The Power of East Coast Surf

 

 

June 1, 2011 – This June marks the third anniversary of “International Surf Music Month”, endorsed by a coalition of international surf bands. With the support of the North East Surf Music Alliance (NESMA), based in the U.S., surf music events are planned for the month of June throughout the world. In addition to the northeast U.S., including Connecticut, New York City, New Jersey, and "Surfapalooza" in Maryland, shows will take place in Italy (Surfer Joe Summer Festival), Germany, Russia, North Carolina, Georgia, and California, among other places.

“Surf instrumental music has no language barriers or age restrictions", says Mike Rosado, founder of NESMA and the Connecticut surf band 9th Wave. “Today's instrumental surf music pays homage to the founding legends of the style, as well as pushing the boundaries of progressive, contemporary surf music. Each band in every town, city, state and country contributes to the growth of the genre by injecting local flavors into the music. The result is a release of passionate, powerful, emotional sounds that give tribute to the surfing and instrumental cultures.”

Surf music is a form of guitar-led instrumental rock music which evolved in the early 1960s. Pioneering surf musicians included bands such as Dick Dale and the Deltones, The Surfaris (of “Wipe Out” fame), and composers like Paul Johnson of The Belairs. Specialized instruments and amps focus on a reverb sound and guitar techniques that mimic the sound and feel of surfing. While taking a backseat to vocal pop music during the late 1960s and 1970s, surf music rebounded in the 1980s (sometimes called the “second wave”), and again in 1996 with the popularity of the film “Pulp Fiction” and its surf music laced soundtrack. Current surf bands continue to play the classic tunes from the 1960s and later, while composing new surf music and releasing original recordings to expand the style (sample surf sounds here).

The genre of surf music continues to thrive throughout the world, with annual festivals in Canada, Italy, and on the east and west coasts of the United States, with monthly surf nights in New York City, Connecticut, Ohio and Minnesota, and with a variety of performances by local bands throughout the seasons. Surf bands in almost every country, including Russia, Israel, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Germany, Slovenia, Japan and the U.K. make this a truly diverse, international style of music.

For more information, contact Mike Rosado of 9th Wave, or your local NESMA surf band. This event is listed with Chase's Calendar of Events at http://www.mhprofessional.com/?page=/mhp/categories/chases/content/special_months.html#june