Founded in Anchorage, Alaska, Charlie Doesn’t Surf was originally the solo project of guitarist Joshua Williamson. Armed with only a guitar and a drum machine, CDS got its start performing regularly at open mics around the Spenard neighborhood. Eventually the band would grow to include Adam Kimball on bass and Billy Herbst on the drums. Their first album, Riviera Days, was recorded in 2015.
In the spring 2016, the band relocated to Minneapolis with a rotating lineup based around Joshua Williamson and Matt Jorizzo (on bass). A year later they self recorded and released their second EP, Something Darker, at the now defunct Triple Rock Social Club. Drummer John Bruno joined the band full time soon after. The band’s latest release, Charlie Doesn’t Surf, is a full length album recorded at Flowers Studio in Minneapolis that was released May 16, 2019 at the historic Varsity Theater. CDS' current line-up features Williamson, Bruno, and Wyatt Engl (on bass).