I don't think a fourth wave of anything could exist. Second wave makes sense, and so does third wave, but fourth wave... I can't see where it can go.

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I hope surf music is here to stay but under the radar. If it ever goes mainstream, it will be over. Let us hope that never happens.

First of all, I don't see how dividing into waves keeps it from being "underground", it always will be, don't worry. To me, a designated 3rd waver, it seems like things are really happening more than in a long time. Just think of the last couple years- The Nebulas, The Surfites, The Thunderchiefs, The Verbtones, The Volcanics, The 'Verb's supposed release :D, The Lava Rats, Meshuggah Beach Party, The Reluctant Aquanauts, The Madeira,...the list goes on and on (and my apologies to anyone I've neglected to mention).
There's a lot more to prick your ears up to than during that dark period between 1998 and 2004. The 3rd died at the end of the 90s after the Great Surf Crash of '97. We looked around and the Bomboras and Ghastly Ones had hung it up, the Boss Martians became the Small Faces, Johnny Bartlett left the Phantom Surfers, and folks stopped coming to shows. It was a real bummer. So if we must divide into waves, I say viva la 4th! It's a really exciting and great time to be a fan!

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The supposed release of the 'Verbs album is sitting on my living room floor as we speak. We'll have details up in a couple days on how to get a hold of a copy and all that stuff.

From the 1st day I got into surf music I never did see it in waves I just plain jane dig it all but we are glad to ride what ever wave this is, surf will never die it will always stay alive with folks like all of us keeping it going it being mainstream or underground.

-Kyle

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of course this is the fourth wave. the third wave died when the treble spankers quit in 1998. the forth wave started when the phantom four started in 2004.

or is that being too nethercentric?

yeah I think this is the fourth wave, though it's hardly as large as the thrird. and the peirod inbetween 3th and 4th maybe is so short that they seem to go over in eachother. anyway, I think the internet and international contacts are much bigger part of the 4th wave. much more spread of music now via myspace, band websites and podcasts. Also I think there are more self releasing bands, and less label released cd's but I could be wrnong there. anyway, change of atmosphere.

but in Europe I think it's much harder to get gigs last two years coming back a bit. and shows draw less audience. All surf events got changed into surf&RnR&garage events. maybe the 4th wave is just very small and US+ internet based.

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I'm gonna say no just because there doesn't seem to be a major defining moment or shift. I think the 3rd wave is still going and is slightly recovering from a minor slump.

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

IMO there have really only been 2 waves.

The first wave ended abruptly in the mid 60's.

Jon and the Nightriders pretty much championed the revival in the late 70's early 80's and it never really stopped from then?

Sure it surged in the 90's, but J&TN, the Halibuts, Insect Surfers, Phantom Surfers and other 2nd wavers were still going, some are STILL going.

So when did the 2nd wave end?

Paul
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this is kinda grey area,
J&tNR's stopped in 86 and started again in 96
The Surf Raiders stopped sometime in the 80's and Bob moved to Utah.
I'm not sure about the Halibuts, how much they played thru the late 80's early 90's I'll ask Rick to chime in here.
Dave moved and The Insect Surfers changed sounds from New wave
to their current sound when he reformed in 86.
Phantom Surfers and Untammed Youth both started in the late 80's

I'd say there was a definite lull in the late 80's more than in the late 90's
But I kinda see your point.

But I think that the resurgance of the early 90's was a definite shift in style and energy. It seemed like a new thing to me. even though I wasn't there

Jeff(bigtikidude)

Jeff(bigtikidude)

I think the internet and international contacts are much bigger part of the 4th wave.

This could be the defining factor. The internet has been around a while but Myspace is fairly new and everyone is on it and getting more traffic than a regular web site. It's a revolution for all forms of music.

I know doodley squat about waves but the first wave probably ended simply because the musicians themselves moved on to new forms, like Paul Johnson getting folkie, Randy Holden getting psychedelic and so on. We know others discovered new effects and techniques and embraced them. while the recording industry moved on to whatever was selling. It does seem like there is a current resurgence going on with more surf music than ever in TV, radio and film.