Filligar formed in Chicago in 2000 when the bulk of their members were only 13 years old. Now, Johnny, Teddy, and Pete Mathias (yes they are brothers)
along with Casey Gibson have recorded over 60 songs and have played at U.S. Cellular Field and The Taste of Chicago. The Mathias brothers are all currently attending Dartmouth and Gibson attends Hamilton.
I have to admit that I was very skeptical when I first started researching Filligar. It’s inevitable to make the comparison with, hype of the moment, Vampire Weekend. I mean both bands are keyboard heavy, indie rock influenced groups that attend ivy league schools, but this band is a much more talented group than VW in this writers opinion. Filligar is able to produce intelligent music, without coming across as pompous.
Filligar have a pleasant pop sound, with some jazz influence. Cherrystone Creek is a beautiful song, that is given the time and care to develop like a short story, slowing rising to the climax at the end. One of the most impressive things about their song writing abilities is the fact that they write a bridge into several of their songs (Venice Worlds Fair, Big Things). To often today, musicians stick with the verse-chorus-verse format and never challenge themselves or their listeners to think outside the box. Filligar is a breath of fresh air, in a genre that is growing stale.
You can see Filligar in action in a city near you…
Filligar Tour Dates:
05/17 – Hanover, NH @ Green Key Weekend
06/08 – New York, NY @ The Zipper Factory Theater
06/15 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
06/18 – Chicago, IL @ Subterranean
06/25 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Mint
07/04 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas
07/27 – Chicago, IL @ First Annual Chicago Criterium Pro-Am Bike Race
08/05 – Nantucket, Massachusetts @ The Rose and Crown
Check Out:
“Apricot Jam”
“Cherrystone Creek”