Menu
I noticed that Klas Fjellgren has started posting here. I just
wanted to take the opportunity to welcome him. Most of you probably
don't know much about his mid-nineties surf band, the Daytonas, so I
thought I'd just tell you about them a bit, too.
The Daytonas were a Swedish band that released several CDs in the mid-
nineties. I have their first two (I think), "Ready Set Go!" (1993)
and "Quarter Mile" (1995). I seem to remember that they released
something else, but I've never seen it. Anyway, these five guys (two
guitars, including Klas on lead guitar, organ, bass, and Klas'
brother on drums) produced some of the most authentic traditional
surf music of the nineties. Their first album was 2/3rds vocals and
the rest instros, while the second album was split half-half. The
instros sound as pure as possible, no modern influences whatsoever
(they did cover Jon & the Nightriders' "Geronimo" on their first
album, but that's a very trad song anyway, so it fit right in). The
instros are mostly originals, with a couple of covers: Jim Messina &
the Jesters' "The Cossack" and "Hawaii Five-O". The vocals were like
a garagey version of the Beach Boys, with a rougher lead voice backed
up by nice harmonies. Again, extremely authentic. But the thing
about the Daytonas that really got to me is that you could FEEL the
incredibly intense love and longing for the early sixties
California. These guys sounded like they were truly in PAIN that
they couldn't live there! I've never heard any other band convey
those emotions to such an extent. Look at some of the titles of the
vocals: "I Love California", "Baked Beans and Chicken", "Surf
Spot", "Surf Fever", "Me and My Woodie", "The Whiteness of the
Wave", "Wait For My Summer", "Go Where the Action Is", and so on -
you get the idea. And they walked the talk, sporting vintage gear
(Klas on a white Jag, a reverb unit, and a Dual Showman), and
authentic looking outfits and haircuts. Now, it seems that something
like this being done by a bunch of Swedish guys would come off very
much as a gimmick, but never with the Daytonas. I don't think I ever
heard a more genuine trad surf band. These guys were the real deal.
And their music was REALLY good. They had an incredible sense of
melody and the chops to play it all really well without ever
overplaying. The song was god, and almost all of their 'gods' were
worthy of worship! If you're still not sure what they sound like,
imagine a better (sometimes MUCH better) version of the Untamed
Youth - more melodic, lacking the beer obsessesion, but just as fun
and with more surf and less garage sensibility.
Even after owning these CDs for ten years now, I still listen to them
quite often. Anytime I get in that romantic mood where I start
idealizing early-sixties So-Cal, I have to put on either some first-
wave stuff - or the Daytonas. I have no idea whether any of their
CDs are still available, but if any of you trad-lovers can track them
down, don't hesitate for a second to buy them. This is some of the
best surf music of the nineties.
Welcome Klas - I look forward to seeing more participation by you on
this list in the future.
Ivan
PS Here are the lyrics to "I Love California" - you'll see what I
mean - and admit it, how many of us outside of SoCal feel like this
anyway?:
I took a trip to LA to California sun
Me and my buddy went there to have some kind of fun
After twelve hours flight the dream came true
Forget about the past and what we're going through
We rented a car and started driving around
And soon we were California bound
Huntington Beach with its beautiful pier
And the waves full of surfers that got no fear
I love California (repeat many times!)
Dick Dale's guitar is twanging in my head
And it's gonna be there to my dying day
California USA you're so far away
I think of you almost every day
I love California (repeat even more times!)
