Surfer Blood

Surfer Blood is an indie rock band from West Palm Beach, United States, active since 2009. The group includes John Paul Pitts, Michael McCleary, Lindsey Mills, Tyler Schwarz and Thomas Fekete. Its sound is associated with indie pop, indie rock, surf and surf rock, and it is also described as an alternative rock band.

Formation and early line-up

John Paul Pitts and Tyler Schwarz begin playing music together in Orlando, Florida. They later meet Thomas Fekete at an after-party following Ultra Music Festival in Miami, and the band forms with the stated aim of recording and touring extensively. The group first uses the name Jabroni Sandwich before Schwarz suggests the name Surfer Blood in conversation with Pitts about a surfer backpack from school.

Recordings and releases

The band releases its debut single, “Swim”, in 2009. The track receives strong critical attention and is placed at number 37 in Pitchfork’s list of the 100 Best Songs of 2009. Their debut album, Astro Coast, follows in 2010. Surfer Blood then releases the Tarot Classics EP on Kanine Records in 2011, with “Miranda” as its first single and “I’m Not Ready” named NPR’s Song of the Day. The band later records its second album with producer Phil Ek and then moves to California to work with producer Gil Norton. Its second album, Pythons, appears in 2013, followed by “Demon Dance” and “Spanish Bombs” on Warner Bros. Records. The third album, 1000 Palms, is released in 2015 on Fierce Panda and Joyful Noise Recordings, and the band later releases Snowdonia in 2017. Other singles include “Slow Jabroni”, “Take It Easy”, “Floating Vibes” and “I Can’t Explain”.

Label changes and membership

Surfer Blood is formerly signed to Warner Bros. Records and later releases material on Kanine Records, Fierce Panda, Joyful Noise Recordings and Woah Dad!. The line-up changes over time: Kevin Williams leaves in 2015 and Lindsey Mills replaces him on bass. Thomas Fekete leaves the band in 2015 after a diagnosis of a rare form of sarcoma that has spread to his lungs and spine.

Live shows, festivals and media

In 2009 and 2010, Surfer Blood gains a reputation as a breakout act around CMJ Music Marathon. The band performs at the SXSW NPR music party in 2010 and returns in 2011. It also plays ATP festival in 2010, Primavera Sound in Spain, Splendour in the Grass in Australia and Summer Sonic in Tokyo that year. In 2011 it is chosen by Les Savy Fav for ATP Nightmare Before Christmas in Minehead, England, and opens for the Pixies on their Doolittle Lost Cities Tour. Pitts says the Pixies already know the band’s music after meeting in an airport in New Zealand. Surfer Blood also appears on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon performing “Miranda”, and records an AV Club Undercover version of the Pixies’ “Gigantic”.

Media use and collaborations

“Swim” appears in an episode of Daredevil and is playable in Power Gig: Rise of the SixString. “Swim” and “Floating Vibes” are released as downloadable content for the Rock Band series, “Floating Vibes” also appears in Test Drive Unlimited 2, and “Demon Dance” appears in Guitar Hero Live. The Tarot Classics EP includes remixes by Totally Sincere, Speculator, School of Seven Bells and Allen Blickle, with Totally Sincere credited to Connor Hanwick of The Drums and Peggy Wang of The Pains of Being Pure at Heart.