Today, I will go out on a limb and probably offend my refined free jazz-playing friends. That, of course, assumes -- probably incorrectly -- that they read or even care about the musings of sexagenarian, less-than-talented rock’n’rollaphile. Instrumental music which has a melody is what we low brow, less-refined folks like.Some time ago, a friend observed I was a “one trick pony” because the Pups play one style of music. Simple, primitive but melodic surf-inspired or retro instrumental rock. The response was, “Yes, that is true. But we put energy into our music and try to make it fun for everybody -- both the audience and the band. And that’s about all my limited skills allow.”
One consequence of my friend’s observation is to pay better attention to what others do. Dick Dale is other worldly with skills developed over 60 plus years of playing. He is an icon who influences and affects every surf band that ever existed.
When we return to this world, Slacktone is the gold standard. The Pups are the lead (as in Pb or plumbum) standard. For learning purposes, what lies in between?
If you follow this blog very much, you may have read about the high energy double-picked, reverb-drenched, glissando-driven music of Slacktone, The Pyronauts and The Sneaky Tikis. You also may have read about the precisely picked and effortless playing of Paul Johnson. Or how Jon Blair and Ferenc Dobronyi combined those styles in their interpretations and compositions of instrumental surf music.
What do all of those performers have in common? They play something to which an audience can relate. They play to entertain those who came -- and usually paid -- to listen. Their music is familiar as either recognizable songs or songs which sound like something an audience has heard before. They also have made every song they play their own in some way.
The bands and performers differ in how they present their music. They each engage their audience differently. They may differ in delivery of what we know as “surf music.” Yet, the bottom line is, despite differences in style, we love instrumental music which has a melody.
Guess what? Audiences do too!