FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 1st, 2010
Fang Island announces U.S. tour dates, new van is stolen
"If this is the arena rock of the future, send me an invite, okay?" -- Pitchfork
"A triumphant, heavily riffed, primarily instrumental epic, whiplashing through six minutes of smiling prog jams, and as many tempos as passages, before settling into one last minute of uplifting chants." -- Stereogum
"Marries complex math-rock with a life-affirming energy that could soundtrack the next Spike Jonze film." – Examiner.com
Just days after Fang Island purchased a new van to transport the Brooklyn anthemic guitar quintet on a slew of U.S. tour dates starting this month, the vehicle was stolen. However, undeterred the eternally-optimistic band will continue with all upcoming tour dates and is attempting to raise funds for a replacement via its online merch outlet and "pay what you want" digital store. The band whose sound is described as "everyone high-fiving everyone" may want to add, "…except thieves."
Fang Island supports The Chinese Stars on dates surrounding both bands' SXSW performances. Then, again hit the road supporting Red Sparowes in April. Please see complete tour dates below.
Fang Island's self-titled debut album hit shelves on February 23rd via Sargent House amid a wealth of praise from press, with many writers declaring it one of the Best of 2010, just two months into the new year. Amazon.com is currently offering an exclusive MP3 album version for $5.99 with the bonus track, "Patterns On The Wall." A digital EP featuring the popular album track "Daisy" backed with Chris Keating of Yeasayer's remix of "Absolute Place" off their Sky Gardens EP preceded the full length in January.
Back in December, Pitchfork debuted the quirky video for "Daisy" directed by Carlos Charlie Perez (Li'l Wayne, Vampire Weekend). Watch it HERE. A new clip, also directed by Perez, for the song "Life Coach" is expected out this week.
Its finger-tapping guitar lines, chanted vocals, triumphant harmonies and overall perky songs hearken to the sort of "Total Music" of the Jay Reatard, Ponytail, Kraftwerk, Marnie Stern, Thin Lizzy, et al. But, perhaps more so, its songs are like the music in your head at that moment when everything feels just right: that first kiss, that high score on the video game, buying your first small nation in cash... you know, good stuff. Check out MP3s for two tracks, "Daisy" (MP3 HERE) and "Life Coach" (MP3 HERE).
Fang Island began, oddly enough, as an art school project while the band members were attending the prodigious Rhode Island School of Design (also the foundation for Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Les Savvy Fav, Six Finger Satellite, Lightning Bolt and some band called the Talking Heads.) According to guitarist Jason Bartell, the goal was to "make music for people who like music." That is, music without irony that harnesses its uplifting qualities. Just like a classic rock song or classical symphony can stir us emotionally, Fang Island exists to unlock that spirit.
Fang Island is guitarist Jason Bartell, bassist Michael Jacober, guitarist Chris Georges, guitarist Nicholas Andrew Sadler, and drummer Marc St. Sauveur. They all share collective group vocal harmonies and the occasional hand claps. While Sadler is also known for his role in the debauched rock band Daughters, it is only his fretboard skill that translates between the two groups.
Fang Island / The Chinese Stars:
03/12 Rochester, NY @ The Bug Jar
03/13 Cleveland, OH @ Now That's Class
03/14 Columbus, OH @ The Summit
03/15 Chicago, IL @ Viaduct Theater
03/16 Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar
03/17 Lawrence, KS @ Reply Lounge
03/18 Hot Springs, AK @ Hot Springs Nat'l Park - VOV Fest
03/19 Austin, TX - SXSW @ Habana Calle 6 (Sargent House Show)
03/20 Austin, TX @ Club Primo's
03/21 Austin, TX @ RED 7
03/23 New Orleans, LA @ Dragon's Den
03/24 Athens, GA @ Caledonia Lounge
03/25 Atlanta, GA @The Drunken Unicorn
03/26 Greenville, NC @ Tipsy Teapot
03/27 Baltimore, MD @ Floristree
04/05 Brooklyn, NY @The Knitting Factory (Fang Island headline)
Red Sparowes / Fang Island
04/11 Washington DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel **
04/15 Boston, MA @ the Middle East Downstairs **
04/16 Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rossa **
04/17 Toronto, ON @ the Garrison **
04/18 Cleveland, OH @ The Grog Shop #
04/19 Indianapolis, IN @ Radio Radio #
04/21 Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall #
04/22 Madison, WI @ High Noon #
04/23 Minneapolis, MN @ 400 Bar #
04/24 Omaha, NE @ Slowdown Jr. #
04/26 Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
04/27 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
04/29 Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s #
04/30 Vancouver, BC @ the Biltmore #
05/01 Portland, OR @ the Hawthorne #
05/02 Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall #
05/04 Sacramento, CA @ Blue Lamp
05/04 Sacramento, CA @ Blue Lamp
05/05 Santa Cruz, CA @ Crepe Place
05/06 Santa Cruz, CA @ Crepe Place
05/07 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
05/08 Los Angeles, CA @ the Echoplex
05/09 San Diego, CA @ the Casbah
** With Doomriders
## With Caspian
Artist: Fang Island
Album: Fang Island
Label: Sargent House
Release Date: February 23, 2010
01. Dreams of Dreams
02. Careful Crossers
04. Life Coach (MP3)
05. Sideswiper
06. The Illinois
07. Treeton
08. Davey Crockett
09. Welcome Wagon
10. Dorian
Hi-Res photos, cover art and bio:
On the Web:
Fang Island is available for interviews. For more information, please contact Dave Clifford at dave@usthemgroup.com
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