Caught Live: Surfer Blood

January isn’t typically a month that welcomes sunshine sounds and cheery vibes, yet somehow and somewhat out of nowhere, Surfer Blood managed to roll those summer months in way ahead of schedule with their wonderfully textural debut release Astro Coast. And tonight The Hoxton Bar & Kitchen has its Factor 20 on, ready to let a lot of sunshine in. 

Taking to the stage to a mutedly cool reception, Surfer Blood kick things off with album opening double-header 'Twin Peaks' and 'Take It Easy'. And for a moment, Ragged Words are totally blown away. Looking like they’d had to have travelled from Florida to London with a parent or guardian, their musical prowess seems way beyond their years. Recalling a chubby Michael Cera, lead singer John Paul Pitts wastes no time in working up a sweat in the clearly over-sold room that features fellow indie new-kids The Drums looking on and taking notes. 

But for all their obvious technical ability, we can’t help but feel a little underwhelmed by it all. The beautifully subtle instrumentation and vocal tapestries that make Astro Coast such a blessing on the ears are seemingly removed in the live arena, replaced by a “play louder now” mentality which does Surfer Blood’s sound a huge disservice. This is too often the biggest failing of so many new “it” bands who become industry darlings 6 months after playing their first note together. Though despite being a little wet around the ears , they’re clearly a confident bunch. It just all feels a bit “too big too soon” to be the classic show Ragged Words had hoped it might. 

This clearly isn’t something running through the band's heads as they crash their way through majority of their debut album. They’re certainly enjoying themselves and none more so than live member Marcos Marchesani. With an Afro so big you can see it in Whitechapel, he plays with a look and style of that can only be described as pure joy. It’s plain for all to see that Surfer Blood would do very good by him, by themselves and by anyone who catches them live to keep him in the fold for as long as possible. 

Closing the night with current hit ‘Swim (To Reach The End)’, the Floridians leave the stage showered in praise to rapturous applause form the sweaty room. And despite Ragged Words’ gripes, the band show enough promise that we’re sure, given time and a far-reaching tour or two, Surfer Blood will soon be a live entity to match their exceptional recorded output and that’ll be a day welcomed with open, sun drenched arms.