Book Review: Surf by Day, Jam by Night by Ash Grunwald
"Oh I don’t want to be slave, I want to be free and I just want to love everybody, be beautiful and make a beautiful planet". This is the sentiment of both Jim Banks and so many of the other interviewees in Ash Grunwald's “Surf by Day, Jam by Night”
Whether you're a surfer or a muso, there's so much in here for anyone who subscribes to either camp (or neither camp for that matter). After all, as Banks puts it, what this is really about is the “wonderful escape into a world of fun and play and discovery”
I’m so thrilled to be writing this review up and revisiting one more time so much of the beautiful content and ideas within this book.
Much more than a book about barrels and blues riffs; This is a book of inspiration delivered by a group of extraordinary people who just so happen to be accomplished surfers or musicians. Overflowing from its pages are thoughts and ideas on how to live with zest, how to live free and how to have an impact.
The book features interviews with such iconic surfers and musicians as Steph Gilmore, Dave Rastovich and G Love to name a few. And reading these interviews it's a thrill to live vicariously through these free spirited and creative people that do what they love for a living.
Whether it’s discussion of manifesting dreams (with Stephanie Gilmore) or entering flow state (with Jim Banks), the insight shared within these pages is immense. “I can’t think of a person in this book who does not live the same way - constantly learning” Ash notes.
And while the interviewees are certainly inspiring, this book has turned out to be so much more than a collection of interviews. This is a journey as Ash, over 12 months, shares his own exploration of a life well lived. As Ash puts it “this year has been an experiment in positive thinking and what you’re reading is an account of my findings in the most amazing year of my life”.
For those wanting to 'nerd out' on retro surfboard shapes, pick ups and homemade tube amps. Don't worry, you'll certainly get your dose of this weaved throughout the book as well as some interesting commentary on 'style' as it is manifested across both music and surfing.
So to wrap up our first book review and leave you with something to take to the bank here’s an inspiring idea from Dave Rastovich:
“All I wanna do is make a f*ckn week long festival of surfing and music. My go-to way to have the most fun in my life is to go surfing with a bunch of friends - preferably here, just behind where I live, and no one around. And then come back and still be drippin’ wet and pick up instruments and have a big cook-up on the grass and have a big fire, and just f*ck*ng belt out music of all kinds until the energy drops and you’re physically exhausted and then you go into that really meditative, cosmic space of music. And then that goes to another dimension; That’s my fantasy. That’s living in a way that feels so rich and successful..”
Earth Bottles
On the subject of Ash Grunwald, it's worth mentioning the company that Ash runs with and his wife Danni Carr called Earth Bottles.
This is an inspiring company that is trying to reduce plastic. They produce bottles, coffee cups, straws and are trying beach clean ups and other activities.
For us and our guitar stand enterprise, companies like this demonstrate a great model which we can aspire to achieve ourselves.
Mojo
Also, the album which Ash released shortly after this book is called Mojo. It features some great songs and epic collaborations with the likes of; Kasey Chambers, Joe Bonamassa and the Teskey Brothers! We highly recommend you check this out if you're a blues and roots fan like us!