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--- In , DP <noetical1@y...> wrote:
> Back in 1960-1965, the "surf music" scene was un-self
> conscious...those musicians had a "zen-like" simplicity and
> purity to their approach to the music they created.
> Basically, they were dorks and goobers who wanted to
> impress their friends by getting on the radio or playing at
> the High School dance on Friday night.
That's a great point! In fact, it made me think of something
relevant here. The early sixties bands had a very natural approach
to surf music, cause it was simply the music of the time. It was the
only thing they knew, right then and there. On the other hand, all
surf bands that slavishly try to recreate those sounds will
inevitably end up being contrived. It will not be pure in
inspiration and natural. In addition, we're talking about music that
was mostly made by 16-year-olds. How the hell are 22-year-olds with
college degrees, or in my case 35-year-olds with PhDs ever going to
recreate this? No freaking way!
To me, the surf sounds and riffs and licks are tools. I love those
tools! So, I use them to create my own little structures that I hope
are in some ways as cool as the structures that were built by the
originators of the tools. But they're still MY structures.
> Anyway, I guess the point you made about an idyllic moment
> in history (1963) struck a chord in me...I simply wanted to
> chime in and stress that, to me, real "surf music" is 90%
> attitude and approach and charachter and only 10% equipment
> and music knowledge (if even that much.)
Well, in a sense I agree, you've got to have the right attitude,
though what it is exactly is impossible to verbalize (can anybody do
it?). But, to me the gear is important. If you're playing a Jackson
through a high-gain Crate, you may have gobs of attitude and (by some
miracle) a cool rock'n'roll sound, but it's not surf music. I'm sure
there will be many differing opinions on this point.
> Last year, I had the pleasure of watching a show by the
> Tornadoes (you know, Pulp Fiction soundtrack and all
> that..."Bustin' Surfboards")...You prpbably played with
> them at the "Rendevous Reunion" right?...
Yes, we did.
> Those guys are still together, living in Redlands
> California (where they have always lived)...They have been
> playing "real surf music" for over 40 years now... The show
> was GREAT!...light-hearted...FUN! They can barely
> play...total garage rock...they know what they know...and
> what they know is how to have fun making their music. True
> "surf music" attitude all the way...they were my heroes
> that day!
I'm glad to hear that. They were, shall we say, less than inspiring
the day I saw them. But I thought the Chantays or the Belairs
weren't very inspiring that day either, cause their idea of pushing
surf music forward was adding shredding guitar, which may have merit
to some people reading this, but not to me. I'm too into trad stuff
for it.
> keep up the cool commentary,
Thanks Dave!
> PS: Does anyone know much about the group "The Nobles"?
> I am attempting to preserve some "vintage grafitti" along a
> a rural highway in San Diego County California...painted
> on a boulder in big black letters "THE NOBLES"...looks like
> vintage 60s grafitti...any leads out there?
Wow, really? A grafitti from the sixties of a surf band survives?
Amazing! Yes, the Nobles' great claim to fame is that they released
an album with Aki Aleong called Come Surf With Me. It was rereleased
on CD on the bootleg Surf label in the nineties, paired up with the
Deadly Ones. The Nobles were a decent surf band. Most of the tracks
were covers, but Earthquake by them pops up on some comps, I think.
I think the grafitti is definitely worth preserving if you can pull
it off!
Ivan
