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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Surf Music General Discussion »

Permalink Bands that play both surf and vocal tunes

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Dick Dale obviously does this, and so do these bands:

The Trashwomen
Guantanamo Baywatch
The Mummies (only 3 I can think of but they're amazing)
Thee Shatners
The Vulcaneers
The 5, 6, 7, 8's
Mummula

Is that it?
Is this a betrayal of surf? I don't think so not really, but sorta kinda...

Dan

Daniel Deathtide

I like how No Smoking On Board does it)

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

Do any of the bands you listed with the possible exception of the Trashwomen really consider themselves surf bands though?

Lot's of 60's bands had vocal songs in their sets... both on record and live. The Trashmen & The Astronauts are just a couple of examples. Many of these bands also backed singers at various shows.

Modern surf bands that have vocals include The Volcanics, The Mobsmen, and The Thunderchiefs.

Site dude - S3 Agent #202
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"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea

Boss Martians. Erik and Evan are killing it with their brotherly harmonies. Fortunately, I’ll get to experience again next Saturday night in Pacifica California

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

This gets to the question of is there such a thing as surf music with vocals. Personally I don't think there is, that would be garage, or surfy garage, but not straight surf. I realize many disagree with me.

Brian wrote:

Do any of the bands you listed with the possible exception of the Trashwomen really consider themselves surf bands though?

I have no idea what they consider themselves since I don't know any of them personally. I do consider their instro numbers to absolutely be surf. Those few Mummies numbers blow the shit out of almost any surf band's entire catalog, in my opinion. Guantanamo Baywatch has about a 60/40 ratio of vocal tunes to 100% surf tunes. Makes me wish Shannon And The Clams did surf songs too.

The great DD has a ton of vocal stuff, these days far more than instros, so is he even surf anymore?

Brian wrote:

Lot's of 60's bands had vocal songs in their sets... both on record and live. The Trashmen & The Astronauts are just a couple of examples. Many of these bands also backed singers at various shows.

Modern surf bands that have vocals include The Volcanics, The Mobsmen, and The Thunderchiefs.

Thanks for the recs! I will check them out.

DannySnyder wrote:

Boss Martians. Erik and Evan are killing it with their brotherly harmonies. Fortunately, I’ll get to experience again next Saturday night in Pacifica California

Wow awesome I hope you have a grand old time. On their records I've got I don't recall any vocals songs! I need to give them another listen.

Daniel Deathtide

I'm not sure about your assessment about DD having more vocals than instros these days. He hasn't released an album in forever, and I don't recall lots of vocals being on it. Live however he does a lot of vocals, but they are all non-surf tunes (House of the Rising Sun... Fever (!!!)). I don't think DD considers himself a surf musician. He's just Dick Dale, a genre unto himself, playing Dick Dale music. Smile

This gets to the question of is there such a thing as surf music with vocals. Personally I don't think there is, that would be garage, or surfy garage, but not straight surf. I realize many disagree with me.

Well garage came after surf. Everything the Beach Boys (that's a whole 'nother can of worms), the Trashmen, the Astronauts, etc did would be a form of surf music if you ask me. If you listen to something like The Trashmen, or from the modern day The Boss Martians, it's pure instro surf guitar style (reverb, glissandos) but with vocals on top. If you removed the vocals you'd recognize it as a surf song. Check out A-Bone by the Trashmen for an example.

Site dude - S3 Agent #202
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"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea

Last edited: Apr 30, 2018 19:14:36

Yeah when I say now days I mean in the 90s when I saw him and he played two surf songs and one was a medley. It made me sad, I wanted to hear The Wedge so badly.

As far as that Trashmen song, you're of course right that without the vocals it's straight surf. With them is what I consider "surf rock." It's rock played surf style. I realize many people disagree with labeling, as well as would consider surf rock as being largely instro but not exclusively. Beach Boys are surf rock and regular rock, depends on the album. That No Smoking On Board are super surfy and yet some songs have vocals, which makes those numbers surf rock. I do really like their instrumental stuff!

It took me months to believe that post rock wasn't all instrumental. I hate it but now I say I like "instrumental post rock" instead of just post rock. I just don't care for most vocals, especially the way they're mixed in way too hot.

I would like to hear about bands that play straight up instrumental surf in between garagey or surfy rock. 90s garage is my favorite "genre" if that makes sense.

Daniel Deathtide

Labels are funny. There have been many battles fought here and on FB over the term "surf rock". Ha-ha-ha.

Site dude - S3 Agent #202
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