I’m not the biggest fan of Ultra (an electronic music festival that’s been calling Miami home since 1999) but without it, Surfer Blood may never have existed – so that’s a gold star in my book. Founding members John Paul “JP” Pitts (vocals, guitar) and Tyler Schwarz (drums) had been playing music together for a little while before they met Thomas Fekete (guitar) at Ultra and they first began playing under the name Jabroni Sandwich. Shortly after, Schwarz came up with the name Surfer Blood and the South Florida group has been kicking it since 2009.

While the band came through the Bean earlier this year on an opening slot for Foals’ spring tour, this was the group’s first Boston appearance since the release of their sophomore release Pythons. Surfer Blood took the stage to a roaring house and without a word came the soothing strumming of “Neighbour Riffs” off of their debut LP Astro Coast.

This year the trademark surf rockers took a short jaunt from their roots and adapted a sleeker, more indie rock vibe for Pythons. While set at mildly different paces, all of the band’s material induces a dance-y (and albeit, sweaty) affair. Stand out tracks included “Harmonix”, “Demon Dance” and “Twin Peaks”.

But this was no ordinary Surfer Blood show — oh no,  it was Pitts’s birthday. To celebrate he joined us on the floor to let loose. After a riotous rendition of fan favorite, “Take It Easy,” Pitts proceeded to plop himself down on the beer-slathered floor to light one up.

Five hits later he belly flopped back on stage. “Alright, alright, we’re going to take it down so can I get some mood lights up here?” said Pitts. Python’s “I Was Wrong” gave everyone a much-needed chance to catch his or her breath.

The main set wouldn’t have been complete without everyone shouting along to the band’s first song that caught our attention back in 2010, “Swim” alongside “Drinking Problem” off of the band’s 2011 EP Tarot Classics. The band shortly returned to the stage for a slightly more mellow encore set of two of my personal favorites, Tarot Classics‘ “I’m Not Ready” and Astro Coast’s “Anchorage”.

Having watched the band transition over the past few years and Pitts endure some nasty legal issues, I’m eager to see what comes next from the West Palm Beach natives. Seeing their raw energy and joy back at the Middle East Downstairs in 2010, I am so happy to know that fire is undeterred, and will likely remain so indefinitely.