1000 Palms, Surfer Blood’s third LP, dropped earlier this month, and for Pitts it’s not a moment too soon. “For me, this is a very personal record,” he says. “We made it over the course of a few months and have been waiting very patiently for it to come out. I guess we felt like we had something to prove.”
After a disappointing experience with Warner Records during the making of 2013’s Pythons, Surfer Blood decided to go back to their roots and readopt the DIY ethos they had when they were first starting out. “Making a record is not some big secret that only special or elite people know how to do,” Pitts says. “For us it’s always been a matter of trial and error – figuring out what works by experimenting. The four of us spend a lot of time goofing off or just sitting around riffing on an idea. The trick is to record everything and always be nice to people, because you never know when you might need to call in a favour.”
The kindness of friends and family played a crucial role in the making of 1000 Palms. “We recorded most of this album in an attic that was on top of a doctor’s studio,” Pitts says, “and we also took over our drummer Tyler [Schwarz]’s parents’ house while they were out of town. We felt totally in control, but at the same time we felt really free.”
Now that Surfer Blood have three studio albums under their belt, Pitts says they’re often approached by aspiring musicians looking for advice on how to get noticed or signed to a label. “All I can say is trust your instincts and sometimes mistakes are cool. A lot of my favourite bands are very sloppy both live and on their records. I find that charming most of the time; I believe making mistakes can be extremely charming and you can only get better. Just give it a go.”
1000 Palms lead single – the adventurous, crescendo-ing I Can’t Explain – comes coupled with a quirky video clip filmed in the band’s home town of West Palm Beach, Florida. “We shot the clip at a nightclub in Florida that we’ve all been going to since we were kids,” Pitts says, “since we were too young to get in there. We were very sneaky – we were bad kids, we should not have been doing that. But all these years later, I think we’re doing okay.
“Anyway,” he continues, “we were so happy that a lot of our friends showed up and dressed the part. We ran around like chickens with our heads cut off, but it was so much fun and we’re exceedingly grateful to everyone who helped us out with the making of it.”
Conspicuously absent from the clip is lead guitarist and founding member Thomas Fekete. While Fekete’s guitar work features on 1000 Palms, a few months ago he was diagnosed with sarcoma, a rare form of cancer. Then just weeks out from the album’s release, Fekete found out the cancer had spread to his lungs and spine, preventing him from touring and promoting the album. Unable to make a living and with medical bills piling up, Fekete and Surfer Blood have turned to the money-raising website GoFundMe for help.
“Unfortunately Thomas’ condition has become more complicated now, so we had to do something,” Pitts says. “People have been so generous and super helpful. We put on a benefit show in New York City recently and all the bands played for free. Everyone has been unbelievable.”
Surfer Blood recently posted a photo to their official Facebook page, which shows Fekete smiling after a session of chemotherapy with the caption “FUCK CANCER”. The fan reaction has been impressive.
“A lot of people have memories of meeting Thomas on tour and love to share stories,” Pitts says. “The past six years have honestly been a bit of a blur so it’s nice to be reminded of the good times. It’s really been an emotional rollercoaster ride.”
One unanimous highlight in Surfer Blood’s short career is opening for the Pixies during their Doolittle Lost Cities tour in 2011. And the happy story has an Australian connection. “We’ve been to Australia and New Zealand twice now and it was during one of those trips I met the Pixies at New Zealand airport,” Pitts says. “I was obsessed with them in high school and I still am. After that meeting they asked us to go on tour with them, I couldn’t believe it. So I have fond memories of Australia and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we can organise something for a little later in the year. When this side of the world is frozen over, that sounds like a good time to head to Australia.”
BY NATALIE ROGERS
