The Power of East Coast Surf

What I have been wanting to happen for a while finally happened!

 

A night of surf bands at a place at a known New Jersey surfing location.

 

It seems that there is a correlation between the discovery, or rediscovery of surf rock, the spread of surfing  and the improving quality of the ocean surf .

 

Of course, all this improvement isn't spontaneous. behind all these efforts, especially for surf rock, there are some highly motivated people making things happen.

 

I would like to applaud the efforts of Kevin Meehan and Surf Res Q for taking the helm of the Surf Summit last Friday, July 16, and making it a spectacular show. Also thanks to The Sharkskins, 9th Wave and locals, Jonnie Dog and the Dingoes.

 

Thanks to that couple that did the gogo/shimmy/lambada dance all night. You too were quite entertaining. They reminded me of a recent commercial for a over-the counter medication comercial on TV lately. Thanks to Mike Rosado for doing an authenic ska rankin'-skank step during "Don't Drink the Water" by the "Dingoes.

 

Ok, I had a taste, I want more surf rock nights down here in Jersey. Easy to say, a lot of work to do.

 

Surf on,

 

Bill Moffat, The Brine-iacs

***

Mike here from 9th Wave. The first NJ Surf Summit was a full success, hosted by Kevin and Surf Res-Q, and supported by Jonnie Dog and the Dingos, The Sharkskins, and 9th Wave. I knew it was going to be a great night when Kevin (Surf Res-Q) was able to get the press coverage that was deserved (nice job Kevin), from what I understand, Kevin even got his photo holding his Jaguar guitar. Unfortunate for us, the 9th Wave band VW Vanogon Cruiser got held up in some serious traffic heading south down the Garden State Parkway (car fires, rubber necking and crashes). So it took us only 5.5 hours to get there, we were packing a full van with Dan-O Clam (The Clams – CT surf ready to record a live disc), Unsteady Freddy (surf promoter, fan, friend and family) and the Wave. 

So sorry to have missed Surf Res-Q, but we got there in time to catch a few Sharkskin tunes. Yes, wearing their blue blazer suits and ripping it up, loud fast and reverb. The crowd was into it, and the event was well-attended by surfers, life guards, rockers, surf fans and everyone else. (Barnegat Light is a small beach town at the end of Long Beach Island, just one town north of Surf City NJ.) 

We (9th Wave) took the stage at 11:45 and played a fast-driving set. During our set, we were joined by Big Brian from The Diamondheads (drove up from Baltimore). Brian played Pipeline and My Favorite Martian with his Jazzmaster and signature sound - thanks Brian. Then Dan-O from the Clams joined us for a quick and chunking version of Penetration. After our set I had to change my dressings on my left arm, I had too much fun!

 Next up Jonnie Dog and the Dingos. This was my first time catching these guys rip it up, a nice job with their vocal numbers. They had a nice 60s surf n garage rock n roll sound, playing mostly original material. My favorite tune was their ‘Don’t Drink the Water’, with a cool ska surf skank feel. A really fun band to see and dance too. The show was also attended by Bill (surf Moffat) – of The Brine-iacs, NJ; The Surf Daddys – NJ; Brian – Diamondheads Baltimore; Dan-O – The Clams CT; and Unsteady Freddie Promoter NYC. Special thanks goes out to the Jonnie Dog and the Dingos for setting up the PA early and running it and of course Kevin, who took a chance with this summit and making it fun while promoting surf music on the East Coast. I look forward to attending, supporting and playing more shows like this. 

By 2:15am The 9th Wave van hit the road with a leaking power-steering pump, a quick stop in NYC to let Unsteady Freddie out to rule his city, then off again. I pulled in to my driveway at 7:30am, only to get ready to leave again by 6pm and play “The Swim Across The Sound Cancer Benefit”, in Bridgeport, CT.

Mike - 9th Wave, Road Warrior

(see poster)