Founding members John Paul Pitts and Tyler Schwarz started playing music together in Orlando, Florida. They met Thomas Fekete at an Ultra Music Festival after party in Miami and the group was formed with the immediate goal of releasing a record and touring nonstop.
The band was originally called Jabroni Sandwich. Schwarz randomly came up with the name Surfer Blood during a conversation with Pitts about his surfer backpack from high school.
The band's 2009 debut single "Swim" gained much critical acclaim and was named as the 37th best track on Pitchfork's 100 Best Songs of 2009. They released their debut album Astro Coast in January 2010.
The band were widely considered to be the breakout band of 2009's CMJ Music Marathon. In March 2010, playing songs from their debut album Astro Coast, Surfer Blood made quite a splash at the SXSW NPR music party (and returned to SXSW in 2011). In May 2010, the band played at the ATP music festival curated by Pavement along with other groups such as Broken Social Scene, The Walkmen, and Atlas Sound. Later that month, Surfer Blood headed over to Spain to join the lineup at the San Miguel Primavera Sound Festival. In August of that year, Surfer Blood finished out the summer playing two more festivals; Splendour in the Grass in Australia and Summer Sonic in Tokyo.
The band was chosen by Les Savy Fav to perform at the ATP Nightmare Before Christmas festival that they co-curated in December 2011 in Minehead, England.
On October 25, 2011, Surfer Blood released the Tarot Classics EP on Kanine Records. The EP's first single "Miranda" debuted on Pitchfork on August 30, 2011 and "I'm Not Ready" was named NPR's Song of the Day on December 8, 2011. Artists that contributed remixes to the EP include Totally Sincere (Connor Hanwick of the Drums and Peggy Wang of The Pains of Being Pure at Heart), Speculator, School of Seven Bells and Allen Blickle.
The band opened for the Pixies during their Doolittle Lost Cities Tour in 2011. The tour came about after Pitts met the Pixies in an airport in New Zealand and they said they were already familiar with Surfer Blood's music. Surfer Blood performed a cover of their song "Gigantic" for the AV Club's music-video series "AV Undercover" which Pitts says he'd like to think that was "the needle that broke the camel's back when it came to the decision" to tour with them.
On January 9, 2012, they appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon where they performed the single "Miranda" off of Tarot Classics. The next day, news spread that the band would be entering the studio in February 2012 with producer Phil Ek (Fleet Foxes, Built to Spill) to record their highly anticipated second album which was released on Warner Bros. Records.
In May 2012, the band confirmed via their Twitter account that they were moving to California on May 12, 2012 to record their second album with legendary producer Gil Norton.
On January 21, 2013, they uploaded a new song off their next album, Pythons, called "Weird Shapes".
In February 2014, the band announced that work on their third record had begun.
On May 20, 2014, the band debuted a video of them playing a new song titled "Island". The song has been played before back in 2011, during various radio sessions.
On September 16, 2014, a new song titled "NW Passage" was debuted on Soundcloud, as part of their split single with We Are Scientists.
On February 17, 2015, the band announced their third album "1000 Palms" and that it would be released on Fierce Panda / Joyful Noise Recordings on May 12. The lead single, "Dorian", was premiered on BBC Radio 1 at midnight.
Original guitarist Thomas Fekete left the band in 2015 shortly after the announcement of their third album, "1000 Palms," due to a medical diagnosis for a rare form of cancer (Sarcoma) that had spread to his lungs and spine. The band announced a fundraising effort to help alleviate Thomas' medical bills through the site GoFundMe on April 20, 2015. On May 31, 2016, Fekete's wife Jessica announced that he had passed away.
In April 2015, the song "Swim" was featured in an episode of the Netflix series "Daredevil."
Surfer Blood shared the video for album track "Island" in June 2015, in support of "1000 Palms".
In October 2015, the band announced that their longtime bassist, Kevin Williams, was leaving the band to pursue a new job in Austin, TX. The band later announced that their long time friend from high school, Lindsey Mills, would be replacing Kevin on bass.
Discography
Albums
Astro Coast (2010) #124 U.S.
Pythons (2013) #127 U.S.
1000 Palms (2015) #160 U.S.
Snowdonia (2017)
EPs
Tarot Classics (October 25, 2011)
Singles
"Swim" (2009)
"Slow Jabroni" (2009)
"Take It Easy" (17-04-2010, Kanine Records)
"Swim" (01-05-2010, re-release on Rough Trade)
"Floating Vibes" (28-09-2010, Kanine Records)
"Miranda" (2011, Kanine Records)
"Demon Dance" (2013, Warner Bros. Records)
"Spanish Bombs" (2013, Warner Bros. Records)
"I Can't Explain" (2015, Joyful Noise Recordings)
Appearances in media
The band's song "Swim" is playable in the video game Power Gig: Rise of the SixString. "Swim" and "Floating Vibes" have also been released as downloadable content for the Rock Band video game series through its Rock Band Network service. "Floating Vibes" also appears in video game "Test Drive Unlimited 2". The band's song and music video for "Demon Dance" appears in the video game "Guitar Hero Live".
Point Of No Return
Surfer Blood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chatterboxes fall asleep at the right time
I have to ask what does it take for us to make sense of these hieroglyphs
Somebody planted a packet of seeds in the tar pits
I'm happy for you
I knew you'd pull through the point of no return
Took a step back and opened my eyes for the first time
Everything that might've been is fading out and wearing thin
all shifting red in the color blindness of hindsight
I'm happy for you, if you're happy too
So let me know, while your instincts still move you
as light passes through you
into a golden age
The lyrics of Surfer Blood's song Point Of No Return seem to be describing a feeling of confusion and disorientation. The first line about being scatterbrained after the search of a lifetime suggests the singer has been through some kind of intense experience or journey that has left them feeling overwhelmed. The next line, "Chatterboxes fall asleep at the right time," seems to imply that others around them are able to find peace or clarity, while the singer is still struggling to make sense of things. The following line, "I have to ask what does it take for us to make sense of these hieroglyphs," reinforces this idea that there is a difficulty in understanding or interpreting something.
The fourth line, "Somebody planted a packet of seeds in the tar pits," is a bit more ambiguous, but it can be interpreted as a metaphor for something positive or hopeful being introduced into a dark, hopeless situation. Overall, the lyrics seem to be reflecting on a moment where the singer has gained a new perspective - "Took a step back and opened my eyes for the first time" - but is also feeling uncertain about what it all means. However, despite this uncertainty, the chorus reassures someone - perhaps the singer themselves - that they made it through the "point of no return," and that there can be happiness even in the midst of confusion.
Line by Line Meaning
So scatterbrained after the search of a lifetime
Feeling confused and disorganized after a long pursuit of something important.
Chatterboxes fall asleep at the right time
Those who talk excessively often find it easy to fall asleep when they stop talking.
I have to ask what does it take for us to make sense of these hieroglyphs
Wondering what it takes to understand something that seems cryptic and mysterious.
Somebody planted a packet of seeds in the tar pits
A small, unexpected act can sometimes yield positive results in a negative or unfavorable environment.
I'm happy for you
Expressing genuine happiness for someone else's good fortune.
I knew you'd pull through the point of no return
Having faith in someone's ability to overcome a challenging situation without turning back.
We were perfectly still in a storm that's once in a lifetime
Experiencing a moment of calm and tranquility during a rare and tumultuous event.
Took a step back and opened my eyes for the first time
Gaining a new perspective and seeing things clearly after stepping away from a situation.
Everything that might've been is fading out and wearing thin
The potential of what could have been is diminishing and becoming less important.
all shifting red in the color blindness of hindsight
Looking back on past events and realizing that things were not as they seemed at the time.
I'm happy for you, if you're happy too
Continuing to express happiness for someone else, as long as they are also happy.
So let me know, while your instincts still move you
Encouraging someone to act on their intuition before it fades or becomes less influential.
as light passes through you, into a golden age
Experiencing a moment of clarity and enlightenment that leads to a positive and prosperous future.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
#1Directioner
LOVE YOU GUYS!! KEEP MAKING AMAZING MUSIC
Jrock91x
R.I.P. Thomas and good luck to Kevin! Hope Surfer Blood can continue to make great music with their new members, I'll be here patiently awaiting their next album.
mordicant
Same for me, man.
Alex K
WOW, bacana caras!!! =)
doug tessler
Being at Thomas's memorial was a privilege and honor and to perform there was a blessing RIP Thomas
Will
Man, I love these guys! I was fortunate enough to meet them in person and they were super nice to everyone around. They even let this one random guy jump on stage, John handed a guitar to him, and let him play a solo. Hope you guys continue to make your awesome music.
Renewed Redneck
okay guys coming from a local floridian! you guys only get better and this had to be one your BEST music videos to date!!!
Eric Kolkey
Great song and cool video! Well done!!
Ginger Holiday
I saw you guys play at the Knitting Factory in BK in 2011, great show! Lost track for a while but glad to see you're still making great music.
Anthony Carignan
I love this video so much!