Buttertones slather on the West Coast 1960s

Surf rock, as written and performed by players who were raised on grunge. Otherwise, the Buttertones are all over the place, with sonic influences from bands like the Gun Club all the way back to Brit-pop acts such as Johnny Kidd and the Pirates.

There’s a wealth of exciting rock starting to come out of Los Angeles, again, and this band, the Buttertones, is part of that new wave of talent. That this band’s music is a living, breathing replica of the West Coast 1960s, mingled with doo-wop and ’50s pop radio, is no matter. The Buttertones’ founder/bassist once told a reporter that it’s important to go to the source. “We’ve always identified,” he said, “with the outsider perspective of early rock and roll.”

A more-or-less new band, the Buttertones got started in Hollywood six years ago, in Sean Redman’s apartment. A past member of Cherry Glazerr, Redman’s gigging experience was enough to attract guitarist Richard Araiza and Cobi Cobian on drums; in time, they pulled in Dakota Boettcher and saxman London Guzman.

This band’s voodoo-ish sound owes much to Dick Dale. We’re not talking Beach Boys harmonies, but more like Dale’s vintage guitar twang. Dale authored a distinctive sound that blended the tight reverb of instrumental guitar with Middle Eastern scales and chord progressions. The first round of surf music had about a two-year shelf life. By 1964 and the time of the Beatles, it was pretty much over, with the exception of such revivalists as the Buttertones.

Frankie and the Witch Fingers also perform.