Dirty Heads - Stand Tall

What this video is

Released in October 2008 as the lead single from Dirty Heads' debut album Any Port in a Storm (Executive Music Group/Universal), 'Stand Tall' arrived at the apex of the Southern California reggae-rock wave that included bands such as Sublime's spiritual successors, 311, Pepper, and Rebelution. The song had already achieved cultural visibility via its placement in the 2007 Sony Pictures Animation film Surf's Up,…

Why it matters

Represents a key early document of the 2000s Southern California reggae-rock revival, blending hip-hop vocal delivery with reggae rhythm structures and alternative rock production. The video's humor-driven narrative format and beach-culture signifiers established visual conventions for the…

The director

Walter C. May is a Los Angeles-based director and executive producer. He began his career as an assistant editor at a post-production house focused on commercials before relocating to LA, where he worked alongside director Wayne Isham. He is known for…