December Birthdays 
EDIT MAY 2017: I'm not going to list every band in this initial post, make sure to scroll through the thread. However, Ted from Deep Eddy Records has created this page with links to all the bands that have played Second Saturday Surf in Austin since we started in 2012.
http://austinsurfs.com/ -> click on "The Bands"
Hey y'all, I wanted to make a central post for all the incredible bands playing in Texas these days. I've hosted a monthly surf night in Austin for the past couple years and it's been a thrill to see and meet such great people playing a wide variety of surf music. This first post is a (San Antonio/Austin-centric) run-down of the bands I've seen, use it as a jumping point to check them out, add more - past and present - that I didn't and talk about some of these great modern surf artists!
In no particular order...
The Thunderchiefs
One of the more widely-known locals, and for good reason. Classic surf sound. https://www.facebook.com/The-Thunderchiefs-123050421075676/
Los SuperAvengers
Classic surf sound clearly inspired by Los Straitjackets, with a bit of comedy in the mix. https://www.reverbnation.com/lossuperavengers
The Nematoads
Deep Eddy Records head honcho Ted James leads this adventurous trio that explores surf with a touch of prog and lots of cinematic influences. http://www.nematoads.com/
The Del-Vipers
A lot of classic influence, but with an ear toward the high-energy hot rod sound with some dizzying arrangements. https://thedelvipers.bandcamp.com/
Machete Western
A touch of sinister surf and a heap of psychobilly and glam rock, these guys put on an incredible show. Most songs have vocals, but when their singer is out of town the band carries on as the more classically surf Desperate Housewine. https://www.facebook.com/Machete-Western-281494545257634/
3 Balls Of Fire
The Men With The Burning Guitars, Mike Vernon leads this Austin ex-pat band. Mike plays in Davie Allan's band in California and beyond, but we love it when he comes back for short visits home. http://3ballsoffire.com/
The Boss Jaguars
Usually the busiest band of the bunch in Austin, The Boss Jags run the whole breadth of surf, from campy beach themes and tiki instrumentals to raging originals and clever arrangements of both classic and off-the-wall material. http://bossjaguars.com/
The Really Rottens
Surf-Trash-Au-Go-Go! Lots of Link Wray in their sound, with energetic originals and revved-up covers. Probably the first local band I saw in Austin, hope I get to see them again! https://thereallyrottens.bandcamp.com/
The Spoils
My band. Somebody at a recent show called us "the Minor Threat of surf" and I'll take that comparison gladly! Mostly original, high-energy noisy surf with folk influences from Asia and Eastern Europe. https://thespoils.bandcamp.com/album/have-a-drink-with-the-spoils
Lake Of Fire
A new-ish band with mostly really excellent, moody covers of first-wave surf deep cuts so far, but they're working on originals that show a lot of promise. https://lakeoffireatx.bandcamp.com/releases
The Poi Pounders
1950's R&B instrumentals as much as surf, with a little polka thrown in occasionally! https://www.youtube.com/user/thepoipounders
Pangia
Still teenagers, these guys rip through the classics as well as new tracks from bands like Slacktone. https://www.facebook.com/PANGIA-the-band-156369757820270/
The Gallows Drifters
Unique band that doesn't get together much now, but it's a very cool spaghetti western sound with heavy emphasis on the accordion. Many of the songs were written with an original Western story in mind. https://www.reverbnation.com/thegallowsdrifters
Bat City Surfers
Horror surf with a touch of metal shredding. http://rer623.wix.com/batcitysurfers
The Baffles
Cinematic covers ranging from noir to the bombastic, lots of keys. http://www.thebaffles.com/
The Gory Details
Sadly no longer playing, Farfisa-led horror surf-punk. https://www.facebook.com/TheGoryDetails/
Goldbloom
A mix of psych/garage vocal rock with reverb-drenched instros. https://goldbloomatx.bandcamp.com/releases
MonsterVision
Not necessarily defunct, but on the shelf for now. Digital surf with a humorous touch of horror. https://soundcloud.com/monstervision
Wax Animals
A drums-and-guitar duo for now, lots of MOA? influence. https://www.facebook.com/Thewaxanimals/
The Avocados
Excellent classic surf sound with heavy use of keyboard. https://www.facebook.com/theavocadosband/
The Dead Sea
Moodier classic surf inspired, mainly originals. https://soundcloud.com/dead-sea-music
The Frightened City
A mix of new wave and noir with driving surf, lots of keyboards here too. http://thefrightenedcity.bandcamp.com/
The Deadly Fathoms
New band with a sinister sound. https://soundcloud.com/deadly-fathoms
The Fintastics
New group from north Texas, repping the classic sound. https://www.facebook.com/TheFintastics/
King Pelican
Hard-working and hard-playing, these guys bring a ton of tasteful chops to their mainly original sets. http://www.king-pelican.com/
The Phantomatics
Lone Star Beer-approved! Drag-racing instrumentals with a creepy vibe. https://www.facebook.com/thephantmatics/
The Sandworms
Intense spooky surf with some organ sounds too. https://www.facebook.com/The-Sandworms-157516340955350/
Nuclear Juarez
Brian Parrish of The Casbah radio show drums for this group of desert surfers. https://www.facebook.com/nuclearjuarez/
The Sonomatics
Bluesy take on the fast drag-surf sound. https://www.reverbnation.com/thesonomatics
The Spoils - FB - RN
Second Saturday Surf in Austin, TX - FB
Last edited: May 15, 2017 15:04:24
