Is the wave of 90s light-alternative rock nostalgia that swept through 2010 and early-2011 thanks to bands like Yuck, Best Coast, and Surfer Blood sustainable three years in? Quality output this year from stalwarts of the genre like Yo La Tengo seems to indicate “yes,” but the success or failure of Surfer Blood’s sophomore album, titled Pythons and to be released June 11 on Warner Bros. (‘bros’ being the important part), may be a better barometer of the revived sound’s staying power, especially in light of the public’s new-found love affair with another long-lost 90s genre, R&B. Have we moved on, or will Surfer Blood’s throttled power-pop, bolstered this time by veteran producer Gil Norton’s (Pixies, Catherin Wheel) production skills, be enough to keep people interested?
To help prep folks for the record, Surfer Blood have released a video (below) for the first single off Pythons, titled “Demon Dance.” Directed by Dum Dum Girls’ Malia James, the clip looks like it would have fit in nicely between a classic Foo Fighters video and the sepia-infused output of No Doubt from back when videos were actually played on MTV. While the need for videos is pretty clear in this age of YouTube dominance, the clip further enforces how easy Surfer Blood could have had it back in 1997. They’d certainly have a whole mantle full of moon men and would probably be hosting cruises for nostalgic 30-somethings by now, interest fueled solely by their glory days…
But alas, all the members were born at least 10 years too late for that, so they’re stuck touring incessantly to try and make some money. Check them out as they criss-cross the country with the likes of Foals, and for one date in Pittsburgh, Silversun Pickups, before and after Pythons is released this summer.
Tourdates:
04.25.13 - Houston, TX - Fitzgeralds %
04.26.13 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues %
04.27.13 - Austin, TX - Emos %
04.28.13 - New Orleans, LA - House of Blues %
04.29.13 - Pensacola, FL - Vinyl Music Hall
04.30.13 - Atlanta, GA - Goat Farm %
05.01.13 - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre %
05.03.13 - New York, NY - Terminal 5 %
05.04.13 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory %
05.05.13 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club %
05.06.13 - Clifton Park, NY - Upstate Concert Hall %
05.08.13 - Providence, RI - The Met %
05.09.13 - Boston, MA - House of Blues %
05.10.13 - Montreal, QC - Club Soda %
05.11.13 - Toronto, ON - Kool Haus %
05.13.13 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues %
05.14.13 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogarts %
05.15.13 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall %
05.17.13 - Indianapolis, IN - Deluxe %
05.18.13 - Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre %
05.19.13 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall %
05.20.13 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue %
05.21.13 - Fargo, ND - The Aquarium @ Dempsey’s
05.23.13 - Missoula, MT - Stage 112
05.25.13 - George, WA - Sasquatch Festival
05.29.13 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom %
05.30.13 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore %
05.31.13 - Seattle, WA - Neptune %
06.03.13 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot %
06.04.13 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre %
06.05.13 - Lawrence, KS - Granada %
06.07.13 - St. Louis, MO - Pageant %
06.09.13 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE % #
06.10.13 - Baltimore, MD - Ram’s Head %
06.12.13 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel %
06.13.13 - Columbia, SC - Jillians %
08.10.13 - San Francisco, CA - Outside Lands Music Festival
% Foals
# Silversun Pickups
• Surfer Blood: http://www.surferblood.com
• Warner Bros: http://www.warnerbrosrecords.com
More about: Surfer Blood
