The guys wanted to get the Crowkeepers back together recently. We set a rehearsal date, but when I pulled out the Jazzmaster the week before I realized my heart just wasn't in it. I recently got a Facebook "memory" pop up from our first Surf Fest here in Jacksonville... it was 5 years ago. That was really a blast, great people, great surf music. Underbelly, the club we used for the Fest for two years has since closed. Burro Bar, our favorite club to play is closed. Two or three other clubs we played are closed. The Bambis quit. Ellie leaving next week for the University of Edinburgh Scotland for a year and a half...

Clearly, clubs come and go, and that has nothing to do with surf music. But, it is contributing to this overall Debbie Downer feeling. Bands come and go. We get older and interests change. Change. I know I haven't lost the love of the music or live performance. I still think Daikiju is the most intense live performance I've ever seen in music... I think they will rock forever. The new stuff out there is really good. Thank goodness for those ladies and gentlemen who do the weekly radio shows. I believe what they do is crucial in keeping the genre fresh and moving forward.

Anyway, I was wondering if others are feeling the disturbance in the force? Is this lull necessary to begin the next Wave? It's probably just me. I hope so anyway. Thanks.

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https://floridadirtfire.bandcamp.com/album/florida-dirt-fire

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Last edited: Aug 01, 2018 10:03:33

Keep your chin up. There has been a continuing reduction in our ability to get gigs as more places are going to DeeJays, triva and have Pandora live mixes. BUT, we are finding new avenues to play and modify surf such as "Night of 100 Elvises in Baltimore" and intertwining a few vocals with surf music.

Surf is aging and seems to often be forgotten, but when we play our originals live they seem to most times get a great response.

So, take a quick breather, watch Endless Summer for the million-ith time, learn to play something outside your wheel house and give your mind and body a little time to rest and recharge. After Reverb Galaxy split up, I took it pretty hard and couldn't find people that really fit the surf music I wanted to play. I was discouraged, a couple years passed and then Jim called me and it all fell into place again. ( I wouldn't suggest taken 2 years off at my age again). Agent Octopus is much different from my previous band and relies on Jim coming up from Orlando every few months to practice with everyone in Maryland, but he (and I) love this music. Remember -the reverb is still wet, the drums are still pounding and although the gigs are few, they are fun and very satisfying.

Surf.The most dangerous of genres...

Surfcat

MARCH OF THE DEAD SURFERS! (2024) - Agent Octopus
THE JOURNEY HOME - Free download (2025) - Agent Octopus (Single)

BANDCAMP - Agent Octopus
YOUTUBE - Agent Octopus Surf
BANDCAMP - Reverb Galaxy

I have gotten many messages from people saying they are not coming to SG101 this year, but have for many years in the past.
I have to say the thought of stopping the SG101 con has crossed my mind.
It's tough to continue on when it's a struggle to get a decent attendance.

Jeff(bigtikidude)

Well the last 2 years we had 275 paid, I have a bad feeling it will drop this year.
I have heard that other surf festivals are in the 900-3000 range.

Jeff(bigtikidude)

bigtikidude wrote:

Well the last 2 years we had 275 paid, I have a bad feeling it will drop this year.
I have heard that other surf festivals are in the 900-3000 range.

Over the past eleven years my wife Beth and I and often along with sg101 staple Guy Moore have produced several festivals, one theater event, numerous multi band surf nights. Southwest Ohio; like above , we are lucky to break 200 in attendance and best was about 250.

PROMOTION IS A VERY HARD GAME , ESPECIALLY IN THIS CURRENT SOCIETY - no media focus, and lots of people having weird opinions as to what surf music really is. Together we can all figure it out and get some just due recognition for this instrumental art form.

Many "out of towners" can not functionally make any event a yearly routine. Our age group, the one that has parents to look out for; other obligations, expenses, and a small litany of other reasons and possibly excuses keep throwing a monkey wrench into the gearbox.

We we have lots of gumption and spirit.

It's always a "labor of love" Jeff and for all the work you and your crew of trusty back stage and barely recognized laborers deserve much gratitude and "big waves" of happy attendees.

Is it being covered as a news event on local tv stations? That could help.

I always called it "growing an audience" - HARD GAME TO PLAY
And always at the mercy of anything that could possibly go wrong including weather.

The mighty KAHUNATONES
Don't Fear the Reverb ! Grateful Surf ! SURFIN' Tiki Bandits !
I can be reached through the following or at don@donschott.com. :

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ArtS wrote:

I know that sounds low to you, but here on the East Coast when we did Surf-a-Palooza if we got 50-75 participants that would have been considered a huge success.

Thanks ArtS. When we had Surf Fest here in Jax in 2013 and '14, at one of the best clubs in the city and with good promotion, there was a small crowd but basically we played to the bands. (That's been discussed much here over the years.) We had the Intoxicators, The Mystery Men, Moonbase and many other great surf bands. It was probably more a function of the state of live music attendance... the clubs closing and such. That situation is surprising to me given the Millennials are a larger generation than the Baby Boomers. Different priorities, heads staring at screens, etc.

Big, that is concerning about the convention attendance. I thought the SG101 convention would always be the largest surf fest anywhere... given this site as the portal for surf worldwide. Surprising.

Although I am currently down, I do feel I will get my surf mojo back. We will get the mojo back. There's is just something very unique about surf, and the underlying cool that floats with it.

Shoot the Pier on Bandcamp
Shoot the Pier on Reverb Nation
Shoot The Pier on Facebook
We are on Instagram under "@shootthepiersurfband"

My Country EP ... Florida Dirt Fire
https://floridadirtfire.bandcamp.com/album/florida-dirt-fire

My French Love Songs ... I really needed a change...
www.lonelyrose.bandcamp.com

I can't figure out why even local surf fans don't attend.
Many possible reasons.

Jeff(bigtikidude)

Can't believe there was a surf fest in Jax, dammit!

Last edited: Aug 01, 2018 17:00:14

I should clarify, there is shows here.
Just not a lot of people going to the shows, the best bet is to book at a club that has a built in crowd, and are open to having surf.

Jeff(bigtikidude)

The Don Beachcomber signs are off.
The main sign off pch was put over the sign of a previous owner, Sam's Seafood, which is visible last time I went by.
Don's did not own the property & was paying a whopping $35,000 rent per month.
I heard a few days ago from a Don's employee that the owner was increasing the rent by quite a bit. She said Don's was breaking even so an increase would put Don's in the red.