Ok, the HBO blurb for this show is, "Set in Imperial Beach, California, the last great surf-break before Tijuana, where the U.S. meets Mexico, and water meets land, John From Cincinnati tells the story of the Yosts, a family of surfers whose awesome athletic talents have seemed for generations to come with a curse attached...The Yosts' reign and reputation, once defined in the curl of a perfect wave, have been eroded by years of bad luck, addiction and hubris. But just as things are looking like they can't get worse, a stranger named John arrives – and the Yosts' banal existence is lifted into something profound, miraculous and, possibly, universal."

Now, this show has been co-created by a guy called Kem Nunn, and this guy happened to write a novel called, "Tapping The Source" which went on to be the inspiration for 'Point Break' which, like it or not, every surfer I have ever met is able to quote at length. In fact, you could run a table quiz for surfers based entirely around trivia questions from that movie. And this is made by HBO who also made 'Six Feet Under', 'The Sopranos' and 'Rome'. Put those two things together and you have a series which although warm hearted is not going to be, exactly, family entertainment. Let's just say that the first ten minutes shows one of the main characters Butchie Yost shooting up smack and includes the line, "You just paid to see a donkey f**k a woman". In adddition, if the show is successful it will provide yet another avenue for musicians to have their music listened to since, as has been shown by Fionn Regan on 'Greys Anatomy' and by Bell X1 on 'The OC', synch licenses have become a fashionable and popular move for the artist on the up, and Kasabian's 'Sun/Rise/Light/Flies' is used over the climatic surf scene that ends Episode One. Oh yeah, and pro surfer Keala Kennelly is in the cast too.

Rather than do a long write on this I thought I would simply give you the link via i-Tunes to download the first episode, and also a couple of You Tube clips for the opening sequence and a trailer and let you make up your own mind. Comments are, as always, very welcome.

Opening Sequence

Series Promo

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The Ripcurl Boardmasters, Newquay is one of the big ASP events held in the UK. Combining the 5 star mens and womens WQS contests with skateboarding, BMX biking and, er, bikini contests, the 6 day event also has a two day music festival wrapped up where the bands this year include Ash, Guillemots & Funeral for a Friend. Channel 4 recently broadcast highlights from the 2006 event and it looked sick. Tickets for the Unleashed festival are £25 per day or £49.50 for both Unleashed dates and can be bought at this link. There is no onsite camping and here is the full week schedule.

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I can't imagine Renault Supremo and entrepreneur Bill Cullen being interested in the decidely non bling lifestyle of the average Irish surfer and he wouldn't be happy to hear that Renault is not a favoured brand of Irish wave riders, but it hasn't stopped Renault from bringing out a surf branded version of the Clio in association with RipCurl. I won't get all Jeremy Clarkson on this car but, lets just say, no self respecting surfer would be caught dead in one of these, although I had a Aussie mate who had to be physically restrained in a surf shop once from purchasing a pair of Billabong branded underpants, so addicted was he to buying anything with a surf brand logo on it. Even he would not part cash for this because surfers drive one of three types of automotive transport; station wagons, two seater commerical 4WDs and camper vans. I think the makers of the adverts for this car know it too as they focus on a pair of surf turkeys sitting in the car with their wetsuits on backward. I guess this car is aimed at the same people who have bought tickets for Cois Fharraige, non surfers who want to get a little of the surfer lifestyle. I have some advice for those guys (and girls). Instead of parting with your cash for something with a logo on it; simply get up at 5am with a splitting hangover, pull on some clothes you have left in the freezer overnight then get into a bath full of cold water with ice floating in it.

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Ok, Bundoran Ocean Festival, a long established date in the surfer's social calendar and one which is endorsed by the Irish Surfing Association. This year events include gigs by The Undertones & Gerry Fish, a surf movie festival, surf art exhibition, free surfing lessons and the Gala Ocean Ball, an event that is always a riot in the best sense of the word. For further details and full line up, click here.

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Smart lyrics, neat sitar lick, nice groove; whats not to like about HyBrasil's latest tune, "God Bless The Devil". Here's the video for your enjoyment.

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Until 2007, the idea of an Irish film about surfing was, well, rather like a Jamaican film about bob sleighing but now a new wave of Irish filmmakers, all with close links to Ireland's surfing community have stepped forward to commit a serious, new vision of surfing to celluloid that is far removed from Hollywood's sunlit Malibu centric image of the sport.

Firstly, there is surfer Naomi Britton's elegaic and poetic tale of the early days of Irish surfing, 'The Silver Surfari' which premiered in March and has been touring the country to packed audiences prior to a television broadcast.

Next up is Gavin Gallagher's, "And Then The Wind Died...", which documents the discovery and surfing of Ireland's big wave beast Aileens off the Cliffs of Moher, a wave that is akin to the monster surf of Waimea Bay. The film premieres at the Cois Fharraige Music festival in September.

Finally, there is Joel Conroy's big budget, 'Wave Riders', which interweaves an account of the advent of tow surfing in Ireland with the life story of Irish American surfing pioneer George Freeth.

Taken together, these films offer a comprehensive account of Irish surfing, where it came from, where it is right now and where it is going. Sound Waves applauds these young filmmakers and encourages the patrons of Cluas to seek out these films, if only to enjoy the often glorious music used on their soundtracks.

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Well, who would have thought when Sound Waves launched that we would find ourselves grasping the zeitgeist, however accidently, so it was with some delight that we found ourselves at the Village last night for the launch of Cois Fharragie. First things first, the confirmed 15 act line up includes Ocean Colour Scene, Delorentos, Paddy Casey, Tom Baxter, Badly Drawn Boy, Fun Loving Criminals, Kila and Republic of Loose. We worked it out that with tickets for the three days retailing at less than € 90.00 you are paying no more than € 5.63 per act and with the average ticket price for individual shows for acts of this size retailing at € 28.00 + booking fee thats got to be the bargain of the year. According to the press release, there will also be a three day surf contest run by the West Coast Surf Club, great gang and their annual Xmas party is a blast, so more details when we get them. The launch was good fun, my first by the way, free beer on tap although I was on the soft drinks as part of a training schedule, bummer dude and a great four song acoustic set by Ocean Colour Scene that ended with a wonderful sing along version of 'The Day We Took The Train'  with the audience in full voice. Nice ! We also got to see the first excerpts of Gavin Gallaghers eagerly awaited documentary on surfing the big wave of Aileens in County Clare, "And Then The Wind Died..." and I have to say the footage looks pretty tasty. All in all, a good launch and what looks like a neat little end of summer fest.

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Its always funny to watch a young pretender try to steal the crown of a reigning monach, in this case Beth Ditto attempts the same sort of audience interaction and stage diving antics as Iggy at Glastobury but with perhaps slightly less success as it looks like the audience let her hit the ground when she jumped into the crowd after which she missed her cue; something Iggy, old pro he is, didn't do. Think Jack Black in a latex dress. She still gives an electric performance though.

Iggy & The Stooges: "I wanna be your dog"

The Gossip: "Standing in the way of control"

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Right now, the hot album in estates and camper vans up and down the country  engaged in The Search is, "We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank" by Modest Mouse. This fine 2007 album, featuring guitar work by the great Johnny Marr, is the must listen to record for all discerning surfers who have been left cold by either the grandiose orchestral rock of Arcade Fire or that Aretha Franklin of Riot Grrl, Beth Ditto but are digging on Modest Mouse.

You heard it here, maybe not first, but certainly on good authority. Peace and love to y'all. Here is the video for 'Dashboard' featuring a bunch of salty old sailor dogs, aaargh Jim lad !

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If you are one of those who attended Glastonbury 2007 and are now giving yourself a pat on the back because of the festival's eco friendly image and climate change campaign then you are in for a shock. According to New Scientist in an article on the festival, festival goers spent so much time urinating in one of the site's rivers, the Whitelake stream, that the river has been labelled an 'eco hazard' and has been sealed off  because, "levels of ammonia (found in the urine) are now high enough to pose a serious threat to the fish, frog and toad populations...and that the urine is contaminated with alcohol and drugs, which also affects the frog and toad population."

Nice work, kids.

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