Brightest Young Things

After the release of their album Astro Coast, which is pure bliss out slacker heaven of an album, West Palm Beach's Surfer Blood found themselves on both Pitchfork and MTV John Norris' Best New Music/Must See band lists. I don't know which powerhouse of music journalism I respect more.

Let's get to know Surfer Blood's lead singer/head song writer John Paul Pitts...........

BYT: What are you doing right now-be specific

Sitting around waiting for the internet to start working again.

So, you guys are from Florida-no what is widely considered a breeding place for quality indie rock. How did you all end up there?

My parents moved here when I was three and I’ve been here ever since. Florida is an interesting place, there are a lot of talented young people here, but they usually move away after they graduate from high school. There were people down here who have been following us from the beginning, but we built our fan base the way any other band does: through touring. I think the stagnation here has a lot to do with geography, especially South Florida. It takes eight hours to get out of the state and close to eleven to get to Atlanta, the closest major metropolitan area (with the exception of Miami).

Do you all actually surf? Have you all actually ever made anyone bleed?

I wish I surfed, it looks really fun. Tyler (our drummer) surfs, though he used to surf a lot more. He says he has a hard time finding people to go with him; he keeps trying to convince me to go every time we’re home from tour for a few days. As far as making someone bleed, I probably have, but I can’t recall right now.

Describe to us the morning (noon) you woke up and found out you were "Pitchfork's best new music"? How did that feel? Did it change your perception of your record?

First of all, it was one in the morning eastern time when I found out. Pitchfork is based out of Chicago, so they post all of their new stuff at midnight central time/ one o’clock eastern time. I was at a bar in Lake Worth that I go to a lot called Harry’s. The place is a real dive and I’m pretty positive 99% of the people who go there on a night to night basis have no clue what Pitchfork is. Our album had been out for two or three days and we were all kind of anxious to see our review. I didn’t even get a chance to look at the review before I got half a dozen text messages from my friends congratulating me, I was really excited and bought everyone around me shots of tequila. No one else in the bar knew what we were so excited about. However, as exciting as it is, there’s no way that it changes my perception of the record. Why would I let one reviewer determine whether or not I thought Astro Coast was good or bad? Our record would be the same regardless of what any website said, the Pitchfork review just helped propel it forward and we are very grateful.

Speaking of which, what do you think is the biggest difference between being a band in the early 90s and now? Do you ever wonder what it would have been like back then for you? Easier, harder?

The biggest difference between the past and present musical climate is probably the internet. People had to buy records in the 90’s, there was no way to download torrents of a dozen records at once. I don’t know, I turned four in 1990, but I’d imagine bands grew in a more gradual and organic fashion. There were also fewer bands that put out more albums, as opposed to the totally saturated music environment of today. At the same time, there were Surfer Blood shows back in October where people were singing the words to every song and our album wasn’t scheduled to be released until January. That‘s pretty incredible, so much can happen so fast, your band just has to be ready to keep up.

Who is the coolest person you met on tour? Who would you lose your mind if they showed up at you show?

Seeing John Norris at a few of our New York shows was pretty surreal. We all grew up watching him on MTV news and now he’s a fan of Surfer Blood. Also, Debbie Harry was at our first Bowery Ballroom show, that was pretty cool. I would freak out if David Byrne or David Bowie was at one of our shows, just because I know that they are both constantly collaborating with new artists and that would be pretty wild.

(Old School John Norris)

The record itself is a tight little bliss out deal, 10 songs, and only one that is 6 minutes long (I have to admit I thought there would be more). No extra fat anywhere, so to speak. How did you decide what would go on the record?

Actually, there are two songs that exceed the six minute mark: ‘Slow Jabroni’ and ‘Anchorage’ and they are back to back. That’s the most introspective section of the album and it needs a lot of runway to spread out and develop. However, I think our sound is generally concise and edited lyrically and musically. Maybe its that we’re impatient, but I would rather leave the listener wanting a little more. We had a few more songs that didn’t make it onto Astro Coast, we decided not to put them on the album because they didn’t really make sense with the whole arc of the record. I think one thing Astro Coast has going for it is that it has a structure that’s almost narrative. Some of our other material might fit better on upcoming releases.

If there are 1, 2, 3 songs on the record you'd say people HAD TO hear to understand Surfer blood, what are they, and why?

When people ask me for a song or excerpt that sums up Astro Coast, I usually refer them to ’Catholic Pagans,’ the last song on the record. It takes a lot of the elements scattered throughout the record and compiles all of them into a three minute synopsis. The structure, lyrics, guitar interplay and string arrangement are all definitive and the song itself is brooding and complex without losing the pop sensibility present on the first half of the record.

This is your first (Actually-second,-ed) show in DC, any plans outside the show playing?

I’m not positive, we usually just play it by ear. The Smithsonians are free though, that’s always interesting.

Shout out! to anyone/anything/even things in plural?

I would like to give a shout out to my friends and family, dogs and cats. If you are in high school and you’re reading this, take a foreign language, its really useful and you will use parts of your brain you didn’t realize you had. Plus its easier when you’re younger.

How do you feel about lists?

I don’t know, I’ve only made one before.

We're about to make you do some, if that's a-ok. Top 3 best albums you’ve heard recently:

Grooms - Rejoicer

Holiday Shores - Columbus’d the Whim

Love is All - Two Thousand and Ten Injuries

Top 3 songs you wish you had written:

T. Rex - ‘Monolith’

Bedhead - ‘Extramundane’

The Arcade Fire - ‘Black Mirror’

Top 3 movies to watch while on light, recreational drugs:

Rushmore

The Shawshank Redemption

Being John Malkovich

Top 3 worst meals you’ve had on the road:

1) A ‘calzone’ at a gas station in central Kansas. I was so hungover I would’ve eaten anything, but this was really gross. It was a ‘bar-b-que calzone’ actually. I’m pretty sure the people in this place had never seen anyone quite like us before.

2) Apparently they put French fries in their burritos in Southern California. I ordered a burrito, but didn’t open it until the next morning and bit into a bunch of French fries. I thought someone had really messed up, but I found out later that’s just what they do. I don’t know, I wasn’t that into it.

3) Chinese food Nebraska. Enough said.

Top 3 things you’d rather be doing than making top 3 lists:

1) Mowing someone else’s lawn with my shirt off.

2) Going on safari in Africa.

3) Walking to the annual Mardi Gras fair at the Catholic Church down the street from my parent’s house.

What are you going to do next? (be specific)

Move my clothes from the washer to the dryer and start packing a bag for tour.

++Surfer Blood plays a sold out show tonight @ DC9 w/ Turbo Fruits and Grooms.

+++ Check out Surfer Blood on Myspace