If you’re a fan of this West Palm Beach band, you’re probably very familiar with what’s going on with their guitarist Thomas Fekete. If you’re not familiar with Surfer Blood, or the uphill battle they’ve been facing lately, then today is the day that this changes.
We first started posting their music back in ’03, becoming instantly enamored with “Weird Shapes.” The sharp guitar riffs definitely hooked us within minutes, followed by swooning over the juxtaposition between front man Jon Paul Pitts charming vocals, a spattering of hardcore screams, and glowing vocal harmonies from Thomas Fekete (guitar/backing vocals), Kevin Williams (bass guitar/backing vocals).
Since then, we’ve posted a handful of songs over the years, yet haven’t kept up with their greatness. It’s not that we’ve fallen out of love with their laid back, coastal sounds, it’s just that the amount of music that comes out on a daily basis is simply overwhelming.
With the news of guitarist Thomas Fekete’sstruggle with cancer, we thought it was the proper time to re-visit their catalog and put together a playlist of our favorite tunes. So please, take the next thirty minutes, or so, and enjoy our curation.
On a more serious note, we as music lovers take quite a bit for granted when it comes to our favorite bands. These guys are hitting the road for months on end, usually living out of a van, making less than we probably all think. What’s worse is, there is no health care for musicians. There is no 401k. There is no disability insurance that’s automatically provided when you choose your band name. Up until a certain point that few see, it’s entirely on them to make ends meet.
As music fans, it’s important that we take some time to help out these heroes that dedicate their lives to filling our headphones, venues, and festivals with our favorite songs. Please read Thomas’ personal note below, then head over to his Go Fund Me page and donate what you can. No amount is too small, as it all adds up to the collective amount of helping him out.
Any bit of help would be massive for me, as I’m no longer able to tour and make a living, and my wonderful wife/best friend whom I just married in November will now be leaving work to help me throughout my treatment. If you can’t help, no worries whatsoever, all I ask is that you spread the word. Any extra funds collected when this is all said and done will be donated to further my doctor’s alternative cancer research. I not only feel great, but I am in great spirits, and I know this will soon be over like a bad dream. Please take care of yourselves, enjoy every single day. Life is beautiful. Love and light always.
