Fangclub

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Fangclub
Background information
OriginRush, Dublin, Ireland
Genres
Years active2013 – present
LabelsVertigo
MembersSteven King
Kevin Keane
Dara Coleman
Websitefangclubofficial.com

Fangclub are an alternative rock band formed in Rush, Dublin, signed to Vertigo Records.[2][3]

History

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 next single, Attention, is set to release on March 1st 2024, according to the bands official Twitter page.

Reception

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."[10] 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."[11]

Members

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)
Fangclub

Discography

Fangclub discography
Studio albums2
Music videos12
EPs3
Singles2

Studio albums

Year Details Peak chart positions
IRL
[4]
2017 Fangclub 5
2019 Vulture Culture
  • Released: 5 July 2019
  • Label: Vertigo
  • Formats: CD, download
31
[12]

Singles / EPs

Year Title Label Track list
2016 Bullet Head
  • Released: 30 March 2016
  • Label: Headwire
  • Formats: 10" vinyl, download
Headwire Records 1. Bullet Head
2. Young Blood
3. Loner
4. Role Models
2016 Coma Happy
  • Released: 18 November 2016
  • Label: Vertigo
  • Formats: 10" vinyl, download
Vertigo Records 1. Dreamcatcher
2. Follow
3. Inside Joke
4. Coma Happy
2018 All Fall Down
  • Released: 16 March 2018
  • Label: Vertigo
  • Formats: Download
Vertigo Records 1. All Fall Down
2018 True Love
  • Released: 29 June 2018
  • Label: Vertigo
  • Formats: 10" vinyl, download
Vertigo Records 1. Knife
2. Heart Is A Landmine
3. Smother
4. Sweater Forever
5. High
2019 Viva Violent
  • Released: 25 October 2019
  • Label: Vertigo
  • Formats: Download
Vertigo Records 1. Viva Violent
2. All Fall Down (Acoustic)

Awards and nominations

Choice Music Prize

Year Nominated Work Award Result
2017 Fangclub Album of the Year Nominated[13]

References

  1. ^ "TRACK BY TRACK: FANGCLUB – BULLET HEAD EP". Upsetmagazine.com. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Bemrose, Bekki. "Fangclub Biography on Allmusic". Allmusic. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  3. ^ Murphy, Lauren (14 July 2019). "Fangclub sink their teeth into rock". The Times.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Clayton-Lea, Tony (2 August 2017). "Fangclub:one of the best hard rock albums of 2017". The Irish Times.
  6. ^ White, Stephen (10 January 2018). "Choice Music Prize Album of the year 2017 nominees announced". The Last Mixed Tape.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ McFee, Edwin (20 June 2019). "Album Review: Fangclub - Vulture Culture". Hot Press.
  9. ^ ""I just wanted to be asleep all the time" - how Fangclub came back from the brink".
  10. ^ "Eurosonic 2019 review: A blitz of blind discovery (And a few familiar faces) at the Netherlands' music industry meat market". NME. 21 January 2019.
  11. ^ Golby, Joel (9 September 2016). "The best of this week's music: Fangclub offer up time-portal grunge with Loner". The Guardian.
  12. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  13. ^ "Choice Music prize 2017". Choice Music Prize. 2017.

External links