I’ve never hesitated to bash Los Angeles when given the chance. The city has gotten out of control. It’s dirty, bankrupt and filled with the shallow hearts of those in search of fame and fortune. It’s reached a tipping point. L.A. is a on the verge of becoming exactly as it was in that Snake Plissken picture. You know the one. Kurt Russell’s gotta escape from…what was it? Oh yeah. L.A., he has to escape from L.A. Why aren’t we escaping L.A. right now is my question? It takes and hour to go 15 miles, which would be fine if it were 1813, there is graffiti all over everything, and everybody is becoming a Buddhist vegan puss. When this happens, society is forced to fight back. In the 80’s L.A. gave birth to Black Flag, a band hell bent of making noise and fighting the system. Now, L.A. has given us FIDLAR, a punk band worried more about catching a buzz than being noticed by any political party. I guess change is going to have to wait. ARTIST OF THE WEEK: FIDLAR
Brandon, Max, Zac and Elvis who make up FIDLAR (Fuck it dog, life’s a risk) started playing together back in 2009. Their duties in the band are as follows:
Elvis: Vocals/ Guitar
Zac: Vocals/ Guitar
Brandon: Vocals/ Bass
Max: Drums
As I said before this band is not like the punk of yesteryear. They aren’t trying to make a statement. They are trying to create a never-ending party. Less worried about the state of things, content with getting fucked up and dealing. Their first EP released in 2011 titled DIYDUI featured the tracks Wake Bake Skate, an anthem getting high and skating.
The EP is only four songs and clocks in less than nine minutes, but it packs a wallop. It’s Pixies-esque, with a dusting of The Stiff Little Fingers, topped off with an Andrew W.K. like affection for partying and you get a pretty good idea of what these fellas are all about. The drums blast, the guitars wail, and the lyrics are sung in unintelligible shouts throughout. This band is all about energy and releasing it onto their audiences. This EP landed them on LA Weekly’s Top 5 Local Bands to Be Huge in 2012. I’ll tell you this, I haven’t heard shit from the other guys on this list, but FIDLAR has my undivided attention. Their song Max Can’t Surf reminds of the stuff the Wavves was doing a few years back, but this doesn’t take itself nearly as seriously, which is downright refreshing. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, rock music is supposed to be fun.
Any song that references eating Del Taco while playing video games is fine by me.
I’m usually not a huge fan of music videos, but there is no glitz or glam to the FIDLAR vids. They are simple concepts executed perfectly. My favorite has to be No Waves off of their 7” vinyl that was released earlier this year on Mom + Pop records. The sitcom style intro kills me, and the fact that it looks like it was shot on one of those shitty VHS tape cameras that I grew up using to make bullshit claymation movies adds a nostalgia factor.
This week FIDLAR released their first LP FIDLAR. I’m a big believer in self-titling your first album. Why get fancy and give it some weird self-important name. What’s the point of that? It contains many of the songs from previous EP and Single releases.
The opening track Cheap Beer informs all those unfamiliar with FIDLAR just what to expect with the chorus “I! DRINK! CHEAP! BEER! SO! WHAT!? FUCK! YOU!”
The video is a Grindhouse like short about a biker out to destroy those who like the fancy beer. I can’t say I agree with the song but it does hark back to a time when I thought Bud Light was the end all be all, and Fat Tire tasted like dirt. But that was me before I had a palette.
5 to 9 is a track that never appeared on any EP, but its’ retro surf punk sound is something I dig. A lot of bands are trying to do this right now, but FIDLAR is doing it better than anyone else.
This record is great. I’ve been blasting it at work for the past week. Mind you my office is about 8ft X 5ft and is shared with a right wing Christian girl. Can’t say she was thrilled about my love of listening to it, but who knows, maybe FIDLAR’s rockin’ ways will get to her.
A lot was expected from FIDLAR in 2012. After this record, I expect even more. Currently they are on a European tour. Hopefully they can extend some of that good ole’American party spirit to those hoity-toity Euros so they won’t think we’re all gun-touting warmongers. Some of us just like to kick back and have a good time. Sure FIDLAR may not be the spark of the violent uprising that I hope takes out all the bullshit that is ruining this city, but at least now I have tunes to get drunk to. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have the flu and I’m going to go throw up.
Hugs,
Kelly
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