Years of honing his craft within the Oakland punk, Latin jazz, and blues circuits prepared Felix Bergman for his eventual move to the Austin music community. Formerly a member of Polarizado, he now channels that diverse background into his latest project, Pagan Love Call, where he explores a unique fusion of country art americana and indie-swamp-rock
Condition(s) & Date(s) of Treatment:
Bilateral wrist tendonitis since 1997. Surgery through MTF with Dr Barron on both arms in February of 2026.
What inspired you to start playing music?
I was lucky enough to have a dedicated instrumental music program in my public elementary school. My parents required me to play an instrument and learn to read music, and I started with the trumpet—I really liked it, so I stuck with it. My good luck continued as a teenager; I went to a city-run music camp where students were encouraged to form bands. The friends I met there and I started a band that was playing nightclubs by the time I was 15, and I’ve been on stage and in the studio ever since.
Who are some of your musical inspirations?
I have too many musical inspirations to list, from the big names we all love to the incredible musicians I’ve performed and recorded with here in Austin.
What was the injury that brought you to MTF, and how did the injury affect your music?
I’ve struggled with severe tendonitis in both arms for about 30 years. Flare-ups have lasted anywhere from a few days to a few months, but my most recent one—the one that led me to the Musician Treatment Foundation (MTF)—was the worst yet. The non-stop discomfort made playing, recording, and editing impossible. I was actually in the middle of a recording session when I had to hit pause for a few months. It was physically painful and incredibly depressing.
In December, I spoke with local guitarist Tjarko Jeen. He had also suffered from repetitive stress injuries from playing guitar and had received successful surgery through the Musician Treatment Foundation. He was incredibly understanding and pointed me toward the organization.
What was your experience with receiving care through MTF and your recovery afterward?
Within two months, I had surgery with Dr. Barron, and just two weeks after that, I was back to playing guitar and recording. Three months post-surgery, I’m still recovering, but I feel better every day. I’m finally ready to get back on stage, all thanks to MTF.
What’s coming up for you?
I’m releasing the first single from my new project, “Pagan Love Call,” on June 26th. My first post-op show will be the release party for that single, taking place Thursday, June 25th, at the Vinyl Beauty Bar here in Austin.
Where can people find out more about you and your music?
You can find me on Instagram at @paganlovecallband and debut single from Pagan Love Call, “The Spiral Staircase,” arrives June 26th, 2026, on all streaming services.