm playing with three of them.

Sound check - The room looks much better when people fill the room.

Nicole Warner singing a short set of songs written by Dave and myself.

Playing my instro set with Janette & Lloyd.

Bright lights!!

Leopard skin is the flavor tonight.

Sunday we played an afternoon gig at the Evelyn Hotel in Fitzroy. The day started off with the fabulous Ben Rogers Instrumental Asylum. 

Next the Black Molls (Fred Negro and Dave Moll) took the stage with their witty tunes, unusual props and stage banter.

Then we did our set.

A fun time was had by all.

The day after Basement Discs we played at the Caravan Club in Oakleigh. 

This is a fabulous old RSL club in the heart of Oakleigh that hosts some of the world's best musicians. They treated us extremely well. 

My band played the support. 

Then Lloyd & I went on and played with Dave's band.

It was another fantastic crowd with many knowing all the words to the songs.

On Friday we played an instore lunchtime gig at legendary Melbourne record shop Basement Discs. 

They have live music every Friday lunchtime.

They're a great supporter of live music in Melbourne.

The lunchtime crowd. 

Signing CDs.

Thanks Basement Discs. We had a great time. 

After I got back from the US I flew to Perth, for a gig with Dave Warner at the Charles Hotel. We played here last year to a packed crowd and were looking forward to another sold out gig.

I played a set before Dave hit the stage with Hadyn Pickersgill on bass and Lloyd Gyi on drums.

Martin on acoustic guitar, Dave and Teisco.

The place was packed with a very enthusiastic crowd. A great night was had by all. 

On Saturday the 17th we dropped off the tour van at the airport. We're going to miss our loyal companion. 

I'd like to thank so many people that made this tour such a special event, including Jeff Big Tiki Dude, Tiki Tena, Big Wave Dave, Paul Johnson, Lorenzo Surfer Joe, Unsteady Freddie, Linda & John Miller, Jonpaul, Marie, Marty, Ivan, Brian and many others.

[Big Wave Dave & Big Tiki Dude]

Thanks to all who helped us out by loaning us their gear. 

Special thanks go to Jeff & Julia Weber for hosting us in San Francisco and making us feel so welcome. 

And also to Billy Blastoff for the digs and rehearsal space at his place in Simi Valley and giving us so much tremendous support. We can't thank him enough.  

On Friday, our second last day in the country, we met with our good friend Ann. She drove us to some of her favourite wineries in Napa Valley. 

We finished off the day at Domaine Carneros.

They specialise in Champagne. We managed to taste nearly all of them.

We were very well looked after by Brandon.

Thanks Ann.

[Janette, myself, Mandy, Ann & Lloyd]

I'm back in Australia, but the gigs continue:

Sat 24th Aug - Charles Hotel, Perth - www.charleshotel.com.au

Fri 30th Aug - Basement Discs Instore (12.45pm), Melbourne - www.basementdiscs.com.au

Sat 31st Aug - Caravan Club, Melbourne - www.caravanmusic.com.au

Sun 1st Sep - The Evelyn Hotel (afternoon show), Melbourne - www.evelynhotel.com/

Sat 7th Sep - Bridge Hotel, Sydney

The next day we packed up and left for our drive back to San Francisco. 

We decided to take the longer scenic way, through Malibu and along the coast. Some amazing houses there. 

On the way we stopped at Carmel, in Monterey, for what turned out to be one of the highlights of the tour. Rumble Seat Music. 

This guitar shop has only opened recently in this location, but already has a reputation for some pretty interesting stock. 

I had the pleasure of playing not one but TWO original late fifties Gibson Explorer guitars.

These are the rarest of the rare, there were only ever 18 made.

I also checked out one of the best examples I've ever seen of a 1959 Gibson Les Paul. 

Fantastic.

After the guitar shop I joined Lloyd and Janette for a drink at the local inn where every table had a very posh doggy bowl.

That night we stayed in Santa Barbara and had a fabulous Japanese meal. 

I'm back in Australia, but the gigs continue:

Sat 24th Aug - Charles Hotel, Perth - www.charleshotel.com.au

Fri 30th Aug - Basement Discs Instore (12.45pm), Melbourne - www.basementdiscs.com.au

Sat 31st Aug - Caravan Club, Melbourne - www.caravanmusic.com.au

Sun 1st Sep - The Evelyn Hotel (afternoon show), Melbourne - www.evelynhotel.com/

Sat 7th Sep - Bridge Hotel, Sydney

On Tuesday we visited the Queen Mary and had lunch in Long Beach.

Beautiful detail inside the ship. We  did an impromptu photoshoot in a few locations on the ship.

Then we continued on to our final gig at Surf Dog Sport's Grill in Huntington Beach. 

The place has only just opened as a venue. 

This was our last gig of the tour. It was a bit sad to say goodbye to Lorenzo, Jonpaul, Marty and all of our new friends. 

I'm back in Australia, but the gigs continue:

Sat 24th Aug - Charles Hotel, Perth - www.charleshotel.com.au

Fri 30th Aug - Basement Discs Instore (12.45pm), Melbourne - www.basementdiscs.com.au

Sat 31st Aug - Caravan Club, Melbourne - www.caravanmusic.com.au

Sun 1st Sep - The Evelyn Hotel (afternoon show), Melbourne - www.evelynhotel.com/

Sat 7th Sep - Bridge Hotel, Sydney

On Monday night we played the Annual Summer Tiki Party at Spikes, a Rockabilly venue east of downtown LA.

It was an interesting place. You access it through the back door. From the front it looks like an abandoned building next to a vacant lot. 

It had a Vegas style sparkly backdrop and great dancefloor. 

It was more of a rockabilly crowd this night, with a few SG101 people scattered about.

This was originally the last gig of the tour, but at the last minute we were invited to play with Surfer Joe in Huntington Beach the next night. 

I'm back in Australia, but the gigs continue:

Sat 24th Aug - Charles Hotel, Perth - www.charleshotel.com.au

Fri 30th Aug - Basement Discs Instore (12.45pm), Melbourne - www.basementdiscs.com.au

Sat 31st Aug - Caravan Club, Melbourne - www.caravanmusic.com.au

Sun 1st Sep - The Evelyn Hotel (afternoon show), Melbourne - www.evelynhotel.com/

Sat 7th Sep - Bridge Hotel, Sydney

After the Huntington Beach Pier show we moved onto Don the Beachcombers for some fine food and the SG101 jam night.

It's a great opportunity for everyone to relax and hang out after the convention. 

[Myself, Janette, Insect Surfer Dave & John Miller (Linda's husband)]

The bass player from Japanese band The El Caminos got up with Paul Johnson for a few of his songs, including his own Mr Moto. 

Ivan joined us on lead for Bombora. 

Big Wave Dave (Bro Daddy) got up with Lorenzo and I for a few of my songs. 

Then Maxx joined us for a version of Pipeline. 

At the end the El Caminos did a set by request. 

Afterwards we returned to Don's for a well earned rest. 

I'm back in Australia, but the gigs continue:

Sat 24th Aug - Charles Hotel, Perth - www.charleshotel.com.au

Fri 30th Aug - Basement Discs Instore (12.45pm), Melbourne - www.basementdiscs.com.au

Sat 31st Aug - Caravan Club, Melbourne - www.caravanmusic.com.au

Sun 1st Sep - The Evelyn Hotel (afternoon show), Melbourne - www.evelynhotel.com/

Sat 7th Sep - Bridge Hotel, Sydney