The Reverb Syndicate is an almost exclusively instrumental "Spy-Fi" surf band from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada who have been playing since 2006. Their music is of "soundtracks to 1960s spy films that don’t exist". They toured England and Scotland in 2008 and again in 2012, and have played at the 2007 and 2010 Ottawa Bluesfest. They have released four studio albums; Operation: Jet Set! (2006), Sputnik A-Go-Go (2007), Mondo Cacti (2011) and Odyssey (2015).
The band created and performed in a radio drama on the Canadian campus radio station CKCU in 2006, and have had two interviews on CBC Radio One (Sep 21, 2006 - and a 10-minute interview on Nov 21, 2007 ).
"The Reverb Syndicate is an Ottawa band that is taking on sinister government plots using a series of high-tech gadgets, a way with the ladies, and some seriously fast automotives. [They sound like] a bunch of surfers jumped James Bond in an alley." - CBC Radio One (Alan Neal)
Bassist Jeff Welch has played with Suburban Pop Project and Fan Belt Seven. Each band member plays a fictional spy character on stage:
- Mike Bradford (aka Agent Vic 20) – lead guitar, Theremin
- Jeff Welch (aka Agent Ampeg) – bass
- James Rossiter (aka Agent Sovtek) – rhythm guitar, keys
- Mike Rifkin (aka X) - Drums (2006-2011)
- Michael Sheridan (aka Felix Wainscotting) – drums
The band have also played shows across Canada and, on one occasion, as part of the line-up in a surf rock showcase in New York City.