Surfer Blood Release New Song in Remembrance of Parkland School Shooting

West Palm Beach surf-rock band Surfer Blood shared a new track titled “Parkland (Into The Silence)” Tuesday, off their forthcoming album Carefree Theatre. The song was written in remembrance of those in the Parkland shooting almost two years ago to the date.

The band grew up together and went to high school near the area where the shooting took place, and because of it hitting so close to home, the band felt expressing their emotions on the event through their music would help the healing.

Surfer Blood’s John Paul Pitts discusses the meaning behind the song and how it effected him in a note:

On February 14, 2018 I was running on the treadmill at the gym with cable news running in the background. I had just moved back to Florida and was desperately looking for a reason to feel good about it.

That was when I saw the news. There had been a shooting at a high school forty minutes south of my hometown. My heart ached for the victims and their families, but like so many Americans, I’ve become resigned to this particular kind of tragedy. I’m not proud of my cynicism, but it’s a callousness you develop when you live in a country where this is a weekly event.

In the days and weeks that followed, I watched the events closely. These high school kids were tearing up routine talking points we’ve heard a thousand times, refusing to be helpless, refusing to succumb to despair. In those moments I was so proud to be from this place. Even though we haven’t seen any meaningful legislation, these students were able to move the conversation into new territory. I never thought I’d see people wake up to the epidemic of gun violence in the US, but it feels like its on the tip of everyone’s tongue, and so much of that awareness is due to the resilience and optimism of these young Floridians.

This song is a testament to their courage. They are truly inspiring and living proof that anything can be overcome.

Their fifth studio album Carefree Theatre will be available on May 1 via Kanine Records.

Watch the lyric video for “Parkland (Into The Silence)” and hear Surfer Blood’s 2010 Daytrotter session below, and check out their tour dates further down to see if the band is coming to a city near you.

Surfer Blood Tour Dates:

March
06 – Jupiter, Fla. @ Guanabanas
13 – Cleveland, Miss. @ Hey Joe’s
14 – Baton Rouge, La. @ Mid City Ballroom
16-20 – Austin, Texas @ SXSW 
21 – Dallas, Texas @ Not So Fun Wknd

May
01 – Orlando, Fla. @ Will’s Pub
02 – Tallahassee, Fla. @ Junction
03 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Shaky Knees
06 – Albuquerque, N..M @ Launchpad
07 – Phoenix, Ariz. @ Valley Bar
08 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ The Echo
09 – San Francisco, Calif. @ Bottom of the Hill
10 – Ukiah, Calif. @ Ukiah Brewing Company
12 – Spokane, Wash. @ Lucky You Lounge
13 – Vancouver, B.C. @ Fox Cabaret
14 – Tacoma, Wash. @ Alma Mater
15 – Everett, Wash. @ Fisherman’s Village Music Festival 
16 – Portland, Ore. @ Doug Fir
17 – Boise, Idaho @ Neurolux
19 – Denver, Colo. @ Globe Hall
20 – Salt Lake City, Utah @ Urban Lounge
22 – Sacramento, Calif. @ The Starlet Room
23 – Santa Barbara, Calif. @ Soho
24 – San Diego, Calif. @ Casbah
25 – Tucson, Ariz. @ Hotel Congress
27 – Austin, Texas @ Hotel Vegas
28 – Houston, Texas @ Satellite Bar
29 – New Orleans, La. @ One Eyed Jacks
30 – Mobile, Ala. @ Alabama Music Box
31 – Pensacola, Fla. @ Chizuko

(May 6-14, 16-31 with Winter)
(May 8, 9, 22, 23 with Winter and Business of Dreams)