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The answer to are they really that discrete depends on whether you
define them from a musicological or time period point of view. Most
people on these lists seem to mean time periods, but that does not jive
with the music's evolution or sound.
First Wave: The Heyday
The beginning (post all precursors because you just have to draw a line
in the sand somewhere) was 1961 with the Belairs recording of Mr.
Moto (5.61) and Dick Dales recording of Lets Go Trippin (8.61).
Neither represents the sound of surf, but historians will generally
agree this is where it started.
The sound evolved rapidly, and by 1962 with the advent of the reverb,
took on the signature sound. Perhaps the most stereotypical surf
instros is the Chantays Pipeline. Within the first wave, there were
actually many different sub-set sounds. Dick Dale. The Chantays, the
Belairs, Eddie and the Showmen, the Surfaris, the Original Surfaris,
the Sentinals, and others all had unique sounds.
By 63, some changes began to creep in, such as hot rod titles and
sound effects. By 64, space and sci-fi were new influences, again
changing the sound significantly. By 65, the end was at hand. The
first wave is generally from 1961 through 1965, with a few odd singles
and surf guitar influences following through the remainder of the
sixties.
Second Wave: The Revival
The revival was just what its name implies, a rejuvenation of the first
wave sounds and styles. In some ways, it was more of a reliving of the
past. It also often has bands lumped in that were really the beginnings
of the third wave (more later).
The probably poster band of the revival was Jon and the Nightriders. In
79, they cut 4 tracks and issued a seven-inch ep. Contemporary to them
(79 and 80) were Cowabunga (SF Bay Area), the Surf Raiders, the El
Caminos (pre-Vibrabeams, Tidetones, and Surf Piranhas), the Wedge, and
the Evasions, among others.
This wave continues today in the trad bands.
Third Wave: Rebirth
Just like the original wave, when surf was in constant evolution, the
sound inevitably began incorporating new features and ideas. Just as
the first wave took influences from Spanish, Mexican, Flamenco, West
Coast Jazz, Country, and the Islands, and added sound effects, space
themes, and varied the lineup to include new instruments over the first
few years, so the revival would give birth to reinvention.
Beginning as early as 1979, the seeds were sown for the third wave. The
Insect Surfers (then in the DC area) brought surf ideas into their
sound before moving and dropping the new wave for surf reborn with
non-traditional instruments and sounds. The El Caminos (pre-Vibrabeams,
Tidetones, and Surf Piranhas) were a hybrid right from the start with
rockabilly drums and their demented diving lyrics and commentary. The
Halibuts can be seen in either the second or third wave. I think of
them mostly as third wave because they merged ska with traditional
sounds for a significantly different sound.
The burst of creativity in terms of volume did not come until around
1989 and 1990 when San Francisco area bands suddenly used surf as a
platform for a new direction. This sparked the ongoing trad wars.
Notable among the early cart up-setters were/are the Ultras, the
Mermen, and Pollo Del Mar. From these bands influence, eventually
hundreds of bands were freed from seeing surf as a museum piece, freed
to transgress into bold new territory. This is where many of todays
bands descend from.
From a volume of bands and releases point of view, its more like a
calendar.
First Wave: 1961-1965
Second Wave: 1979-1986
Third Wave: 1989-2000
Fourth Wave: 2002-present.
The trouble with this definition is that many of the bands have little
in common. Its not a cohesive sound by any stretch amid any of these
periods.
Thats my story, and Im sticking to it!
Phil
--- Rob Campbell <> wrote:
Would anyone be able to run down the "waves" of surf music, and a
representational act or album for each? I've tried searching and its
too nebula-ous of a term.
What wave are we on now? Are they really that discrete?
