riley2258 wrote:

• I was wondering how people got into surf music?
  Saw Dick Dale in 1994 on the Tribal Thunder tour, just before Pulp Fiction came out. I was 16. Immediately dove in and discovered Laika & The Cosmonauts and Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet, plus dozens of first-wave '60s artists my dad put on a mixtape for me.

• What is appealing to you about it?
  Ross, the guitarist for Machete Western and Desperate Housewine here in Austin, put it perfectly: HUGE AND LONELY. It's powerful music when done well, it easily adapts to all skill levels and it incorporates other genres seamlessly.

• Have you gone to a concert? If so what was it like?
  That Dick Dale concert was life-changing. He broke a string on the first song ("Nitro") and tossed out "melted" picks as he went through them, my buddy caught one and we goggled. Surf shows are mainly euphoric in my experience, a wide variety of people get very un-self-conscious and are prone to dancing and smiling, feeding off the energy and joy the musicians radiate. I host a monthly live surf show, Second Saturday Surf, here in Austin.

• Where are you from?
  I grew up near Madison, Wisconsin, but have been living in Austin, Texas, since 2003.

• what are your thoughts on punk music (do you like it or no?)
  I love punk rock, it's a huge part of my life. I've hosted a punk/indie karaoke show since 2004 (did a show in Portland last month!) and have played in various punk bands. It would not be a stretch to call my surf band The Spoils as much an instrumental punk band as a surf band.

• Do you know anything about Satan's Pilgrims?
  I know they're a widely-loved band here and in the surf scene at large, but unfortunately I've only had time to give them cursory listens over the past few years. I missed getting into them in the '90s.

Go ahead and use these for your paper, and good luck! I'd be happy to talk more if you like. Lots of people here know much more than me though!

The Spoils - FB - RN
Second Saturday Surf in Austin, TX - FB

Last edited: Jan 21, 2016 18:13:18

riley2258 wrote:

Hello,
I know I made a topic a couple weeks back, I am still curious though.
- I was wondering how people got into surf music?

I think a lot of us were exposed to it when we were young, but returned to it as adults. After a lifetime of consuming the major genres of music, surf music is a breath of fresh air. There's an earnestness and integrity to the music and it's players that draws the discerning listener in closer, in once they're open to it.

• What is appealing to you about it?

As a musician and songwriter, I appreciate the freedom of writing instrumental music, as writing for a vocal led band is somewhat limiting in terms of arranging. It's also a showcase for all the talent of the band to come through. I like how there's a broad range of musical styles and moods that can be conveyed and still be surf.

• Have you gone to a concert? If so what was it like?

Like any other style, it can be horrific or sublime. No matter what you can count on it being predominately middle aged men

• Where are you from?

S.F. Bay Area

• What are your thoughts on punk music (do you like it or no?)

Yes, I grew up on it. My first steps away from commercial radio was exploring punk rock. The joy of playing in a loud fast punk band is something that has always stayed with me.

• Do you know anything about Satan's Pilgrims?

I know plenty about them and consider them my friends. One of the post first wave surf bands.

p.s. if you have a good way for me to contact you (e-mail or on here) so I can ask follow up questions that would be really helpful

I believe my email is linked on my profile to the side of my post.

Danny Snyder

"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac'

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

• I was wondering how people got into surf music?
  After an Agent Orange gig, oddly enough. I'm a surfer so I've always been aware of the music though
  I was in denial for some years. But when it bit, it bit hard.

• What is appealing to you about it?
  I love the simplicity, innocence and energy about it. I prefer my surf music live, but a lot of recordings
  are great to listen to, and some bands like the Bambi Molesters are amazing at creating emotive, energetic songs live and on record.
  I love that there are no lyrics, no singer and so many people like it, even if they don't know they do.

• Have you gone to a concert? If so what was it like?
  I've been to a few. Dick Dale, Bambi Molesters, Squadron Leaders and Los Fantasticos in their own right. I've been going to the Surfer Joe festival in Italy, which is three (sometimes four) days of surf music. I've seen so many bands - Slacktone, Los Straitjackets, Paul Johnson, Bambi Molesters, Messer Chups, 50ft Combo, Mullet Monster Mafia - hundreds of bands. I've also been present at a few Waterboarders shows ;-).

• Where are you from?
  I live in Plymouth, England in the far southwest of he UK.

• What are your thoughts on punk music (do you like it or no?)
  I used to listen to a lot of punk music and still show up to the Plymouth Punx Picnic to see bands and old faces.
  I used to be in a punk band whose sole remit was to play very fast. People likened us to Fugazi, so that's not too bad. Punk has become very formulaic recently and surprisingly slow. We play on quite a few punk events and usually surprise people how fast we are compared to the punk bands.
  I think there's a lot of similarity between punk music (well, the original concept of it) and surf music. Energetic music made by young kids for young kids. Both kinds of music are very international too, and appeals in the same way to people no matter where they are from.
  Another similarity is the lack of exclusion of the bands. You can normally chat to the bands and they are open friendly and welcoming. I've never been impressed by bands that don't want to talk, meet or even acknowledge the people that come to see them. When I saw agent Orange, Mike Palm finished the gig, picked up a beer and jumped into the crowd to say hello to everyone. I just love that. Dick Dale finished his gig and said "give me ten minutes and I'll be over there if you want to come and say hi". Rancid are the same. Dave Wronski as well.

• Do you know anything about Satan's Pilgrims?
  I know I saw them at Surfer Joe last year. They wore capes, had loads of guitars and one was very tall.

I'm looking forward to reading other people's responses on tis post.

http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/

• I was wondering how people got into surf music?

In the 70s I got into listening to British 60s instrumental giants The Shadows. I was just drawn to the sound of the guitar and drama of the music. I then sought out other instrumental guitar music which naturally led to US bands such as The Ventures, Surfaris and Chantays, all who had hits in the UK. A friend at University gave me a book called Rock n Roll at the Movies. There was a whole section on surf movies such as Beach Party and Beach Blanket Bingo. Dick Dale and a few other bands appeared in some photos, so when I saw a compilation LP called Surfin Hits in a second hand shop which included them, I bought it. I can’t remember whether I was expecting vocals, but it lead me to the natural progression from The Surfaris etc. Through LP sleeve-notes for other bands I discovered New Gandy Dancer and Pipeline magazines where I discovered a whole host of new surf bands. From that I bought Surf Beat 80 by Jon and the Nightriders.

• What is appealing to you about it?

The sound of the guitar, the fun and the drama in the music. And since I’ve met bands and been to gigs, the community.

• Have you gone to a concert? If so what was it like?

Exciting, loud, fun, and a feeling of belonging.

• Where are you from?

England

• What are your thoughts on punk music (do you like it or not?)

I prefer the British 70s/80s punk and of course The Ramones. I particularly like the more melodic punk such as The Buzzcocks and the political stuff that was about. Look for Punks Not Dad on Youtube for my friend’s take on punk for the over 40s. Very amusing, very British.

• Do you know anything about Satan's Pilgrims?

They’re excellent. Have some great music, and their album Psychsploitation is firmly in my top ten. I’m trying to pressure a local 60s night to let me DJ and it will be played in it’s entirety.

Consent given!!

riley2258 wrote:

• I was wondering how people got into surf music?

My dad was mostly the Doors/Doobie Brothers/Zepelin kind of guy. But during the summer when I was a boy in the early 80s, he'd play a lot of Beach Boys records at home and on tape to and from the beach. He'd throw in some instro stuff too, mostly the Ventures, but I was exposed to Pipeline and Dick Dale and stuff like that. Fast forward to the mid 90s, Pulp Fiction came out and had a lot of instro surf in the soundtrack, creating a new wave of surf enthusiasm, and re-awoke in me the love for it! I was 18 or 19 at the time, and I picked up all the old surf comp CDs I could find. Fast forward a couple more years and I discovered, by accident, that there were modern bands doing their take on the surf scene. Man or Astro-Man and The Ghastly Ones and Satan's Pilgrims and The Space Cossacks were making such incredible music, I got sucked in to the scene! Next thing you know, I had quite a few CDs of the new stuff and I've been a fan ever since.

• What is appealing to you about it?

In general I just like instrumental music. I like the freedom of interpretive and imaginative listening that just isn't possible with lyric driven songs. While a good lyricist/singer can tell a cool story or invoke some heavy emotions or generate some excitement, I think instro music leaves a lot open to your own imagination. It can paint sonic landscapes, generate your own stories, or communicate a mood in a much purer form.

• Have you gone to a concert? If so what was it like?

I've gone to many many shows. I've even played a few. Most of them were in SoCal in medium to small venues. Nothing on a grand scale (like a major arena or a bowl show). I've traveled to San Diego and to the Bay Area to see surf shows. My wife and I also traveled to Italy to see the Surfer Joe Summer Festival for 3 days of incredible surf music! For me, the shows really depend on who is playing and what the venue is like. Empty clubs with bad sound and a band playing the same cover songs you've heard 1000000 times before isn't much fun. But most surf shows are very fast and loud and exciting! Tonight I will be going to see a surf show at a tiki bar! Too bad you arent in town, you'd get to see it first hand!

• Where are you from?

Los Angeles!

• What are your thoughts on punk music (do you like it or no?)

I had a punk phase in high school (who hasnt???). I was big into Dead Kennedys. I also liked Circle Jerks, Descendents, Black Flag, Sex Pistols, etc, but DK was my fave. I still revisit those albums from time to time.

• Do you know anything about Satan's Pilgrims?

I have all of their albums and I LOVE their music. They're one of the original modern bands that I discovered, and much of my love of the genre is because of them. In my own personal hierarchy of epic surf bands, they are in the top 3 for sure. I've seen them live a few times, most recently was a couple years ago they played a small reunion tour. My wife and I (and quite a few other SoCal surf scenesters) drove up to catch their show in the bay area. It was a damn good night!

(please leave consent on if I can use your answers in my paper)

You have my consent! Best of luck with your paper. Feel free to PM me if I can be of further assistance.

• I was wondering how people got into surf music?

A few years ago, I must have answered a craigslist ad to audition for a surf band. My wife had noticed that I was spending a lot of time building guitar technique with no outlet and suggested I find musicians to play with. What a brilliant idea! Prepping for that session exposed me to Satan (his Pilgrims, that is) and some 1st wave music.I've been hooked ever since, really.
But it's not as though I hadn't been aware of surf guitar before that. As kids we jammed in the garage and tunes like Wipeout and A Shot in the Dark were typical of things we tried to play. I always loved the sound of Fender guitars played clean, and had Billy Strange and Ventures albums. Having grown up on the sounds of AM radio, 60s tunes featuring the musical backing of the group of players known as the Wrecking Crew informed much of my musical expectations, being the environment of pop.

When Pulp Fiction came out, I was not all that conscious of it. I was already very well aware of Dick Dale but not very hep to John Travolta. I saw DD live in Santa Rosa at the Mystic Theatre around that time, and was very impressed. I also saw the Mermen that year, and really dug their sounds.

It's funny that only very recently I have been able to plug into this 'surf continuum' and get immersed in it. Might have something to do with moving to Los Angeles where surf seems so appropriate.

• What is appealing to you about it?
  As a guitar player from the age of 15, I always sought out music that featured electric guitar and having come full circle through all the phases of rock music's development, I find the early iteration of the sensibility, and craft involved in that pure form to be superior to what came later. Modern surf bands reach back to capture the excitement of electric guitar sounds that is so utterly lacking in all other forms of popular music. And I find that I hate jazz now!

• Have you gone to a concert? If so what was it like?
  Surf shows can be boring if the band is too conventional but I'd rather be bored at a surf show than see a lot of other stuff called rock music. Surf fans comprise a small audience in any city so you can get to now people by seeing very many shows. This leads to friendships, which are always nice.
  Then the thrill of great guitar tone is just compelling to me and worth going to a bar to hear live. Most surf bands really care about the way they sound and the level of craft is much higher than among gimmicky vocal bands. Also, the focus is NEVER on some singer. To me, that counts for a lot. Even a mediocre guitarist is better to listen to than most rock bands where a singer has to emote all over the audience.

• Where are you from?

San Francisco suburbs in San Mateo Co., the City itself, Arcata in Humboldt Co. during college. Now in NELA.

• What are your thoughts on punk music (do you like it or no?)

Unlike most people here, I never had a punk rock phase. I was in high school in 1978-82 so I definitely heard a lot of the original Punk and New Wave music. I liked a lot of New Wave, esp. great bands like Blondie and The Jam, Elvis Costello & the Attractions, Ramones – stuff that as musical and related to R&B and pop music. But I never liked the unmusical sounds and violent experience of Hardcore, etc. I dug X because they were very musical and knowledgeable yet artistic and edgy. 60s music was much more important to me than a lot of contemporary stuff, which says much about my fastidiousness as a teen: I'd rather listen to record and play along than than go see a band that couldn't play, or form one in imitation.

My friends were do-it-yourself types and we always played our own music, which was not so much punk as experimental, free-form noise. More along the lines of Throbbing Gristle than DKs. We were informed by psychedelic and proto-punk more than earnest hardcore.

• Do you know anything about Satan's Pilgrims?

Only that they are from Boston, right? And they play the Devil's music, very well.

Squink Out!