Surfer Joe Surf City by Ramon Jacinto & The Riots: A Retro Gem That Still Rides the Waves
Let’s get one thing straight—this ain’t your grandma’s vinyl collection (unless your grandma was super cool and lived in the Philippines in the '60s). Surfer Joe Surf City by Ramon Jacinto & The Riots is a scrappy, sun-soaked blast from 1965 that somehow manages to feel like catching a perfect wave on a hot summer day. With its mix of Rock, Pop, Surf, and Garage Rock vibes, this album doesn’t just dip its toes in the water—it cannonballs right into the deep end.
First off, let’s talk about “Surf City.” If you’re expecting some slick California beach anthem, think again. This track has got grit. It’s raw, it’s punchy, and it’s dripping with teenage rebellion—the kind where you wanna grab your board, hop on a jeepney, and shout, “I’m outta here!” Ramon Jacinto’s vocals have this untamed energy, like he’s channelling both his inner rock star and the chaos of Manila traffic. And those guitar riffs? They’re not fancy, but they don’t need to be. They hit hard enough to make you forget you’re listening to something recorded over half a century ago. Honestly, if this song doesn’t make you want to roll down your car windows and crank up the volume, check your pulse—you might be dead.
Then there’s “Surfer Joe,” which is basically the quirky cousin of “Surf City.” Where “Surf City” feels like an adrenaline rush, “Surfer Joe” leans more into storytelling. You can almost picture Joe himself—some dude in board shorts, probably late for class because he was too busy shredding waves. The lyrics are simple, sure, but they stick with you. Like gum under your seat at a local gig. There’s something oddly charming about how unpolished everything sounds; it’s as if the band decided, “Screw perfection—we’re gonna have fun instead.” Spoiler alert: They did.
The whole album rides this vibe: messy yet magnetic, chaotic yet catchy. Released under RahJah Records in the Philippines, it’s proof that great music doesn’t always come from the usual suspects. Who knew a tropical archipelago could churn out surf rock tunes that rival anything blasting out of American radios back then?
So why does this album still matter today? Maybe it’s because we all need reminders that music doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. Or maybe it’s because every now and then, we all need to channel our inner Surfer Joe or Surf City rebel. Either way, Surfer Joe Surf City proves that sometimes the best art comes from places you least expect—and yeah, even dudes in the Philippines can nail the surf rock vibe better than most.
Final thought: Listening to this album feels like finding a vintage T-shirt at a thrift store—it’s worn, maybe a little faded, but damn, does it fit just right. Now excuse me while I go figure out how to pronounce “RahJah” correctly…
