Being a surfer isn’t a requirement for enjoying local surf-rock quartet The Concaves—but it helps.
Their lyrics are not only full of surfer lingo, but the band references several local surf spots in their songs.
Then again, what else would they sing about? These guys are longtime diehard surfers and surf musicians. In fact, guitarist/singer Bill Pitts, aka Dogfish, started surfing and playing surf music at the same time, in the early ’60s.
“Some surfers like our music, especially the older guys. The younger ones have their own preferences. They didn’t grow up in the golden age of rock and surf,” says Pitts.
The Concaves play both instrumental surf tunes, like Dick Dale, and ones with vocals, like the early Beach Boys, but they have also modernized the sound a bit.
“I love The Shadows. I love The Ventures, The Bel-Airs. But I also love AC/DC and Pink Floyd. I love their heaviness, and I try to combine that with some of my surf instrumentals,” says Pitts. “I’m not really a purist in that sense. Why not use what you know?”
Concaves tunes aren’t always about where to catch the best waves; Pitts sings about his life as a surfer, and that includes some very personal songwriting. Pitts wrote “Lil Walquine” about his daughter, also a surfer, who has passed away.
“Everyone on the westside called her Walking Queen, ’cause she was such a good nose rider,” Pitts says. “It’s just kind of like memories like that that you think of when you’re writing a song.”
INFO: 8 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 2 Don Quixote’s, 6275, Hwy 9, Felton. $10. 603-2294
