Music

HIGH FIVES: Fang Island

by Sam Sutherland

Every week, High Fives asks five bands five themed questions over five days. This week, we’re all caught up in the release of the Bruce Springsteen documentary, The Promise, and talkin’ music docs in anticipation.

Fang Island is just the fucking best. Anyone with a heart or lungs or brains who doesn’t already own their magnificent self-titled debut should go out and buy or steal it or stream it or whatever you do to get music. Devoid of conventional song structure, reliance on vocal melodies (although the scattered vocal hooks, when they appear, obviously kill), or the typical boundaries of post-punk, Fang Island is an album that lives up to the band’s self-described genre classification of “high-fiving everyone”. Imagine the catchiest, weirdest parts of every good Modest Mouse song in a mosh pit with a handful of Andrew WK party anthems and Gang of Four records, and you have a rough idea of just how unique, ambitious, and anthemic this band is. Formed in 2005 in Rhode Island and featuring members of scary noisy hardcore dudes Daughters, Fang Island’s first two EPs, released in 2007 and 2008, hinted at the pure, unadulterated fun and radness of their debut full-length; this year, they even topped insanely-too-cool-new-website Next Big Sound’s chart of fastest online growth at SXSW. Fang Island plays Toronto tonight, and Montreal tomorrow. Go rage.

What is the greatest music documentary of all time?

The greatest music documentary of all time is The Who’s The Kids Are Alright. We used to watch it before every show to get excited to perform. The movie documents every stage of their career while they were still good and displays the “religious” power of their live show. The movie and band give me faith in the path of rock and roll. All hail Townshend!

What is the worst music documentary of all time?

I think the Pixies’ loudQUIETloud is one of the worst, or at least one of the dullest. Watching those guys fuck up and not care about each other was one of the biggest wastes of time captured on film. I love the band, but I didn’t need to know their current dramas. I was really hoping it would be more of a history of the band.

Has anyone ever followed you on tour or in the studio to document you? How did you feel, and what were the end results like? If not, do you dream of the day when someone cares that much?

We have documented the recording of our self-titled album and our first US tour. It was strange having cameras on us all the time, especially in the studio when nerves are already running high. But after a while we got used to it and didn’t think about it. All the footage is still being edited with no real plans of release.

Do you think increased interest in the behind-the-scenes working of bands and records is worthwhile, or does it remove some of that patented rock and roll mystique?

It’s absolutely worthwhile. I love learning about bands techniques. I think it gets people inspired to make their own work.

What music documentary has yet to be made that you’re dying to see?

I would be really excited to see a documentary on Brian Eno’s life.