UNCAPPED 008: TIJUANA PANTHERS

Coming straight out of Long Beach, Tijuana Panthers make music for the summertime. Backyard BBQs, cannonballs, drinking out of the garden hose, and generally enjoying life—they’re a killer soundtrack for all that. Check “Summer Fun.” It’s a straight up manifesto—these guys aren’t joking around. They’re on the same wavelength as Brooklyn’s the Drums and London’s the Vaccines: maximum fun in three minutes or less.

Cribbing as much from Brian Wilson’s lyrical topics as they take from Dick Dale’s reverb-soaked guitar tone, Tijuana Panthers are at their core the quintessential good time party band. “Louie Louie” could be their anthem. vitaminwater shot them at Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa where they brought their sunshine vibrations to a packed house of fellow Orange County revelers.

When Tijuana Panthers hit the stage and catch their wave, it is the Fourth of July, it’s Bastille Day, it’s graduation night, it is one of those days when staying indoors should be a crime, when the only acceptable wardrobe choices are mini-skirts or cut-offs. It’s snow cone stained lips and not caring if you get a sunburn. Tijuana Panthers are fun.