They Came From the Sea

By Skylaire Alfvegren

LA Weekly: Wednesday, October 24, 2001 - 12:00 am

Photo by Tony Peck

“I just wanted to mix glam, science fiction, transvestites and surfing all together,” says Robbie “TomKat” Quine, explaining how the band he fronts came to be. Though perched atop 6-inch black stilettos and wearing a vinyl jockstrap that showcases interesting ink on his derrière, he radiates something genuine.

While not possessing Quine’s sex-kitten vibe, guitarist Bernard Yin is both glamorous and sincere in a different way. He does his best to avoid telling you he’s been the lightning rod behind some of our more important local bands (Samba Hell, Medicine, Permanent Green Light).

Together, Quine and Yin have created Sex With Lurch, one of the best shows in town. The two had a vision, and had collaborated on something called Medusa Head Trip. But the proper elements for greatness weren’t there, and as a result, Sex With Lurch “just kinda coagulated,” says Yin.

Sex With Lurch is a band only Southern California could produce. Well, Hollywood and the beach, anyway. Chalk it up to surfing. And Dark Shadows. And “Bowie, Bowie, Bowie,” says Quine, who writes beautiful surf-goth songs with beautiful lyrics (and did we mention the beautiful giant spirals tattooed on his butt?). And chalk it up to Yin, whose guitar work bleeds a watery, Eastern sort of eternity into the music.

Quine and Yin both surf. “Surfing is very Zen,” they say. Beautiful things like life and good music are both absurd and sublime. And so very complicated. Bowie and Ronson, yin and yang. Perhaps Sex With Lurch could be explained this way: Quine, the consummate front man, is a Leo. Yin is a Pisces. Together, they’ve created a family. Meaning you need to see Sex With Lurch live to understand the whole thing.

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