New Audio, punk rock, Single Review
by William Ruben Helms

New Audio: FIDLAR’S “Leave Me Alone” Reveals A Studio Sheen While Remaining As Raucous As Ever

Comprised of Zac Carper (guitars/vocals), Elvis Kuehn (guitars/vocals), Brandon Schwartzel (bass), and Max Kuehn (drums), the Los Angeles, CA-based quartet FIDLAR, derive their name from an old skateboarder saying “Fuck It, Dog, Life’s A Risk” And since their formation in 2009, the quartet quickly developed a reputation both locally and eventually internationally for a grimy, garage punk/skate punk rock sound and for a raucous live show. Their full-length, self-titled debut was released in 2013 and debuted at #5 on the Billboard Heatseakers Chart, #2 on the Alternative, New Artist Chart and was the #1 most added release at CMJ — and the album was praise by the likes of Rolling Stone, who called FIDLAR, “a band to watch;” The Los Angeles Times describing their sound as “Bratty, amphetamine punk rock made to soundtrack the noise of crushing cans on ones forehead;” Noisey making a connection between FIDLAR’s sound and aesthetic and that of Phil Spector, Nirvana and Jay Reatard. As a result of such massive attention, the Los Angeles-based quartet have played with Pixies, The Hives, Black Lips, OFF!, JEFF The Brotherhood, The Orwells, Wavves, The Delta Spirit and many more.

Too, FIDLAR’s long-awaited sophomore effort is slated for a September 4 release through Mom and Pop Records, and the album, which was recorded in Nashville was produced by Jay Joyce, marking the first time that the band has worked with an outside producer. And perhaps much more important, the album reveals that the band has been busily refining their sound and songwriting approach. Reportedly, the material is much more introspective but from the album’s latest single “Leave Me Alone,” it’s obvious that the band’s sound has a subtle studio sheen while still being grungy — the grungy guitar chords and thundering drumming remain but it sounds as though they had been listening to Psychedelic Furs albums.

Following appearances this weekend at Reading and Leeds, FIDLAR will kick off an extensive headlining U.S. tour in Denver, CO on September 9th that wraps on Halloween for a two-night hometown stand at the Regent Theater. Tickets for all dates are on-sale now. See below for a complete list of upcoming dates.

Upcoming Live Dates

08/29 – Reading Festival – Reading, United Kingdom
08/30 – Leeds Festival – Leeds, United Kingdom
09/09 – Marquis Theatre – Denver, CO
09/10 – The Bottleneck – Lawrence, KS
09/12 – Riot Fest Chicago – Chicago, IL
09/14 – Varsity Theater – Minneapolis, MN
09/15 – The Waiting Room – Omaha, NE
09/16 – Rose Music Hall – Columbia, MO
09/18 – Thompson House – Newport, KY
09/19 – The Loving Touch – Ferndale, MI
09/20 – Riot Fest Toronto – Toronto, ON
09/22 – Theatre Fairmount – Montreal, QC
09/24 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA
09/26 – Webster Hall – New York, NY
09/27 – Boston Calling Festival – Boston, MA
09/28 – The Black Cat – Washington, DC
09/29 – Cat’s Cradle – Carrboro, NC 
10/02 – The Masquerade – Hell Stage – Atlanta, GA
10/03 – High Dive – Gainesville, FL
10/05 – Club Downunder – Tallahassee, FL
10/06 – One Eyed Jacks – New Orleans, LA
10/9-11 – Austin City Limits Music Festival – Austin, TX
10/13 – 89th Street Collective – Oklahoma City, OK
10/15 – Launchpad – Albuquerque, NM
10/16 – The Crescent Ballroom – Phoenix, AZ
10/17 – The Observatory North Park – San Diego, CA
10/19 – The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT
10/22 – Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR
10/23 – The Showbox – Seattle, WA
10/25 – Beach Goth Festival – Orange County, CA
10/28 – Slim’s – San Francisco, CA
10/30 – The Regent Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
10/31 – The Regent Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
11/10 – O2 Academy Bristol – Bristol, United Kingdom
11/11 – The Ritz – Manchester, United Kingdom
11/12 – Garage – Glasgow, United Kingdom
11/14 – The Forum – London, United Kingdom
11/15 – The Institute – Birmingham, United Kingdom
11/17 – Posthof – Berlin, Germany
11/19 – Trianon – Paris, France
11/22 – AB Club @ Ancienne Belgique – Brussels, Belgium
11/23 – TivoliVredenburg – Utrecht, Netherlands