For the Love of Surf

[JonnyAngle]

Surf seems to get roped in with a lot of other genres. But I want a thread where we can talk JUST SURF! Here are some of my fav surf bands, aside from Dick Dale. Everyone knows he's the king. I'm in process of recording a surf album right now, so I need my reverb fix!!!!


The Surf Coasters!!



The Space Cossacks!!



The Men in Gray Suits!!


The Surfrajettes!!

[voerking]

these comps are great:
https://sundazed.com/c/293-Various-Arti ... uitar.aspx

i don't really pay attention to new surf bands - mostly because there is a tendency towards heavy handed schtick that kinda ruins it for me.

also, for many years, this song ended up on pretty much every mix tape i made:

[MechaGodzilla]

[JonnyAngle]

i don't really pay attention to new surf bands - mostly because there is a tendency towards heavy handed schtick that kinda ruins it for me.

What do you mean? I love the guitar riff worship associated with surf.

[voerking]

i don't really pay attention to new surf bands - mostly because there is a tendency towards heavy handed schtick that kinda ruins it for me.

What do you mean? I love the guitar riff worship associated with surf.

i mean there's often costumes & gimmicks that distract (me) from the music. it seems rare to have just a badass surf band. it's always 'we play surf music and dress up like mexican wrestlers' or 'we play surf music & dress like space aliens' or whatever. i find it tiresome.

[Chankgeez]

Don't you dare speak that way of Los Straitjackets or Man or Astro-Man?

I think there's always been that element to instrumental bands. Bands these days are just carrying on tradition to some extent.

[JonnyAngle]

i don't really pay attention to new surf bands - mostly because there is a tendency towards heavy handed schtick that kinda ruins it for me.

What do you mean? I love the guitar riff worship associated with surf.

i mean there's often costumes & gimmicks that distract (me) from the music. it seems rare to have just a badass surf band. it's always 'we play surf music and dress up like mexican wrestlers' or 'we play surf music & dress like space aliens' or whatever. i find it tiresome.

Gotcha. There’s a fine line for me. I grew up loving the aquabats (fury) and loved the Roman candles taped on headstocks, powdered milk man, etc. As I get older, I find the bats less interesting but love their older “less produced” image.

The Mexican wrestling thing is not interesting to me but suits and crazy guitars aren’t over the top for me. A band needs a look, but everything has been done before

[JonnyAngle]

https://youtu.be/1ltcxs7fQMY

On mobile so can’t link but found a good little nugget

[Chankgeez]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLSk1sjkE-k

[Errant Tiger]

As it happens, I've been on a surf kick lately. I also stick with the older stuff, mostly. This comp

https://www.discogs.com/Various-Guitar-Player-Presents-Legends-Of-Guitar-Surf-Vol-1/release/655763

rocked my world when I was 17. I wanted to start a surf band but didn't want to commit to flatwounds.

A few favorites:





and of course:

[Errant Tiger]

https://youtu.be/1ltcxs7fQMY

On mobile so can’t link but found a good little nugget

CHANTAYS!!!

[Errant Tiger]

WHOA. That kicks. Funny to hear it after I posted the original DD version ("A Run for Life") below.

[D.o.S.]

Man or Astro-Man?

Legitimately the best the genre has to offer, IMO. Live Transmissions from Uranus is a jam.

[MechaGodzilla]

WHOA. That kicks. Funny to hear it after I posted the original DD version ("A Run for Life") below.

That's a really good version from Dale that you posted. I've never seen it called that, always just "the wedge". weird!

[Errant Tiger]

That's a really good version from Dale that you posted. I've never seen it called that, always just "the wedge". weird!

Apparently this was the original version. It was the only one I knew (from the Guitar Player comp I posted a link to earlier) and at some point I heard "The Wedge" and was like, whaaaaaat?

Totally unrelated, this is my favorite jazz-surf tune: