A Record For The Summer of “25
By Gordon David Durich
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 6/18/25 – Get ready to be immersed in a raw special experience. Captivating in its tone, “The Legends of Surf Guitar” is comfortably so. “Recorded Live At The Lighthouse April 1, 1995” part of the title), this collection of tunes from the wave of pop culture revival of instrumental surf guitar interest is timely. With the recent passing of Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, and the summer season looming, this CD will get you in the groove.
The Lighthouse, in Hermosa Beach, California served as the host to the likes of “Lanky Bones” one tune by Paul Johnson & The Packards, and others by them including the wild “Apache” performed at the iconic nightclub. World-famous as a jazz venue, Les Perry, host of “Surf Patrol Party” on several LA radio stations, organized a surf band reunion concert at the Lighthouse.
This recording documents a unique moment in surf music history, when old and new players from jazz and surf guitar collaborated at a historic music venue to play both the standard surf music songbook and more modern classics.
The Legends of Surf Guitar… features The Chantays performing “Pipeline” and other tracks, and original members of The Lively Ones, The Astronauts, Davie Allan & The Arrows, Jon & The Nightriders, The Surfaris and The Surf Raiders.
Who doesn’t love the classic “Wipe Out”? It’s here, played by Jim Pash of the Surfaris, along with “Geronimo” from Jon & The Nightriders and more.
Al Jardine of The Beach Boys reflected, “What a great live collection of surf classics. Takes me back to the time when The Beach Boys played with Dick Dale at the Rendezvous Ballroom and I was surfin’ in Manhattan Beach with Dennis Wilson.”
Look for this new release. On many platforms including Amazon, Bandwear and Rough Trade. Look out for it on Discogs.
