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Last Post 6/2/2005 7:02 PM by  Rev Jules
Surfing & Music
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Rev Jules
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6/2/2005 7:02 PM
    From time to time I venture forth from the warm reefs of the Cluas discussion boards and into the cold, deep waters of surfer forums to exchange ideas on things dear to wave riders such as the best spots, wax, types of board, shark repellents (seriously) and other matters of import. At heart, I am a bodyboarder and a disciple of the legendary Mike Stewart whose credo is "Its not the destination, its the journey"...especially since the time I shared a house with a surfer who absconded late one night without paying his share of the rent and left a deep scratch on the side of my car from one of his fins...b*st*rd. What has all this go to do with Cluas ? Well, surfing as activity has long played a role in the development of popular music whether it is superstars like The Beach Boys, cult artists like Butthole Surfers & Jack Johnson or appearances by guys like Anthony Keidris (can never spell his name right) in surf type movies like 'Point Break'. In addition, surfing and bodyboarding DVDs frequently feature music by up and coming groups synched up with the shots of the waveriders in action, a strange genre those DVDs, a bit like The OC without the acting, neurosis and lipstick lesbianism. Anyway, all thoughts on wave riding related music are welcome here.
    Binokular
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    6/2/2005 7:46 PM
    There definitely was and still is a music scene built up around surfing. Probably because California was where the two frequently crossed paths. The Beach Boys like you said, but also a host of other mainly instrumental bands in the 60s, like The Ventures, d**k Dale and the Deltones, The Astronauts, The Surfaris (the guys that that w-w-w-wipeout! song) and Jan and Dean. They have been incredibly influential on a lot of rock bands. The Pixies and the Breeders definitely play around with surf rock a lot on their albums, especially the later Pixies albums and The Breeders "Last Splash". The Shadows also took some of their cues from surf rock, they may be deeply uncool grandad rock at this stage, but the Shadows are hugely influential on British rock music, not least on the Beatles. The thing is, what we would regard as "Surf Rock" and the actual Surfer music scene now (i.e. what surfers actually listen to these days) are quite different.
    Eoin
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    6/2/2005 7:52 PM
    Jack Nitzche - The Lonely Surfer. great album that
    Binokular
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    6/2/2005 8:13 PM
    Eoghans gotta sort out that swear filter, Richard Dale and the Deltones then...
    spurtacus
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    6/3/2005 8:31 AM
    Reef are a big band amongst surfers, s**te to everyone else!
    Eric
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    6/3/2005 9:03 AM
    Hey Rev, I hit the waves myself from time to time. Not very good mind you, have a bic 7'9 and use it just to have a laugh. For obvious reasons I would never admitt to being a 'bic bandit' on the irish surf site! Gets pretty heated in there from time to time! On the music front, as a scene and activity, it seems to be pretty inspirational for music writing. Jack J said he wrote most of his tunes while out on his board.
    Rev Jules
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    6/3/2005 3:43 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by Eric
    Hey Rev, I hit the waves myself from time to time. Not very good mind you, have a bic 7'9 and use it just to have a laugh. For obvious reasons I would never admitt to being a 'bic bandit' on the irish surf site! Gets pretty heated in there from time to time! On the music front, as a scene and activity, it seems to be pretty inspirational for music writing. Jack J said he wrote most of his tunes while out on his board.
    No worries mate, it doesn't matter what level you are as long as you are on the waves and not a wax bum. Yeah, the irish surf site is a real gladiatorial arena ! People have this vision that surfing is all laid back, live and let live but sometimes its more like that scene in 'Point Break' when those drug dealing, gun wielding surfers kick hell out of Keanu Reeves. Surfing is quite hierarchical and this goes back to the fact that surfing in Hawaii was actually known originally as 'The Sport of Kings' and much of today's surfer attitude and etiquette actually dates from that earlier era. For example, the drop in rule orginated because there were reefs and beaches where the ali'i (chiefs) surfed and reefs and beaches where the commoners surfed and woe betide the commoner who crossed into (ie: dropped into)surf zones reserved for the ali'i. Lying flat on your board in the ocean is a great place to empty your mind and/or let it fill again with new ideas. Check out a film that Jack J made about surfing called 'Thicker Than Water' (2000)
    Rev Jules
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    6/3/2005 5:19 PM
    Here's another group thats up and coming in the surf music scene. http://www.thebeautifulgirls.com/ "If you liked Jack Johnson's debut album and if you dig Donavon, you’ll love The Beautiful Girls. The top Aussie band could be the next big thing, often drawing comparisons with Ben Harper, Jack Johnson and Nick Drake." 360 Magazine.
    neosupervital
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    6/5/2005 4:00 PM
    Here's the Neosupervital addition to the surf-inspired pop canon: http://www.neosupervital.com/hear/hearpage.htm listen out for it on the radio at the end of the month. Neosupervital plays a late show in Crawdaddy this bank holiday monday, after Marlena Shaw. Gilles Peterson will be spinning some tunes too... cheers, Neo. www.neosupervital.com
    Unicron
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    6/5/2005 5:21 PM
    People should go to this. But 12:30 is a bit late and I'll be tucked away in bed unjetlagging myself unfortunately or else I could have donated a subway card with $1* on it towards your upcoming New York adventures. Is that a new version of the song Tim? * Subway fare is $2.
    neosupervital
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    6/6/2005 12:22 AM
    yes. brand new.
    Eric
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    6/7/2005 2:03 PM
    Theres a few snippets on his website from 'Thicker than water' - Looks great, I'll purchase a dvd. Would love to see him live but he seems to be skipping Ireland on his tour. Checked out the beaut girls and so far so good - Cheers for the recommendation. Enjoy the surf this summer.
    Rev Jules
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    6/7/2005 4:36 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by Eric
    Theres a few snippets on his website from 'Thicker than water' - Looks great, I'll purchase a dvd. Would love to see him live but he seems to be skipping Ireland on his tour. Checked out the beaut girls and so far so good - Cheers for the recommendatoion. Enjoy the surf this summer.
    No worries mate, glad to be of help, all the best. Oh, and check out 'Blue Crush', a fine little movie with lots of good surf scenes in it and some great shots by Mike Stewart who got them with a cam attached to the front of his body board. Those cool shots going through a tube, thats what you see as a boogie boarder.
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