synchro

Kman1
The only way I plan on living it is Surfing, which I've wanted to do, which I wanted to do before I was interested in Surf, and playing it, otherwise, I don't dress up, don't use the lingo, unless I'm kidding, or act like it.

I'd be afraid to try surfing. For some reason, I go straight to the bottom when I am in water. Swimming 100 feet is like climbing three flights of stairs to me. All I can do in the Surf world is play the music and perhaps go to the beach and admire the scenery.

I can swim, but need to work on it. I might have said this elsewhere, but I tried bodyboarding, and was satisfied, but eventually got bored, I really want to try. And will try to post the results.

Sonichris
I also like to think that all early 60's fender equipment is happy to be playing surf music again. After all, its the music it was meant to play.

BoardwalkerJeff
The whole "your band is not cool because..." was old in 95. why are we going there again?

I'm not sure anyone has suggested going there in the first place. But, then again, what area of music isn't susceptible to such inclinations? That's the irony of people seeking to be seen as independent yet also authentic. You can't be both since authenticity requires the opinions of others, but seeking such approval undermines the effort to also be seen as independent.

Sean

synchro

CaptainSensible
I'm not sure anyone has suggested going there in the first place. But, then again, what area of music isn't susceptible to such inclinations? That's the irony of people seeking to be seen as independent yet also authentic. You can't be both since authenticity requires the opinions of others, but seeking such approval undermines the effort to also be seen as independent.

Spoken like a man that has John Wayne for an avatar.

That's Michael "Guns" Donovan to you.

But indeed the reason I love that movie and used it as my avatar is because Donovan's Reef is a completely idealized vision of life in the South Pacific post-WWII. The myth is wonderful to behold, even if it is completely false. Life's to short to limit one's perceptions to reality (well, at least in matters that are trivial).

Sean

So, about that book? I think I will order it soon.

Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me

"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea

This thread has been so ugly. But interesting.

The post by the author, Brian-C (cheers!) is one of the most erudite (and restrained) I have read on this site, ever. I grant him some cred, herewith.

I may yet buy, as a matter of course.

• Trey
  

PS: Here is the text from that post:

Well, I'm the writer of the book, so I might be able offer a bit of insight on that chapter, as well as Mr. Bartlett's quote.

My co-author Domenic Priore is much more steeped in the recreation of '50s and '60s trends in the present than I am myself. And while I do not buy strictly vintage clothes, nor try to look like I'm living in the '60s, I do have some choice threads and enjoy the style for its cool qualities.

That being said, the point of the chapter on the Third Wave of Surf Music, as well as burlesque revival, and revival in general is this. When you look at an urban environment... particularly, current American cities... you often find great gatherings of bohemian artist types in areas commonly known as skid row. The artists move into those parts of town because the rent is cheap and the people living on skid row often don't hassle you with moral platitudes. Once the artist types move in and something interesting starts happening, you see an influx of followers, often who bring great ideas, and voila, a new "hip" area is born.

Not to overgeneralize, because I'm sure cool areas spring up in other ways, but as it releates to vintage trends, there is invarably a backlash against something that was once really popular, in this instance, surf music saw a backlash around 1964-65. The result is that people become ashamed of their surf-related merchandise for a while, and it becomes almost worthless (as it were from about 1965-85). Like skid row, there are those who find the discarded style to be worthwhile, and so they gather up all the cheap stuff they can find and present it to an entirely new, underground audience. Which then becomes an underground trend, and some new life gets inbued into a once-thought-to-be-dead genre.

I think when Johnny Bartlett said what he said, he wasn't expecting 40-somethings who love this style to try and look like a 14-year old member of the Surfaris in 1963. But I do think Bartlett was expecting it to be a little more fascinating than going down and picking up the first Tommy Bahama shirt you can find on the rack, and exploiting the genre just because its reached some kind of local zenith in your area. Take that for whatever it's worth. It's one man's opinion. And the surf music revival of the '90s was VERY retro, much like swing, lounge, burlesque and rockabilly. So to tell the story properly, we had to sort of get at the core of why things went so "retro," for lack of a better word. I make no opinion on whether things should be more retro or less retro. I personally just like good music, whatever way that it is presented. If it surprises, pushes boundaries, or is from the soul... or if it is just damn bawdy and fun... I'm into hearing it. But the '90s surf revival was a big part of the story of surf culture, and no other book ever bothers to cover it, other than touching briefly on "Pulp Fiction" or the Mermen. So we went one better and tried to get the real scoop.

SSIV

Brian
So, about that book? I think I will order it soon.

I was just wondering who had it by now then.
And another thing. Those who don’t want to be associated with surf culture could call their music differently, like rock instrumental. That would open the window to The Ventures and The Shadows as well. Not bad I think.

The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann

You can get the boy out of the Keynes era, but you can’t get the Keynes era out of the boy.

i've got a copy on order. curious to see what has caused all the controversy.

www.surfintheeye.com

Klas
I believe there already is such a genre breakdown. Those who like to be associated with early 60's surf pop culture tend to call it surf music while those who don't usually call it surf rock.

Merely using the chat room as reference almost everyone is calling it 'surf music' instead of surf rock. I use to say surf rock all the time. But I'm not a big fan of describing anything as rock anymore.

Also, it wouldn't be a genre breakdown. Because bands who don't want to be associated with the 60s can still have a pretty trad sound.

I purposefully say surf rock to describe the TomorrowMen. Whereas Meshugga Beach Party plays surf music. But to echo Brian, most people make no distinction.

I think "rock" connotes a little more gravitas to the music, much like when rockandroll became rock, it was the arty-ness that changed it (granted not often for the better).

Danny Snyder

"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta

Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party

Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF

I ordered the book on Saturday. Really looking forward to it.

I'll take "surf music" rather than "surf rock". Sorry to spoil your attempt to make the world nicely black & white, Klas....

Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube