Fang Island

A conversation with Chris Georges

(March 2010)

Interview by Adam McKibbin

Fang Island can't be kept down. Set to take their party of their self-titled album - the sound of which is awesomely self-described as "everyone high-fiving everyone" - they got off to a rocky start when their tour van practically immediately upon acquisition. Just another reminder that there is at least one old-fashioned tradition still alive and well in the industry: gear and vehicle theft!

But the band is bouncing back in a big way, and they figure to turn some heads at SXSW and beyond, with their irrespressibly peppy rock anthems and chant-along melodies. Guitarist Chris Georges checked in with The Red Alert and talked not of grand theft auto but of the power of pizza, the dirty druggie secrets of a touring buzz band, and the one way you better not get caught executing a high-five at a Fang Island show.

As bad as critics can be at describing music, bands are often even worse at describing their own sound.  But “everyone high-fiving everyone” is a pretty fantastic description of Fang Island.  Which of you guys gets the credit for that one?

I think this idea can be credited to our group of friends in college. At parties we would get really psyched up, form a circle and high five our neighbors so that everyone would be high-fiving everyone. Our sound was very inspired by this act of friendship and when we play we fantasized of everyone in the world high-fiving everyone in the world!

And is there a preferred high-five?  The straight old-fashioned one?  The Top Gun high five/low five?

There is no wrong way, unless there is a fake out! That’s the ultimate bummer! My favorite high-five has a really big wind up, a loud pop on contact, and kind of an arm wrestle style grip. Then you stare deeply into your buddy’s eyes and flex your muscles so that your sleeves in your shirt start to rip. Then you say something like “Amigos!” and your buddy responds “For life!” Then you release and pat each other on the backs and laugh heartily. I try to get a few of those in a day.

You guys roll with Andrew W.K. and it’s pretty safe to say that, like him, you make feel-good, seize-the-day kind of music.  Does this extend to your personal listening tastes or is there a closet Elliott Smith/Nick Drake junkie in the band?

I can get into some bummer jams. I like the sad songs with the happy melodies the best though. Thin Lizzy are the best at that. “Got to Give It Up” is a real bummer, but it’s such a good rocker. Phil Lynott is the king of sad rock jams.

In what ways do you think relocating to Brooklyn has had an influence on your music – if at all?

Brooklyn pizza has had a huge influence on our sound recently. I’d say we’ve gotten a lot cheesier and saucier since the move.

I think that because practice spaces in Brooklyn tend to be pricier, when we get in the space to play we are a lot more focused. Ten minutes of messing around ends up costing $500.

I usually don’t find band name origin stories very interesting, but I’m an old-school Onion junkie, so… was “Fang Island” indeed inspired by their article about Rumsfeld’s Mortal Kombat-style tournament?

It’s true! You cracked the code! We thought that article was really funny. We also liked the idea of a fantasy world for our music to exist in. 

I’ve learned not to judge party abilities based on the person’s music, because there are some sadsack songwriters who can party like maniacs.  But you guys seem like you know a thing or two about having a good time.  What’s life like on the road for Fang Island?

When we are in the van we are constantly raising the roof/doing the macarena.

P.S. FANG ISLAND TAKES TONS OF ECSTASY!

What’s the Fang Island plan for dominating SXSW?

Forcing the audience to take ecstasy.