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“ We li v ed , ate , and breathed that life , ” sa y s G U I T A R I S T T O M P ritchard , w ho surfed e v er y chance he g ot, e v en namin g his first band Waterlo g g ed . “ I can pla y an y surf son g y ou can thin k of. ” dav e g o o d
Dynamite Walls front man replaces surf culture with airwaves By dave good
T
om Pritchard, vocalist and guitarist with San Diego band Dynamite Walls, was indoctrinated into surf music and culture from an early age. His dad played in one of the touring incarnations of the Surfaris, the legendary surf band responsible for the 1960s hit, Wipeout. The Surfaris practiced in the backyard of the family’s Fallbrook home, right outside Pritchard’s bedroom window. “We lived, ate and breathed that life,” says Pritchard, who surfed every chance he got, even naming his first band Waterlogged. “I can play any surf song you can think of.” Pritchard eventually left Fallbrook for Encinitas, where he still lives. He surfed hard until turning 23, and then stopped altogether when his current band, Dynamite Walls, started eating up all his swell time. Today, Pritchard eschews his surf-rock DNA, preferring an
edgier, alternative sound inspired by bands from Van Morrison to Coldplay and The Stokes. Dynamite Walls’ new single, Keep Spinning Around, is in regular rotation on 91X FM and a smattering of other radio stations across the country. The band’s first major label release, Chemicals, is due to drop any day on the Universal Republic label. Now that things are looking up, Pritchard says he’s about ready to kick off his shoes, grab his board and head for the water again. “I need the exercise,” he says, laughing. dynamitewalls.com, Twitter.com @dynamitewalls
MAY concert calendar
Son of the Beach
Bostich & Fussible
5/1: Paul Oakenfold at Intervention sundays @ Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, interventionsd.com 5/2: TV on the Radio @ 4th&B, 4thandbevents.com 5/2: Beach Fossils @ Soda Bar, sodabarmusic.com 5/2: Vivian Girls @ The Casbah, casbahmusic.com 5/3: James Blunt @ Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com 5/5: Bostich & Fussible (norteño/techno), @ 4th&B, 4thandbevents.com 5/5: The Dirty Heads @ House of Blues, hob.com 5/5: DJ Mark Knight @ Fluxx, fluxxsd.com 5/6: Atmosphere @ House of Blues, hob.com 5/6: Fleet Foxes @ Spreckels Theatre, spreckels.net 5/6: Robert Cray Band @ Belly Up Tavern, Bellyup.com 5/8: Ricky Martin @ Valley View Casino Center, valleyviewcasinocenter.com 5/10: Coheed and Cambria @ House of Blues, hob.com 5/10: Lauryn Hill @ Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com 5/11: Mogwai w/ Errors @ Belly Up Tavern, Bellyup.com 5/13: Channel 933 Summer Kickoff Concert featuring Usher, Justin Bieber, Akon, Ke$ha and Pitbull @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, channel933.com 5/16: The Black Angels w/ Sleepy Sun @ BellyUp Tavern, Bellyup.com
Dynamite Walls
5/17: Citizen Cope (acoustic show) @ BellyUp Tavern, Bellyup.com
Tom Pritchard (Vocals/Guitar)
5/19: DJ Markus Schulz @ Fluxx, fluxxsd.com
Alex Blundell (Lead Guitar)
5/21: System of a Down @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, livenation.com
Allan Bates (Bass/Vocals)
5/21: Yeasayer with Smith Westerns @ Belly Up, Bellyup.com
Paul Kimmel (Keys)
5/22: Jamie Foxx @ Harrah’s Rincon Casino, Harrahsrincon.com
Eric Pritchard (Drums)
5/29: Glee Live @ Valley View Casino Center, valleyviewcasinocenter.com
pacificsandiego.com
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