Fidlar on the roof: White Iris punk band premieres new single

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

From Surfer Blood to Best Coast and Wavves, to any band cynically branded as ‘chillwave,’ the ocean has been an omnipresent theme in indie rock over the last few years. And quite often, filtered through a punk rock prism, ‘60s surf rock has also been one of the most consistently recurring touchstones.

Few bands score more beach blanket bingo points than the locally based thrash-punk outfit Fidlar. The brainchild of North Shore, Oahu-raised Zac Carper, whose father, John, is recognized as one of the world’s premier surfboard shapers, the trio come off somewhere between ‘80s West Coast punk, early Weezer, the Black Lips and Wavves.

Fueled by cheap beer and power chords, this is bratty, amphetamine punk rock made to soundtrack the noise of crushing cans on one’s forehead. No elaborate cutbacks or carving 360s necessary. Fidlar has an agressive, straightforward, but melodic conception of punk. Unlike the Smell bands, this group seems less interested in ambient or noise gestures. It makes for music simpler and less calculated. A band predicated on the idea of first (or frat) thought, best thought.

Recorded by Fool’s Gold guitarist Lewis Pesacov and released on his White Iris label (Best Coast, Foreign Born, Bad Veins), the band’s ‘DIYDUI’ 7’ comes out April 12 (digitally on March 29). It’s music created by people who unabashedly endorse Four Loko. The sort of thing intended to irritate parents and enthrall surf and skate punks across the Southland. Someone should probably keep this out of the hands of the brass at Pacific Sunwear.

Download: (Pop & Hiss Premiere)
MP3: Fidlar -- ‘Max Can’t Surf’

-- Jeff Weiss