Surf music might seem like a pretty one-dimensional genre for someone to mess around with over 50 years after it first appeared. However, if you think The Ventures and The Beach Boys said all there was to say with this sound, you really need to check out The Shivas. Mixing surf-guitar vibes with some tasty early 60s multipart vocal melodies, this old-school rock n’ roll band from Portland, Oregon will open your ears once more to the power of a shivering reverb unit and a humming Farfisa. I’d go so far as to predict they’ll get you shaking your booty too, so be sure to wear your dancing shoes to this one.
The two locals on this bill aren’t too far removed from what The Shivas are doing, but that’s not to say that either of them has any connection to surf music, per se. Grass Panther is instead drawing from the psychedelic rock of the late 60s, mixing that old familiar buzz and hum with strong vocals from Michael Harl (Canary Oh Canary/Manzara) on an intense solo trip. Toward Space are remarkable not only for their quite youthful age but also for their adept channeling of modern garage rock auteurs like Ty Segall and the late, great Jay Reatard. This show is ultimately all about the rock n’ roll, and since most of us are too, it should be an excellent evening all around.
