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Hey Phil,
Do you notice any consistant characteristics that would seperate the current, or
newest
wave from previous periods?
joe
--- In , Phil Dirt <phildirt@r...> wrote:
> 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 Dale's recording of "Let's 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 today's
> bands descend from.
>
> From a volume of bands and releases point of view, it's 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. It's not a cohesive sound by any stretch amid any of these
> periods.
>
> That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!
>
> Phil
>
> --- Rob Campbell <mantid@g...> 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?
