4 Modern Surf Rock Bands That Will Take You Straight to the Beach

There’s more to life than the Beach Boys; surf rock is alive and well, with plentiful bands elevating the beachy subgenre for the modern age. Here are four groups that are taking surf rock to the next level while also keeping it nostalgic and reminiscent of those who came before.

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Surf Rock Bands That Are Keeping the Subgenre Alive

SadGirl

The creative project of musician Misha Lindes, SadGirl is surf rock for the modern era. With lyrics like “Miss me, miss me / with that bulls–t” against a backdrop of retro guitar sound and melody, Lindes crafts a delightfully nostalgic atmosphere on SadGirl’s 2019 album Water. Distorted vocals and plucky instrumentals with a touch of reverb, Water is a smorgasbord of retro elements with modern imagery.

La Luz

In contrast to SadGirl, La Luz’s surf rock is a little more hardcore. Where SadGirl floats in soft nostalgia, La Luz goes all in with dirty guitar and vintage tunes. Add in expertly executed keyboard solos, solid drums, and breathy harmonies and you’ve got the recipe for La Luz’s 2018 album Floating Features. Their 2013 instrumental track “T.V. Dream” is surf rock at its finest, showcasing a bright guitar tone, incredible whammy, and use of a wet reverb.

Babewatch

Babewatch puts a little more grunge in their surf rock in a similar way to La Luz. Instead of the usual clean guitar synonymous with the subgenre, they utilize more distortion to create a dirty surf sound. It’s still rooted in the subgenre with copious use of the whammy bar and reverb, but Babewatch turns it up to eleven. I would even go so far as to enthusiastically call them surf punk.

Peach Pit

Peach Pit’s surf rock sound is a little more whimsical and a little farther removed from the subgenre than the others. They utilize a cleaner guitar sound reminiscent of SadGirl, but not as retro and floaty. Peach Pit’s approach to surf rock is much more contemporary, utilizing unexpected elements to create their surf-adjacent sound. It’s cohesive and interesting, but it leans more indie rock all the same.

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