Hailing from Chicago, Filligar is a young rock n' roll quartet comprised of brothers Pete (drums), Teddy (bass, vocals), and Johnny Mathias (guitar, vocals) and lifelong friend Casey Gibson (keys, vocals). For nearly a decade, the band has been writing together and performing nationally, honing an electrifying live show and distinct sound that has earned Filligar buzz as one of the most promising young bands in the country. And the fun won’t stop. They’ll be playing our Official Sonicbids SXSW Party on March 18th in Austin. We had the chance to chat with Casey and Teddy about orthodontists, the band’s best gig, and where they’re heading next.
When/How did you first start playing music?
Casey: Pete and I got the idea early in high school. It began as something to do on the weekends between hockey practices and orthodontist appointments. We needed a guitarist and bassist, and Pete's two brothers seemed like good choices. The first thing we worked out was a Nirvana cover, but we quickly realized we'd be better off writing our own music. Now the band is full time –– our hockey skills have suffered because of it.
What's the best gig you ever played?
Teddy: We've had a lot of fun shows recently. We played a few bigger stages opening for bands like The Black Keys, B.o.B and Ben Folds, but nothing beats a 200 capacity club show with 250 people sweating it out in the room. After a real crazy one in New York, the person running the door said to me, "You were great, but this is the worst behaved crowd we've ever had." I say, “Apologies ma'am. It's a rock show they're just having a good time.” She's says, "A rock show doesn't have to be chaotic." I didn't have much to say to that. Nobody got hurt, nothing got broken. The best shows are the ones where you can feel safe while letting loose.
How has social media effected the way you market/promote your music?
Casey: We're always on the road. Touring is the best part about what we do. In that respect, it's cool to meet people after shows that tell us they came because a friend shared our video on the internet. I'm not sure social media can ever replace the thrill of sharing live music with your friends--better to experience the beer and sweat-soaked affair first-hand--but it's definitely getting closer. We post fan videos to our social media pages all the time –– the new-age concert bootleg. I find great Zeppelin and Dead bootlegs on the internet all the time, and we're hoping to carry on that tradition.
What's your prediction for the next big advancement in how we find/listen to/share music?
Teddy: I think music was at its best when people treated collecting and listening to records as a hobby, with live concerts as the ultimate way to experience those records and come face to face with other fanatics. It used to be a big deal when you saw a friend had an awesome new record before you, and it compelled you to get your hands on a copy by any means necessary. I think that if somebody brought the public display of collecting and sharing records – bought with real money – to online networks of friends you might see a resurgence in the sort of competitive, even addictive, hobbyist behavior of buying records and attending shows.
You’ll be playing our SXSW party! What are your SXSW plans?
Casey: We've spent some time in Austin before, but never during South by Southwest. We're excited to party with a lot of great bands we've toured or played shows with over the past year. I'll probably spend lots of time eating Texas BBQ and drinking margaritas and hopefully getting sunburned. All while finding my new favorite band. Sounds a little like heaven. And obviously we're beyond excited to play the Maggie Mae's stage on Friday with a ton of great bands from all over the world--it's going to be crazy. Sonicbids put together an awesome line-up.
Any other big gigs coming up? When/Where?
Teddy: We're driving our big red van down to SXSW (if you're around you won't miss us) and doing a bit of touring afterwards in the direction of New England. We've got some college shows, University of Kentucky, Bates College, Dartmouth and a few others. You can check our website www.filligar.com for tour dates as they come.
