Guantanamo Baywatch, our favorite surf punks paving their jams in the sand, have a new album coming out August 4th on Suicide Squeeze, and it may very well be the soundtrack for all your summer BBQs. Their new single “Blame Myself,” a contagious lament that blends proto-grunge vibes with an oldies flare, reminds me of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds drowned in a vat of mescaline slowly catching fire. Whatever that means.
Guantanamo first caught my attention with their fuzzed out, reverb-drenched, wailing surf rock bangers that actually sounded like surf rock. But like all bands, the question of quality and balance between pure rock ‘n’ roll and instrumentation began to unfold. “We just want to record songs that are fun to play live,” says guitarist and vocalist Jason Powell. “We are always trying to push what kind of band Guantanamo Baywatch can be. It doesn’t have to be just surf or garage or whatever, ’cause live no one cares what genre you are as long as they’re having a good time.” Amen to that. –Maya Eslami
Tour Dates:
08.16.17 – Portland, OR @ The Know
08.17.17 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos
08.19.17 – Ucluelet, BC @ Otalith Music Festival
08.23.17 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
08.24.17 – San Diego, CA @ Blonde Bar
08.25.17 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
08.26.17 – Costa Mesa, CA @ The Wayfarer
08.31.17 – Berlin, DE @ Urban Spree
09.01.17 – Frankfurt, DE @ Yachtklub
09.02.17 – Kassel, DE @ Goldgrube
09.03.17 – Leipzig, DE @ Zoro
09.04.17 – Mannheim, DE @ Kurzbar
09.06.17 – Munich, DE @ Unter Deck
09.07.17 – Zurich, CH @ Gonzo Club
09.08.17 – Locarno, CH @ Mono Bar
09.10.17 – Bologna, IT @ Freakout
09.13.17 – Lyon, FR @ Trockson
09.15.17 – Madrid, ESP @ Wurlitzer Ballroom
09.16.17 – Alicante, ESP @ Stereo
09.17.17 – Tarragona, ESP @ El Cau
09.18.17 – Sopelana, ESP @ La Triaungu
09.19.17 – Bordeaux, FR @ Void
09.20.17 – Le Havre, FR @ Le McDaid’s
09.21.17 – Paris, FR @ E’space B
09.22.17 – Brighton, UK @ The Joker
09.23.17 – Liverpool, UK @ Liverpool Psych Fest
09.24.17 – Glasgow, UK @ Nice N Sleazy
09.25.17 – Stafford, UK @ Redrum
09.26.17 – London, UK @ Shacklewell Arms
09.29.17 – Beda, NL @ Pier 15
09.30.17 – Amsterdam, NL @ Skatecafe
10.03.17 – Stockholm, SWE @ Obaren
10.04.17 – Malmo, SWE @ Plan B