Fang Island High-Five Their Way Across The Country

Brooklyn guitar-anthem optimists Fang Island -- who describe their sound as "everyone high-fiving everyone" -- have been receiving a wealth of high-fives right back. Esteemed website Pitchfork showed ample praise for Fang Island's Sargent House debut album this week, making it a Best New Music pick. Likewise, fan buzz on Twitter and other social networks has been voluminous. Album sales topped charts on both iTunes (Top Alternative Albums) and Amazon (#1 Mover & Shaker Album) this week.

Just days after the quintet's newly purchased van was stolen on the eve of their current US tour, Brooklyn police safely recovered the vehicle. On tour right now, Fang Island supports The Chinese Stars on dates surrounding both bands' SXSW performances. Then, Fang Island again hit the road supporting Red Sparowes in April.

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. 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). A new clip, also directed by Perez, for the song "Life Coach" followed in March.

Fang Island's finger-tapping guitar lines, chanted vocals, triumphant harmonies and overall perky songs hearken to the sort of "Total Music" of 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" and "Life Coach".

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:

• 03/16 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

• 04/03 Hartford, CT @ Trinity College (w/ Sleigh Bells and Brahms)
• 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
• 0/505 Santa Cruz, CA @ Crepe Place
• 0/506 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

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