Tired of conceited bands singing their own praises and telling the world they’re the next big thing? Well, allow us to introduce a band that let their music do the talking. You might not have heard of Filligar but you’ll certainly be familiar with their influences – The Rolling Stones, The Doors and Wilco to name a few.
Filligar might appear to be a bunch of fresh faced American chaps but they’ve actually been churning out albums for nearly ten years, the most recent being ‘The Nerve‘, released in July 2010. During this time they’ve recorded an impressive eight records, bringing a whole new meaning to the word prolific, and demonstrating a work rate that is almost unheard of in the modern world.
Filligar hail from Chicago, Illinois and consist of brothers Teddy, Johnny and Pete Mathias as well as their friend, Casey Gibson. We all know of the trials and tribulations that arise in a band comprising of family members but this infamous hindrance in music history is yet to dismantle the solid rock that is Filligar.
Boasting an abundance of 14,000 fans on Facebook and over 250,000 views on Youtube, this is clearly a band that have won over a lot of people, but could this be the year that the UK finally give them a chance? You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find, you’ll get what you need, and try they will, as they embark on a mammoth UK tour, starting in London.
Kilburn, home to the Good Ship, might not be the most well known town in London but it certainly has its place in history. Ian Dury’s Kilburn and The High Roads put this area of London on the map and The Good Ship remains one of the most credible music venues in this corner of the city. Its intimate setting makes it the perfect place for Filligar to make their debut appearance to a lucky crowd that will no doubt be reciting the evening when the band do finally gain the recognition they deserve.
From the outset it’s clear singer Johnny Mathias is not the shy, retiring type. Beaming confidence and clearly having a good time, Johnny left the stage before singing a single note and strummed his guitar inches away from the audience with a swagger that you just had to admire. Announcing: “This is our first time in the UK, spread the word”, you’d never have thought this actually was their debut appearance as they got stuck into the tunes without showing any signs of nerves. If any of the band were indeed nervous, they were damn good at hiding it.
Drummer, Pete Mathias, exuded an enthusiasm that had him literally bouncing off his seat and smashing the drums in a way that even Dave Grohl would be proud of. The tight musicianship displayed by Filligar is a testament to the length of time the band have been together, as they have seemingly harbored a chemistry on stage which allows them to prioritize enjoyment over worrying about getting the notes right, and it is now second nature to them.
Despite having a catalogue of over 80 original songs to choose from, they delved into Neil Young territory by covering ‘Helpless‘ and did it the justice it deserves, largely due to Johnny’s impressive vocal range and emotive delivery. Yet it was one of their own song’s, ‘Health‘, which was the real highlight of the evening, driven by its ‘Strawberry Field’s-esque keyboard riff and blues influenced sound. Filligar had the full attention of the Good Ship’s audience who had huddled around the stage and surrounding balcony.
It’s just a shame that the set had to end so soon, clocking in at approximately half an hour, as they were really getting into their stride and had so much more to give. It was an impressive climax of keyboard riffage, guitar fret wankery and stomping blues which undoubtedly left a lasting impression on the crowd. If you like the 22 20’s and The Black Keys, then it is your moral obligation to give Filligar a chance.
(Matt Humphrey)
