Shortly after the announcement of their third album, 1000 Palms in 2015, the original guitarist of Surfer Blood, Thomas Fekete left the band because cancer had spread to his lungs and spine. Their fourth album, 2017's Snowdonia, is their first album the band has released since Fekete's untimely passing. This is also their first album and subsequent tour since the original bassist, Kevin Williams left to pursue a new job in Austin, Texas.
Last month the tour in support of Snowdonia started in their home state of Florida bringing them across the country as the February 3rd release date approached. Their Bay Area show was at The Chapel in San Francisco on February 7th, just a few days after Snowdonia dropped!
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| Boogarins @ The Chapel 2/7/2017 photo by Marc Fong |
It was a wet and cold night as show goers trickled into the rustic venue in SF's hip Mission District that Tuesday night. Brazilian quartet, Boogarins warmed things up with some of their distorted,
lo-fi, physcadelic rock. Frontman, Dinho Almedia was humbly fierce: passionately belting while jamming with the band. Overlapping fuzzy guitar, bass, thumping drums and plenty of reverb whirled from the stage for the better part of half an hour.Experimental instrumentals, reminiscent of At The Drive In with a lo-fi, grungy quality but an exceptional execution, the Boogarins delivered a great spirited opening set. A very cool juxtaposition to the calming indie rock that was up next.
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| Boogarins @ The Chapel 2/7/2017 photo by Marc Fong |
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| Boogarins @ The Chapel 2/7/2017 photo by Marc Fong |
They came, they sound-checked, they left and around 10:30pm Surfer Blood reappeared and were ready to play! The room and balcony were full of mature fans respectfully enjoying the night as John Paul Pitts led the way into "Neighborhood Riffs" from their first album. Noisepop 2015 was the last time was Surfer Blood was in SF and the reserved frontman made it a point to say that it was good to be back at the top of the set!
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| Surfer Blood @ The Chapel 2/7/2017 photo by Marc Fong |
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| Surfer Blood @ The Chapel 2/7/2017 photo by Marc Fong |
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| Surfer Blood @ The Chapel 2/7/2017 photo by Marc Fong |
In a sort of dream-like state, deep shades of blue lights resinated with shoegaze tempos and melodic lead vocals were highlighted by playful interactions on stage and fans were just as easy going as the band.
Laced with beachy surf-rock choruses, the mellow set had songs off Snowdonia, including the brand new single, "Frozen" and "Island" as well as plenty of older stuff like "Weird Shapes" and "Miranda" off Pythons and Astro Coast.
The reinvented indie band that was once a boys club now has new found harmonies thanks to bassist Lindsay Mills' skilled vocals. The female touch plays nicely with their updated, but not totally different sound. Although only half the original members are in the band, with a new bassist, a new guitarist and a new album, this indie fave has not lost their identity.
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| Surfer Blood @ The Chapel 2/7/2017 photo by Marc Fong |
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| Surfer Blood @ The Chapel 2/7/2017 photo by Marc Fong |
The Snowdonia tour will bring Surfer Blood full circle: April 29th is the final show of this run at the Respectable Street Block Party in their hometown of West Palm Beach Florida!
There's no place like home to wrap a tour after four months on the road!
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