Fidlar, stylized as FIDLAR, is an American punk rock and garage rock band from Los Angeles.[ FIDLAR, Pitchfork] as referenced in their song "Cheap Beer". To date, the band have released four studio albums: FIDLAR (2013), Too (2015), Almost Free (2019) and Surviving the Dream (2024). The band are mostly known for short, fast songs that deal with partying and narcotics. In 2013, Pitchfork wrote that the band "don't make music you'll grow old with, and they won't get an "A" for originality, but that's not really the point".
Some journalists consider FIDLAR to be among the greatest pop-punk bands of all time.
History
Founding members Zac Carper and Elvis Kuehn met while working at a recording studio in which Carper was employed as an engineer and Kuehn was an intern. The two started recording songs when the studio was empty and posting the finished products online.
The band began playing house shows, many of which resulted in authorities showing up.
Three years after recording their first songs, they stepped on stage together with the Black Lips and went on tour with the Hives.
In 2011, they released their debut EP, DIYDUI, produced by Lewis Pesacov. In 2012, FIDLAR were named one of Stereogum's 40 Best New Bands of 2012.
The band is currently signed to Mom + Pop Music in the US,[ FIDLAR Free Up New Song, Join Our Loving Mom+Pop Family , Mom + Pop Music] Wichita Recordings in the UK[ FIDLAR , Wichita Recordings] and Dine Alone Records in Canada.[ FIDLAR , Dine Alone Records]
Musical style and influences
According to Jason Lymangrover of
AllMusic, FIDLAR's music incorporates elements of "classic"
skate punk,
thrash metal, and "
Surf music"
Lo-fi music indie rock. The instrumentation is described as "punchy, fast, loud." The band's influences include
the Offspring and blink-182.
The band's first studio album contains "
slacker subject matter" pertaining to topics such as
substance abuse,
surfing and
skateboarding.
Yardbarker stated that "the band paid homage to the pillars of rock ‘n’ roll:
hedonism,
Drug, and booze." Stylistically, the album has drawn comparisons to
Angry Samoans, Fear,
Surf Punks,
Ramones and
Circle Jerks. The band's music has been categorized as
pop-punk.
Other projects
Each member of FIDLAR has been involved in at least one side project. Carper has produced albums or helped co-write songs by such bands as
Dune Rats,
,
,
Sweet Thing,
The Goldberg Sisters,
,
and Tokyo Police Club.
Schwartzel also periodically performs
at Monty's Bar under the pseudonym of "DJ Basil".
Schwartzel & Max Kuehn are in a band with members of
Together Pangea called Los Bolos.
Max Kuehn has released solo compositions online,
as well as being a member of The Squirmers,
and The Head Hunters
with his brother Elvis, The Small Wigs,
and Kitten, with Carper
prior to, and during their full time in FIDLAR.
Personal life
Elvis Kuehn (guitar/vocals) and Max Kuehn (drums) are the sons of
Greg Kuehn, keyboardist for Long Beach punk legends, T.S.O.L.
[ T.S.O.L.'s Greg Kuehn Talks About His Punk Rock Progeny FIDLAR , OC Weekly] while Zac Carper (vocals/guitar) is the son of famed surfboard designer John Carper. Carper struggled with drug addiction and spent time in rehab for it, inspiring the song "No Waves".
[ Interview With Los Angeles Garage Punk Band FIDLAR, Red Bull] Bassist Brandon Schwartzel was Carper's friend before joining the band, with the two bonding over drugs and homelessness. The four have been performing together as FIDLAR since 2009. Carper was born in Hawaii, while the Kuehn brothers were born in Los Angeles, and Schwartzel was born in San Diego.
Band members
-
Zac Carper – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards (2009–present)
-
Brandon Schwartzel – bass, backing vocals (2009–present)
-
Max Kuehn – drums, percussion (2009–present)
Former members
-
Elvis Kuehn – guitar, backing and lead vocals, keyboards (2009–2022)
Former touring musicians
-
Danny Nogueiras – drums (2009–2010)
-
Alice Baxley – bass (2010)
-
Andy Miller – bass (2010–2011)
-
Mikki Itzigsohn – bass (2009–2010)
Discography
Studio albums
Extended plays
Certified singles
Music videos
|
|
| February 2012 | Wait for the Man | Ryan Baxley |
Max Can't Surf |
Oh |
| June 2012 | No Waves |
| October 2012 | Cheap Beer |
| November 2012 | Gimme Something |
| February 2013 | Max Can't Surf ( Fidlar Version) |
| July 2013 | Cocaine |
| May 2015 | 40oz On Repeat |
| July 2015 | West Coast |
| August 2015 | Drone |
Leave Me Alone |
| January 2016 | Why Generation |
| April 2016 | Punks |
| August 2018 | Are You High? | FIDLAR |
| September 2018 | Too Real | Jonathan Atchley |
| January 2019 | By Myself | Brandon Schwartzel |
| Can't You See | Jonah Ray |
| June 2019 | Flake | FIDLAR |
| August 2022 | FSU | Alice & Ryan Baxley |
| October 2022 | Sand on the Beach |
| November 2022 | Taste The Money | Ryan Baxley |
| February 2023 | Centipede | Ryan Baxley |
| June 2024 | FIX ME | Ryan Baxley & Brandon Schwartzel |
|
Appearance in media
The band also played on
Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2015, where they performed "West Coast" and "Why Generation" from their second album
Too.
The band was also featured on
Conan, in 2016, where they performed "West Coast”"
-
"No Waves" appeared in the video games Saints Row IV and The Crew and also in Netflix series "Love".
-
"White on White" was featured in the video game Sunset Overdrive.
-
"Cheap Beer" was featured in the film Neighbors, the TV show iZombie and in Plan B's skateboarding film "True" during Pat Duffy's part.
-
"Cocaine" was featured in the TV show Finding Carter and video game Grand Theft Auto V.
-
"5 to 9" is played in the 16th episode of the fourth season of The Vampire Diaries
-
"Wait For the Man" and "Oh" appeared on an episode of Shameless (US).
-
"Cheap Beer" and "No Waves" both appeared on the soundtrack to The Crew.
-
"Punks" appeared in the "Embrace Your Dark Side" promo for the fourth season of Arrow.
-
"Drone" appeared on the soundtrack to the video game WWE 2K17.
-
The band's cover version of the song "Red Right Hand" featured in the opening episode of series 4 of the BBC series Peaky Blinders.
-
The band's cover of the Nirvana track "Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle" was released on the Mom+Pop-exclusive Record Store Day 2018 3xLP compilation 10 Years of Mom+Pop.
-
"Flake" appeared in the 11th episode of the third season of Thirteen Reasons Why
-
"Flake" appeared in the 1st episode of Locke & Key
-
"Breaker" appeared on the soundtrack to the 2020 film Bill & Ted Face the Music.
-
"West Coast" appeared on the soundtrack to the 2020 video game Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2.
-
“Move On” is a single featured in the video game NHL 24
-
"Low" appeared in the video game Skate
Awards
-
2013: O Music Awards, Best Web-Born Artist
-
2013: Association of Independent Music, AIM Independent Music Awards, Best Live Act
External links
-
-
FIDLAR at Mom + Pop Music
-
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> FIDLAR at Wichita Recordings
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FIDLAR at Dine Alone Records
