By Sophie Spickard
On November 8 and 9, the surf and music communities collided as Jack Johnson took the stage for two sold‑out nights at the Irvine Bowl in Laguna Beach, following his show at the Santa Barbara Arlington Theatre on the 6th, and longtime fans jumped at the opportunity to experience the blend of live music, surf culture, and cinematic nostalgia that filled the stage. Each night played a unique 16mm film that Jack Johnson helped create before his music career skyrocketed, with Saturday night displaying Thicker Than Water (2000) and Sunday night showing The September Sessions (2002), and during the films Johnson and his band scored them live, authentically presenting the visuals with the music that inspired it all. November 8’s lineup brought Hermanos Gutiérrez, G. Love, Adam Topol, Merlo Podlewski, Zach Gill, Todd Hannigan, and Xocoyotzin Moraza to the stage, while the next night leaned even more heavily into surf culture with repeat musical guests including G. Love, Adam Topol, Merlo Podlewski, and Zach Gill, along with performances from Donavon Frankenreiter and Matt Costa, two musicians who have been touring with Johnson from the start. Appearances from famous surfers Kelly Slater and Rob Machado elevated the surf vibes as they shared stories and performed songs including “Better Together” alongside Johnson and the rest of the crew. Although all three shows were completely sold out, Johnson officially announced the SURFILMUSIC tour, bringing together “everything Jack loves: surf, film, music, good friends, and community.”
Photo Provided By: JackJohnson's Facebook