The Noseriders  By Jeff Reid 

Growing up on the Carolina coast in the early sixties, my first recollection of surf music was the song “Wipe Out” by The Safaris. Released in 1963, the song, characterized by its energetic drum solo, the intro of a cracking sound (imitating a breaking surf board), and a maniacal laugh followed by the only two words of the song, “wipe out” became a surfing anthem.  Soon I and all my friends were caught up in surf music and the lifestyle.  Surfing, believe it or not, became the only sport with its own particular genre of music.

But by May of 1963, instrumental surf music, identified by twangy guitars, staccato riffs and lots and lots of reverb, was heading for a collision course with the Beatles and the British Invasion. While many people think surf music came and went, it is important to note that the genre continues to this day and can be heard in its present form by the local ho daddies, the Noseriders.

The band began several years ago with Seth Moody, Zach Hanner, Paul Currier, Brian Weeks and Jonathan Bass. “I’ve always loved surf rock,” admits Moody.  “It’s fun to play and easy to write. So I recorded a few songs, called a few friends and that’s where it began!”  The songs were all original and the titles (and therefore, vocals) were all terms from the “Surfinary” reference book of surfing terms. But Jonathan moved to Boone after a year or so and the band broke up. Then around two years ago drummer Dean Grey and guitarist Brian Drake joined up with Moody and Hanner and the Noseriders reemerged with a much louder and punkier sound than before.

But Hanner was also very familiar with the surf genre, being a surfer for well over twenty years and a connoisseur of its music. “I had a great CD box set called Cowabunga that consisted of surf music from 1963 through the 90’s,” he states.  But the Noserider music is more than the classic twangy guitar and syncopated drum beat. “We mix it up,” states Moody. “It’s the Ventures mixed with new wave/punk ala Devo, Dead Kennedys, usually fast paced and upbeat and packed with lots of energy.”

Describing their sound as being “mostly” instrumental, the Noseriders  play great dance music. No words to get in the way! Moody explains, “Most of the songs have a shout out repeat of the title. But the melodies are 99% instrumental.”  For instance, “Fish Taco”, a song off their debut CD Chubasco, has a snappy little bass line that leads in to Seth and Hanner yelling, “Fish Taco”! Moody continues, “If the PA sucks, it doesn’t matter and you don’t have to remember lyrics.”

To some surf music purists, vocals and vocal harmonies are not a part of real surf music. To them, the British Invasion in the mid 60’s killed the music and the world was left with the Beach Boys as the surf music ambassadors. But Moody and Hanner disagree.  “There are no absolutes in music. We needed the British Invasion. There are only ‘X’ amount of ways to play 50’s style rock, including surf,” he explains. Hanner concurs, “I’ve never been the type of person to try and place restrictions on what a genre can or can’t have as elements of its style. I like it when people bend the rules…..usually, that is. What’s good is good and what’s not is not.”

Like their sister band, Da Howlies, all the members of the Noseriders surf and since a lot of the early pioneers of surf music were not surfers, I asked what does the personal surfing experience bring to their music? “Myself? Probably not as much as the other guys,” confesses Moody. “I listened to surf music long before I surfed.  The rest of the band has been surfing since puberty. I guess the tongue in cheek aspect comes from the fact I’m no ripper and I won’t stomp around on stage like I’m a big boss bad ass.” 

Despite the complexities of the world that swayed mass appeal from the beaches and  the surf lifestyle in the 1960’s, surf music is as pertinent as it was then. By capturing the energy, simplicity and rawness of the setting that inspired it, the Noseriders are committed to maintaining the sound and feeling of the surfing life.  “Surfing is the greatest thing on earth,” states Hanner. “The way you feel when you’re gliding down a wall of water has a lot to do with your level of inner joy. It’s just like the way you sound better if you’re really having a good time playing music.”

And the Noseriders have a good time playing their music and it shows.