A catchy and poppy sound is the first thing one would notice when listening to Filligar. But once you dedicate the time to really hear the band you’ll notice that tender keyboard touch, powerful guitar melodies, and those plainspoken acoustic numbers that makes the band more than a group of pretty boys trying to get their 15 minutes of fame. Drawing obvious influence from Wilco and Whiskeytown, Filligar’s latest album, Near or Far, is filled with seemingly simple songs that erupt into more complex sounds and wildly trickly indiepop, mingled with a sort of hallucinogenic Americana folk. I assume they are proud of this record and they should be.
Keyboardist and background vocalist Casey Gibson was able to dedicate some time to answering this week’s Kuestionnaire and share his love for classic rock.
1. Of all the bands/artists in your CD/record collection, which one is your most cherished?
Neil Young, hands down. Of any past or present artist, he’s always the one I can go back to. Harvest and On the Beach are my favorites.
2. What have you been listening to lately?
The new Animal Collective is great. Also listening to a lot of Rolling Stones, recently re-watched Shine a Light and Gimme Shelter… interesting to compare the two. Those guys are awesome.
3. What’s your favorite local band?
In Chicago, Company of Thieves and Empires both are making some cool music. We played a show with Doggie Hi! Yippie (now called Last Good Tooth.), a Providence band, last spring, and I haven’t stopped listening to their stuff since.
4. What was the last show you attended?
My Morning Jacket in Chicago–really outstanding. The spectacle of it all was fun to watch.
5. What was the greatest show you’ve ever been to?
Hard to pinpoint the greatest show… I love Wilco, so to be able to sing along with all of their tunes was a really cool experience. Radiohead was up there, too.
6. What show are you looking forward to?
I desperately need to catch Fleet Foxes, but will probably have to wait until later this year to do that.
7. What musician would you like to hang out/work with for a day?
Living? Probably Wilco’s Nels Cline. Expert musician and he has his hand in a lot of cool projects and genres.
8. What four albums you would bring to a deserted island?
Neil Young – Harvest, Fleetwood Mac – Rumours, Wilco – A Ghost is Born, and if I’m on an island, I would probably need Jimmy Cliff’s greatest hits. To set the tone.
9. Would you call yourself a music geek?
Not particularly, although I was a music major for 3 years of my college career so I could tell you a good deal of music history and theory. I don’t guess I know enough about rock and roll to consider myself a music geek.
10. Any favorite music-related videos/DVDs you own?
The Last Waltz. Also, the Metallica documentary, Some Kind of Monster, because (as everyone who’s ever been in a band understands) sometimes we all feel like we need “Band Therapists”.
11. What’s the last book you read?
The Beatles as Musicians, by Walter Everett. I took a Beatles course last semester and found that particular selection to be really enlightening.
12. Do you prefer live performances or recording in the studio?
Live performances. The studio is a microscopic process and often, the original inspiration behind the song can be lost after a couple of takes.
13. Any embarrassing moments on stage you’d like to share?
Too many to recount. Probably the one that sticks out in my mind the most was one of our first shows at a morning assembly in high school–we were freshmen, and I can clearly remember the looks on the seniors’ faces as we brutalized the 4 songs we played. Teddy, our bassist, didn’t even have time to tune beforehand, and subsequently lost his breakfast in the dumpster behind our school after the show. Awful.
14. Any favorite tour locations?
Colleges are always our favorites to play–Dartmouth, Hamilton, Colby, Middlebury. The craziest city we’ve had the opportunity to see was LA, though. Coming from the midwest and going to school out east… that was a whole different world.
15. Lastly, what have you done today?
Today was my birthday! I had dinner with my family and went to see Frost/Nixon, which was truly the best film I’ve seen in a long time. The guy who played Nixon was outstanding.
Filligar – Lot Six
Filligar – Hounds
Company of Thieves – Oscar Wilde