Only a few days into the new year, and already so many albums to play. Here at O&B, we’re constantly on the prowl for new bands to love, and there certainly is no shortage of candidates.

That’s why we’re starting the O&B Watchlist, a semi-regular feature that allows you to sit back, relax, and continue to listen to the old standbys while we do the legwork and put the new guys to the test.

Now, the bands we feature may not necessarily be the brandest of new or the buzzingest of buzz bands. But the bands we choose for Watchlist will be ones that we dig: plain and simple.

After the jump, the first installment of the Owl and Bear Watchlist.

One fateful night in Miami after the Ultra Festival, the future members of Surfer Blood met and talked about their musical interests. The rest, as they say, is history.

JP “The Mastermind” Pitts, TJ Schwarz, Thomas Fekete, Brian Black, and Marcos Marchesani began to retool some songs that J.P. had been working on. Then, after after hearing someone shout it randomly over some loud music, they settled on their name.

The band was relatively unknown until they played twelve shows at NYC’s CMJ Music Marathon in October. Soon after, blogs exploded with hype, calling the youthful Floridians a must-see act.

If you’re like me, the term “buzz band” makes you cringe a little, so it was with some trepidation that I began my first listen. But, from the first hook of “Swim” (MP3) on, I was sold and ready to hit repeat. Their clever arrangements and great harmonies set them apart from the current crop of pseudo-garage rock revivalists, and the charming, unpolished quality of their songs works perfectly with the made-for-singalong choruses.

Surfer Blood’s debut LP Astro Coast will be released January 19 on Kanine Records. They also have a massive tour planned for the new year, so there’s a good chance they’re coming to a town near you.

Surfer Blood Tour Dates:
01/13 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
01/14 – Chicago, IL – Schubas
01/25 – St. Augustine, FL – Cafe Eleven
01/26 – Orlando FL – Backbooth
01/27 – West Palm Beach, FL – Respectable Street Cafe
02/03 – London, UK – Hoxton Bar and Kitchen
02/04 – London, UK – Hippodrome
02/05 – London, UK – KOKO
02/09 – London, UK – Scala
02/16 – Orlando, FL – Backbooth
02/17 – Deland, FL – DaVinci
02/18 – Tallahassee, FL – Engine Room
02/19 – Atlanta, GA – Drunken Unicorn
02/20 – Nashville , TN – The End
02/22 – Charlotte, NC – Snug Harbor
02/23 – Morgantown, WV -123 Pleasant Street
02/24 – Washington DC – DC 9
02/26 – Hanover, NH – Dartmouth College
03/01 – Philadelphia, PA – The Barbary
03/02 – Allston, MA – Great Scott
03/03 – Providence, RI – AS220
03/05 – Montreal, QC – Il Motore
03/06 – Toronto, ON – Sneaky Dees
03/07 – Geneseo, NY – SUNY Geneseo College
03/09 – Detroit MI – Magic Stick
03/11 – Bloomington, IN – the Bishop
03/12 – Columbia, MO – Mojos
03/13 – Lawrence, KS – Replay Lounge
03/14 – Oklahoma City – The Conservatory
03/17 – Austin, TX – SXSW
03/18 – Austin, TX – SXSW
03/19 – Austin, TX – SXSW
03/20 – Austin, TX – Mohawk – SXSW