Surfer Blood - “Parkland" (Into the Silence)”

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 9

Pairs Well With…Smith Westerns, Best Coast, Cloud Nothings

Indie rock mainstays Surfer Blood announced their sixth record this month with “Parkland (Into the Silence)”, a hopeful and bright track that is born in the most tragic of places to somehow find a movement of inspiration. While right in the band’s beach-pop lane, it’s one of the more bare-bones tracks in their catalog and a nice return to rock and roll after some dreamier, psych rock excursions. They’re a band that has overcome tragedy themselves following the passing of guitarist Thomas Fekete in 2016 and that theme of rebirth is a thread that hopefully informs the rest of Carefree Theatre, due this May. (Kevin McStravick)

2013 Review: Surfer Blood will return to SXSW in 2013 with their long-awaited as-yet-untitled sophomore record finally in town.  Though no studio singles have been tested, Surfer Blood has highlighted some new tunes on sporadic tour dates this year and it seems the band is heading into more of a straight-ahead alternative rock zone instead of the dreamy vibe of Astro Coast.

2011 Review: a psychedelic but poppy indie rock band from West Palm Beach, Florida.  Surfer Blood has managed to find the perfect middle ground between catchy pop and experimental rock, creating a sound that is equally aurally pleasing as it is adventurous.  Surfer Blood broke out last year being highlighted by countless indie music sources as one of the leaders of this new wave of music.  Their sound has a rawness to it at its base, with a hint of garage rock infused into their somewhat polished tunes.