The Most Definitely » The Most Definitely | » Garage Rock

Grow up and Be Surf Dads

Felipe — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:13:11 +0000

Regina, Saskatchewan [SK is one of the giant provinces – in Canada – just north of Montana and North Dakota, in between Alberta (where Calgary is) and Manitoba (where Winnipeg is, like the Winnipeg Jets)] is the home town of dynamic duo Surf Dads, who have a new 4 track EP out called Summer Vacation. Throughout their new EP, Surf Dads echo little bits of Wavves (“Found Yourself in Thailand”), Japandroids (“The Way She Does”), and other genre stalwarts like Local H and Weezer. Regina (blossoming population of 250k) is an odd place to find your love of surf, but with one member living in Cali, and the other with his feet firmly rooted in the Canuck life, they’ve managed to pump out three EPs while basically not living even remotely near one other, let alone practicing, or anything – kinda like The Postal Service, except not famous, and with real instruments. Maybe one of them is the “surf” and the other is the “dads”…? Beats me. Or maybe they are the co-presidents of the Greater Regina Surfing Club and organize yearly trips to different locales like Costa Rica to catch waves, kinda like how Florida has so many snow ski club while being a zombie and gator infested swampland. With little to no info available I can invent just about whatever I want, but I bet one of those is pretty close to being right. Here are all four tracks from the Surf Dads EP Summer Vacation ripe for outside summertimeyness.

Feli Listens to all

Aussies know how to Beach

Felipe — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 21:46:03 +0000

If today were an album, I’d name it I’m Sweaty and the Subway’s an Inferno. Kinda like DMX’s It’s Dark and Hell is Hot (remember that gem?). Well today is same same but different. Here are some tunes from a couple Aussies in honor of going to the beach and having fun (Aussies are way better are chillin’ out and relaxin’ all cool), instead of dripping on a subway platform in Union Square next to some shredded tank top wearing, Old Spice-boycotting, hipster who brought his bicycle on the train and keeps sliding his grubby non-manicured hand down the pole and touching yours (come on dude! don’t tell you can’t feel my hand there!? are you serious!? people are the worst…). Braves is a group of lo-fi garage rockers from Perth, Australia who have an EP out called Seapunk; and Alex Lahey is a Best Coast styling beach rocker from Melbourne, Australia whose personal interests, according to Facebook, are “Blue 1999 Toyota Corollas” – dependable car btw. These two helping channel my inner beach. I guess this is what Corona has been talking about all these years…

Feli just wishes he’d stop sweating

Be Polite like Willie J Healey

Felipe — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 15:57:32 +0000

Oxford Rock ‘n’ Stroller Willie J Healey is fresh off his debut EP and out with a new single. Channeling Mac De Marco, the hazy surf-rockin’ 20 year old records his jams fully in his garage, hoping it comes out “like The Beach Boys mixed with Meatloaf, maybe.” THAT is a mix… Best part about WJH is his ride. He was going to buy a van, ended up coming home with an old limo…. which he says is dope for like, showing up to gigs in, but a tad impractical when popping to the store for some milk. That said, 2nd best is how polite the young man is. With regards to his garage recordings, and his limo, below an actual apology note he wrote to his neighbors:

–

“Dear Neighbour,

I’m writing to apologise for my recent behaviour, and to set the record straight on a few things. It turns out that sound-proofing a garage is pretty damn hard and to get the guitar tone I like I have to turn my amp up all the way, otherwise it sounds like the beach boys throwing up. All at the same time. In harmony. I’m sure you understand. I am particularly embarrassed about the burger wrapper that blew into your pond. Who knew fish would want to eat that stuff?

Anyway, I hope they’re now ok. I think I’ve managed to recover all of the clothes that were taken from your clothes-line. I personally didn’t find it funny when Eddy dressed up in your wife’s clothes, but you’re only 20 once. Unfortunately the midnight tones are essential – but I’ll be more selective about who I invite over in the future.

I’ll also try to be more careful about knocking your bins over with my car. The trouble is that it’s quite long and really awkward to turn. Oh and for those who asked, I call it surf rock. But whatever, Homemade stuff all sounds the same to me. Come hang with me sometime.

Willie”

Some Songs by White Reaper

Felipe — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 14:00:28 +0000

“Champaign, IL is a shithole hick town… but their Applebee’s is dope” – Nathan Williams of WAVVES while discussing playing Pygmalion Festival in Champaign, home of Polyvinyl Records – label to such sock rockin’ bands like Japandroids, Alvvays, and now White Reaper. The washed-out foursome (including a set of twins) hail from the birthplace of Sluggers and Mint Julips. When they aren’t bettin’ on ponies and feeling fancy, they make heads bob creating psychedelia-tinged garage punk. They’ve been at is since 2013 and are doing a pretty ok job or whatever. They play Baby’s Alright in Brooklyn in November. Check it.

Feli Says Listen to these dudes.

Only Real – Yesterdays

Felipe — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 19:58:26 +0000

Consisting of “Only Real Guys” from West London, and led by a smug-face-makin’ adorably ginger dude, Only Real are back out with a fun summer sounding EP. His tunes are “baby music for babies” and “guitar music for people who don’t like guitars”… idk what that’s supposed to mean. Regardless, Only Real is mainly one dude named Niall Galvin – a self claimed “sick guy!” and chill drowsy-rap-popster. He’s exactly what you’d envision of a Cali beach bummin’, garage band playin’, long board cruisin’, backwards hat wearin’, slacker – if he was from West London but his identical twin was in SoCal and they could like, “feeeel” each other; just like Lindsay Lohan in The Parent Trap… (I have a sister, ok? chill). At least he’s not recording songs in his bedroom anymore.

Feli Say Listen to Summer Jams

Made Violent – (studio garage rock)

Felipe — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 17:26:27 +0000

These 3 dudes from Buffalo, NY describe themselves as a World Famous American Rock Band…. Grandiose ambitions are the only kind you should have though (even if ur a fledgling garage band)! If your ambition’s not awe-inspiring and face melting in its own way… well go take a hard look in the mirror mister. This rock is lo-fi, fun, and garage bouncy (even if it is a bit “major label polished”). The three inseparable best buds never intended on taking over the world; they just wanted to sit around, drink Four Loko, and play tunes – but then Columbia Records came a-knockin’, they released their first real EP in February (it’s real good), and played SXSW. So far so good boys. We’ve got some catching up to do.

I’m done askin’… feliSAYSlisten

FIDLAR – Stoked and Broke

Alex — Fri, 24 May 2013 22:24:25 +0000

It’s been a long week of work and and now that it’s finally over I’m ready to get shitty with the dirty, dark garage rock of FIDLAR. This track off their self-titled debut album is a musical middle finger your parents would not approve of. Skating, drinking and drugging up the streets of LA never sounded so much fun.