Fangclub
Fangclub | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Rush, Dublin, Ireland |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2013 – present |
| Labels | Vertigo |
| Members | Steven King Kevin Keane Dara Coleman |
| Website | fangclubofficial |
Fangclub are an alternative rock band formed in Rush, Dublin, signed to Vertigo Records.[2][3]
History
[edit]Fangclub are a Dublin alternative rock band with members Steven King (guitar/vocals), Kevin Keane (bass) and Dara Coleman (drums). In keeping with the punk/grunge style of their music, Fangclub took a D.I.Y. approach to their burgeoning career by packing themselves off to the coastal village of Ballyheigue in Kerry to record over 25 tracks. In early 2015 while on one of their DIY tours, they came to the attention of Universal Music's Irish team.[2] Suitably impressed that Fangclub had already recorded an albums worth of music, Universal signed the band in August 2015. Largely comprising songs from their original D.I.Y. efforts, their second EP, Coma Happy, appeared in 2016.
They then took to the road, headlining a sold out show at Whelan's, Dublin and concluding the festival season with two sets at Electric Picnic. Fangclub made their U.K. live debut in 2016 with Welsh group Pretty Vicious, and also toured with Twin Atlantic.
Their self-titled debut album was released in 2017. The album reached number 5 on the Irish album charts[4] and received positive reviews from critics, with The Irish Times calling it "one of the best hard rock albums of 2017".[5] In January 2018, the album was nominated for the Choice Music Prize.[6]
On the live circuit, Fangclub have supported bands such as Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins, Pixies, Muse, Biffy Clyro, Twin Atlantic, Nothing But Thieves, The Cribs, Swmrs and Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes.[2]
The band released their second album Vulture Culture on 5 July 2019.[7] Vulture Culture received positive reviews, with Hot Press writing; "this 11-track opus is most certainly the jewel in the Irish alt-rock kings’ crown to date."[8][9]
Their first release since Vulture Culture and its attributed singles, Attention, released on March 1st 2024. On April 19th of the same year, Out Of My Head, released on various streaming platforms.
On the 14th of June 2024, the EP 'All Good' was released. It included singles Attention and Out Of My Head, with an additional three tracks (Natural, You Had Me At Hello, and Exit Oblivion). [10]
Reception
[edit]NME have stated that "Fangclub are a fully formed thrash pop monster; melodic, frenzied and phenomenal. Imagine a beefed-up Tribes, or Cloverfield glam. If Fontaines are piloting the new Irish punk blitz, Fangclub are the Big Boys in the bomb bay."[11] The Guardian wrote that the group "are obviously a leftover band from the 90s grunge scene who slipped through some sort of time portal and are stuck here, thrashing their guitars against the raging of the sun."[12]
Members
[edit]Current
- Steven King – lead vocals, guitar (2013–present)
- Kevin Keane – bass guitar (2013–present)
- Dara Coleman – drums, percussion (2013–present)
Touring Members
- Ed Scanlan – guitar (2019–present)
Discography
[edit]| Fangclub discography | |
|---|---|
| Studio albums | 2 |
| EPs | 3 |
| Singles | 2 |
| Music videos | 12 |
Studio albums
[edit]| Year | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| IRL [4] | ||
| 2017 | Fangclub | 5 |
| 2019 | Vulture Culture
| 31 [13] |
Singles / EPs
[edit]| Year | Title | Label | Track list |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Bullet Head
| Headwire Records | 1. Bullet Head 2. Young Blood 3. Loner 4. Role Models |
| 2016 | Coma Happy
| Vertigo Records | 1. Dreamcatcher 2. Follow 3. Inside Joke 4. Coma Happy |
| 2018 | All Fall Down
| Vertigo Records | 1. All Fall Down |
| 2018 | True Love
| Vertigo Records | 1. Knife 2. Heart Is A Landmine 3. Smother 4. Sweater Forever 5. High |
| 2019 | Viva Violent
| Vertigo Records | 1. Viva Violent 2. All Fall Down (Acoustic) |
| 2024 | Attention
| Headwire Records | 1. Attention |
| 2024 | Out Of My Head
| Headwire Records | 1. Out Of My Head |
| 2024 | All Good
| Headwire Records | 1. Attention 2. Out Of My Head 3. Natural 4. You Had Me At Hello 5. Exit Oblivion |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Nominated Work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Fangclub | Album of the Year | Nominated[14] |
References
[edit]- ^ "TRACK BY TRACK: FANGCLUB – BULLET HEAD EP". Upsetmagazine.com. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
- ^ a b c Bemrose, Bekki. "Fangclub Biography on Allmusic". Allmusic. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ Murphy, Lauren (14 July 2019). "Fangclub sink their teeth into rock". The Times.
- ^ a b "Fangclub enter the Irish Charts at No. 5 with stunning debut - Music - News - Hot Press". Hot Press - Music News, Reviews, Interviews plus Pop Culture and Politics. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- ^ Clayton-Lea, Tony (2 August 2017). "Fangclub:one of the best hard rock albums of 2017". The Irish Times.
- ^ White, Stephen (10 January 2018). "Choice Music Prize Album of the year 2017 nominees announced". The Last Mixed Tape.
- ^ "Eurosonic 2019 review: a blitz of blind discovery (and a few familiar faces) at The Netherlands' music industry meat market". NME. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ McFee, Edwin (20 June 2019). "Album Review: Fangclub - Vulture Culture". Hot Press.
- ^ ""I just wanted to be asleep all the time" - how Fangclub came back from the brink".
- ^ "'All Good' 14.06.24". us21.campaign-archive.com. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ "Eurosonic 2019 review: A blitz of blind discovery (And a few familiar faces) at the Netherlands' music industry meat market". NME. 21 January 2019.
- ^ Golby, Joel (9 September 2016). "The best of this week's music: Fangclub offer up time-portal grunge with Loner". The Guardian.
- ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
- ^ "Choice Music prize 2017". Choice Music Prize. 2017.