Posted on Sep 16 2007 10:36 PM
I hope to hear that everyone (including fans and musicians) enjoys a wide diversity of music, art and pop culture.
I've always said consistently that one of the beauties of Surf music is it's ability to "absorb" and include the influences of sooo many different styles and genres. Get a hold of the Beyond The Sea compilation from Cordelia.
Beyond enjoying a multitude of styles and genres, I personally study music HISTORY! Why? Because I find it fascinating to review how the influences are passed on. From whom, to whom, when and why? Who were the artists influenced by and how did it manifest in their music or tastes. And changes in music are not just artistic, many times they map to what's going on socially at the time.
How many modern Surf bands have formed because they were once fans and stood in awe at a Insect Surfers, Los Straitjackets, Mermen, Slacktone or Surf Coasters show and said like many greats..."I want to do THAT!"
I had been a bass player for many years since grade school, but what got me off my ass to form my first Surf Band, The Tube Sharks in 1995 was seeing the now-defunct HotRod Surf band, The Torpedoes. The sheer blinding guitar picking of Brian Pool pushed me into the genre. I had to not only know, but have the energy of Surf music.
Let's talk genres. I'm now a bass player in multiple bands and genres:
The Aquamarines play Surf, Exotica
Luke Pyro and The Rockets plays 60's kitsch and Rockabilly.
Club D'Jive plays acoustic hot jazz (Django) and jazz vocal standards
Folk In A plays acoutic folk blues and Delta Blues
Willy Roland plays hard core Johnny Winter style rock n roll and Blues
I am personally into
50's R&B, DooWop and classic Rock n Roll
60's Mod, Exotica, Garage, British Beat and Girl Groups
70's Punk and New Wave
80's Metal
New Age, Hawaiian, Cabaret Jazz, Klezmer, Gypsy Jazz
Sea Shanties, Irish and some Celtic folk
Vocal Surf & HotRod
Western Swing, Swing, Rockabilly, Hillbilly, Bluegrass
Cowboy and Western
Blues, Jazz
I don't care for modern Pop, Rap or pure (Nashville/pop) Country, but I do like classic Country artists in Hank Williams style.
bIG wAvE Dave
Bass, The Aquamarines