Interview: Brad Marino
The Collision Of Surf, Hot Rod, Punk and Power Pop
There are certain types of music that will forever be featured on the soundtrack to summer.
At the top of the list are surf music and hot rod rock, stylistically intertwined genres most often associated these days with the reverb-soaked instrumentals of Dick Dale and early, revved-up releases by The Beach Boys. Both had their chart-topping moment in the sun during the first half of the ‘60s, but have been the kitschy, beach-y sound of fun, fun, fun ever since.
“I think something that makes summer music more special living up here (in New Hampshire) is the fact that you can only listen to it for four months of the year—it’s almost like holiday music,” Brad Marino told me for the interview below.
“Sure, you could spin some sunny summer tunes when it’s 20 below and snowing in January, but to me it was May until September for these songs, so I’d maybe treat them more special because of that.”
A prolific power pop, punk and rock and roll artist (check out the five songs at the bottom of the interview), Marino has long loved surf and hot rod records.
That became the inspiration for his latest EP, Hot Rod Rampage. Featuring three cover songs and one original instrumental, this propulsive collection delivers a blast of retro rock that puts a modern twist on these sun-soaked sounds.
“I think as a songwriter or artist or band, if you put yourself into one style or box of music it becomes boring. I like the idea of mixing it up,” Marino said, pointing out that surf music and hot rod rock are more closely connected to guitar pop’s roots than many modern music fans might realize.
“To me surf rock is Chuck Berry with some sweet harmonies, so it’s a lot like ‘50s rock and roll or ‘60s garage rock.”
I connected with Marino by email as he and his band take the convertible for a cruise along the New Hampshire coastline this summer.
Brad Marino Interview
I'm really enjoying your new EP. What inspired Hot Rod Rampage?
Brad Marino: Thank you! Believe it or not, I’ve been wanting to do some surf rock music for more than 10 or 15 years. In 2009 I was obsessed with The Beach Boys and Jan & Dean (also Motörhead—odd combo, I know). Back then I wrote a couple of songs in that surf style. At the time I wasn’t really a songwriter, I had written some amateurish punk songs for bands I was in, but nothing too serious. These songs were amateur takes at early Beach Boys/Jan & Dean stuff, but more like The Queers or Ramones.
In 2010 I discovered an album by The Chesterfield Kings called Surfin’ Rampage, 30 or 40 songs that I’d never heard but completely up my alley at the time. I was really into looking up the original versions of these songs and thought they were all so energetic, youthful, and catchy. Just FUN music that was great to listen to in the humid and warm New Hampshire summers.
Ever since, I’ve toyed with doing a release like this. It never happened until this winter when me and the boys were going to hit the studio to track some new songs and I said, ‘Change of plans. Let’s do a couple surf rock/hot rod covers for a release this summer.’ I just thought the time was right. I’ve done power pop/rock and roll/punk and I thought now’s as good a time as any to give this a try.
Surf and hot rod music are generally associated with SoCal. As somebody who grew up in New England, what is the appeal for you?
Brad Marino: When one thinks of New Hampshire they may not think of sunny beaches and beautiful coastlines but believe it or not we do have it! You can drive Route 1A from Portsmouth to Hampton Beach and it’s a beautiful scenic coastal drive along the 17 miles of coastline NH has. Sandy beaches, rocky overhangs, big waves, big, beautiful homes. There were also nice beaches nearby in southern Maine or North Shore, MA.
Anyways, when I was younger my friends and I would always cruise 1A to Hampton Beach and drive around the circle and hang out at the beach. Part of that cruise was always tunes. Friends that were into rock and roll music or just more ‘normal’ friends who liked whatever was on the radio at the time all liked listening to those greatest hits CDs of The Beach Boys. Also being from New Hampshire, The Queers were a big influence. Joe obviously wears Beach Boys worship on his sleeve and had done great Ramones-y cover versions of some early classics which also was an influence on me.
Do you consider this a big departure from your usual punk-rock-pop approach to music? Or is it all connected in your mind?
Brad Marino: That’s a great question. I think when we’re younger we tend to put music styles into boxes—like, a punk band can’t do a pop album or a pop band can’t do punky stuff. There is a certain snobbiness to music where one tends to dismiss albums that don’t sound like the ‘classics’ or ‘early years.’ Now that I’m older and wiser, it’s ‘all rock and roll to me.’
A couple years ago I did a total punk record in the vein of the early Ramones, almost a concept album. I was afraid it would alienate the power pop fans or would be considered a drop-off from my first solo records, but it ended up doing well and is arguably my most popular record. Go figure!
I just think you need to do what you want as an artist while keeping the listener in mind. Some may not like the surf rock stuff as much as the power pop/rock stuff, but others might like it more than my usual stuff. The punk album appealed to a different base, one that likely would only like that album because it’s punk and not power pop.
As an artist often associated with ‘power pop,’ how do you think surf and hot rod music figure into the development of that genre?
Brad Marino: I think the surf rock/hot rod music of the ‘60s is well-liked by the power pop fans. I mean, power pop is sort of an enigma in its own way—like you joke about a lot on social media—BUT IS IT POWER POP? Well, who cares? Is it catchy and fun? Then, sure! Call it what you like.
I think in power pop there are certain bands everyone is influenced by and then there are certain sectors that might like surf music or certain sectors that like the more early ‘70s AM radio stuff. Surf music is a niche, so I hope to turn some people onto these great tunes because I do think a lot of them are incredibly rare. A lot of people’s only point of reference to this style of music is pre–Pet Sounds Beach Boys, but there are a lot of other great artists that did it.
One of the tracks covered here is the Beach Boys song "Shut Down" (written by Brian Wilson/Roger Christian)? Would you consider this a prime example of the hot rod genre?
Brad Marino: I certainly would! This has always been one of my favorite hot rod tunes. And those two guys and Gary Usher basically wrote the book on that style. I’m in the minority, but I really prefer and enjoy the fun hot rod/summer Beach Boys to the more thoughtful or experimental stuff. I’m no historian or expert, but I think inventing a whole genre of rock music is just as impressive or worthy of the ‘genius’ moniker given to Brian Wilson.
I mean, they really broke ground with those early singles and records too. Those songs are underrated as being simple or silly—which they are at times, in a good way—but it’s just as groundbreaking to me as the more lauded records. I’m also a sucker for catchy 3-chord, 2-minute music, so it’s all personal taste.
Two of the tracks were written by Gary Usher/Roger Christian, both heavily associated with the Beach Boys' hot rod era. What are a few of your other favorite Usher/Christian compositions?
Brad Marino: Both of those guys don’t get as much credit as they should, mainly because—besides The Beach Boys—the other ‘bands’ they wrote for weren’t real bands, and the fact the whole surfin’/hot rod craze died down by ‘65.
‘Dragging Deuce’ is a great collab between the two of them that I think was released under the name The Super Stocks. ‘Little Beach Bunny’ is another awesome track. Of course, I also like a lot of the hit singles for Jan & Dean that Roger Christian co-wrote.
There is one Gary Usher album out there called Barefoot Adventure that has a lot of these and other songs, although they’re definitely in more of primitive demo state. You have to really find the released version by one of their ‘bands’ like The Super Stocks or The Hondells to get a real taste of how good the song is.
The fourth/final track is your instrumental surf composition, "Tripwire." Do you approach songwriting differently when there are no vocals?
Brad Marino: ‘Tripwire’ came out of left field, honestly. I have no idea where that came from, but I will admit it’s rad! It started with the D Minor-to-A Major chord progression, so basically the rhythm guitar part came first. I was going to make it a sort of melancholy, mid-tempo song like ‘And I Love Her,’ but when I laid down the basic chords to make a demo I started playing the main riff and away I went.
I really like that one. It appeared on my 2021 LP Looking for Trouble, but I felt it was too perfect for this release. So, I remixed it for Hot Rod Rampage. Someone said that it sounds like it should be in a Tarantino movie, which made me smile.
What's next for you?
Brad Marino: This was supposed to be a 7-inch release, but the vinyl wasn’t going to be ready until Autumn. That didn’t feel right for a hot rod EP, so I decided to roll with the digital release, at least for summer 2024. The plan is to record more songs in this style, including some originals and make an LP of surfin’ hot rod rock and roll music for 2025 on Ghost Highway Recordings from Spain.
I also have my first solo compilation album—mostly songs that didn’t make it on the vinyl editions of my previous albums for whatever reason—coming out, I believe, by the end of this year. It’s got some good stuff including songs that were digital- or CD-only. Plus, I found some cool outtakes and alternate versions of songs that people will like, and a couple new ones for good measure. It was all mixed/remixed by Josh Roman at Mindrocket Studio who also did Hot Rod Rampage. That will be out on Sioux Vinyl (who did the vinyl version of my last LP Grin and Bear It). So, lots of new music on the horizon which is always fun!
Feels like I’m listening to the Ramones for the first time all over again. Great stuff!