The Phantom Riders are an instrumental rock & roll band that blends surf, early 60's garage rock , rockabilly, latin and the blues to create thier own unique sound that is at once traditional in approach and yet modern in presentation. The band was formed in 2000, hails from Ventura, CA and features drummer Tony Cicero, guitarist Joe Baugh and bassist Sam Bolle (replacing original bassist Eric Monteith).

The Phantom Riders formed in 2000. After picking a bunch of cool cover tunes to play, we started to write our own tunes as well as develop our sound and style. Very quickly we began to play live shows with other local bands and open for established bands who came to town like The Paladins and Cadillac Angels. Two years later with the help of fellow musician and entrepreneur Charlie Vartanian, we recorded and released our debut CD "The Phantom Riders" which has received excellent reviews both online (Phil Dirt's Reverb Central) as well as in print (VCReporter, WetSand Magazine). The band has continued to fine tune our sound, perform live shows all over So. Cal. and write new tunes for the next CD release, scheduled for mid 2004

Yes, all over southern California right now. We are a "live " band, so... yeah, we love to play shows as much as we can. Some of the more special moments were opening for surf guitar legend Dick Dale a couple of times at the Ventura Theater (in Ventura,CA) playing with Slacktone at the famous Lava Lounge in Hollywood, CA and most reently being asked to join the 5th annual Acid Beach Party where we performed with some of the best surf instro bands in So. Cal. including the Insect Surfers and Kelp (held at the infamous Mr T's Bowl in L.A., CA).

All the great surf instrumental stuff,British Mod as well as all the early and new instro garage rock and American roots music in general. Here are a few of our faves, LInk Wray Dick Dale Duanne Eddy The Paladins The Cramps Los Straitjackets Slacktone Bomboras

Fender tube amps, Guild guitars, Danelectro pedals and Baritone guitar, Fender Basses, Slingerland and PorkPie Drums Zildjian cymbals and Vic Firth sticks