Year-round Yuletide oddities
Frozen Factory rocks the drum bangly, with their mystical “Christmas Crazy.” In this nail-biter, he wants to get home in time, but the airways are clogged. Will that old feller with the white hair and glasses help? These heaven seas will take me To yuletide; I surf beyond the skies…
The Slotcars mix in some punk garage to remind us of the big musical world with “Surfin’ for Christmas.” Pretty insistent for under a minute and a half.
Alternatively–
The Yule Logs stretch my conceit with “Atheist Serf Holiday.” These non-believers surf-rock their doubts, but never quite catch the literal wave. And when i say rock, i mean hold onto your pants. Damn.
“Winter in L.A.” seems a child’s tutorial from Mischievous Miracles. Hanukkah and Kwanzaa and Xmas trappings are all noted. So is the weirdness of trucking in snow while the surfers are on high. Gentle fun.
Jump5 rocks out with “Christmas Like This.” It contrasts snow and sand for holiday options. They may both have boards, but only one has surfing. (Doanchew wanna?)
“Surfing on Christmas Day (Santa Won’t You Bring Me Some Waves)” by Southern Culture on the Skids is probably the surf rock reason you’ve been scanning these blog pages. It’s the real deal, McNeill. (Despite its 2020 birth!)
“I’m Going Surfing for Christmas” by James and Ellen Samaha for Cherry Grove Pier Surf Club mocks ‘Gettin’ Nuttin” in a mild, reverent way. Nicely done, fellas.
Emmy the Great & Tim Wheeler bring the house down with “Christmas Day (I Wish I was Surfing).” Retro surf pop-rock amps up the beach blanket party to the max. Totally tubular.
Ray Mizzi refers to the summer, sand, and surf as Christmas attractions in his peripatetic jazz party tune: “Wave (Australian Beach Christmas).” But that wave was made for riding, just like a present was made for opening.
Even MORE Aussie, Libby Hammer smacks around the kidsong to feature “Christmas in the Summertime.” Dance pop.
Almost time for the good stuff.
Chilling on the lanai, Styles Dangerfeld is not big on lyrics. “Merry Christmas, I’m Going Surfing” is the title AND the libretto. Still, pretty cool for light rock.
Gray sings us a lovely love song with alt-garage emotionality, but “Fall v2” mentions Christmas lights wrapped around something, and some silliness with a rented surfboard in Galveston. So let’s sneak a peek at it.
They say that by Christmas, surfing is not as good in SoCal. Still, gotta ride. Maybe not coolly, but–
“California Christmas” by Manafest is prettified rap without much rancor. Seems the West coast IS the best coast.
The surf in America’s “Christmas in California” is the roll of the ocean waves. But this easy listening elevator rock makes that the least of our concerns.
Billy Roach’s kidsong mixes surf rock with bubblegum. “Come to California Santa” has trouble getting upright on the board. Fun for kids, though.
Christmas in Los Angeles, California is all about the sunburns and freaks, yeah? Oh–and surfing!
Let us not forget The Boxmasters crooning “Christmas in California.” Loungey doo wop shines a light on the plastic culture. We may hang ten.
Heather Noelle Holley gives us “Merry Christmas from LA” with all the pop trimmings. I guess surfing gets a shout out near the end.
Sameer Whittle layers electronica over jittery vocals for a “California Christmas.” It’s a bit blue, but so’s the ocean
Last call for Santa Claus to surf.
Eric Stone comes on back with “Hang Ten Santa.” He’s just one of the boys in this overly sweet surf rock.
ABC Kids play the Australian card with the kids pop of “Santa’s Coming on a Surfboard.” Some swell guitar way back in there, but it’s pablum for the preteens.
The Dimmer Twins also bring Down Under to the table with “Surfin’ Santa.” This pokey western puts the old guy on the point break at high noon.
Norwegians Naomi & Goro go for a Bossa Nova Christmas with their “Santa on a Surfboard.” Take that back. I am not kidding.
You ready for Santa Claus to show you the moves? On his blade? In the racy?
The Ramblers take us back to the ‘6os (again) with their salutary “Surfin’ Santa.” Way more pop than rock. That background chorus competes with the gull noises.
“Summertime Santa” by Jason Didner and the Jungle Gym Jam is perilous pop as well. Plenty retro for pop, but the elevator music sort.