Named after a song by The Ventures, this page is a complete dedication to amazing surf bands of yesteryear and will inform you of great, new contemporary bands who are emulating the timeless surf spirit.
Also stay tuned for the first of hopefully many Surf Music tribute nights - launching on Thursday May 8th at Bar Music Hall, Shoreditch!
Please use this as a page to share your thoughts, favourite songs and tips on all things S U R F.
Till next time!
Dee
BAND OF THE WEEK:
THE DEPTFORD BEACH BABES
Their aim was to rehabilitate the distinctly sunny Californian '60s surf rock to a polluted patch of sand in south-east London and to rejuvenate jaded London pubs and clubs with grass skirts and beach balls.
After a brief sojourn beneath the waves of the Thames, the Babes resurfaced in 2003 and released their debut album Hawaii SE-8 on Rim Records.
Featuring recordings from both incarnations of the band and a smattering of guest singers, Hawaii SE-8 comprises of Middle Eastern influences, Mozart, paranoid farmlife, 1950s UK rock’n’roll and more, all underlined with the distinctive surf sound of Deptford.
Rim Records supremo Sexton Ming guests on the strange tale of agitated farmyard animals in Clint Eastwood Does it Again, while Deigan’s Eine Kleine Surfmusik transports Wolfgang Amadeus to the surf and Move It, sung with blistering intensity by The Immortal Johnny Dance, reverts one back to an infinitely brief period when Cliff Richard was hip, rather than hip replacement.
Jane Ruby’s astounding vocal on Samira adds an exotic flavour to the proceedings, but Johnny Dance’s further appearance on the Buffy Sainte Marie classic Codine, transforming the song into a gutsy blues standard, is the definitive highlight of the album.
Long-surfing drummer Mike Allport, Jenny Valentish (replacing the departed Mary Deigan) on bass, the guitarist Surfer Simon and the Spaghetti western trumpet of Chris Cornetto complete the regular band line up and their resolute backing, from the trashy punk of Sonic Nightmare to the tender John Zorn cover La Flor Del Barrio, lends full justification to the unveiling of this hot summery album in the coldest of winters in a decade.
Off with the overcoats and on with the Hawaiian shirts.
After listening to the Deptford Beach Babes, the order of the day will be sandcastles not snowmen.LISTEN TO THEM HERE!