FIDLAR

FIDLAR is a Los Angeles garage punk group active since 2009. The line-up includes Zac Carper, Elvis Kuehn, Max Kuehn and Brandon Schwartzel. The band’s name comes from an acronym for the skate phrase “fuck it dog, life’s a risk”.

The group develops from the D.I.Y. underground, mixing garage rock, skate punk, surf and lo-fi influences with classic skatepunk, thrash and surfy indie. Its early members, Max Kuehn on drums and Elvis Kuehn on guitar and vocals, play punk shows around Los Angeles while still teenagers. Their father’s record collection exposes them to older Southern California punk groups, including T.S.O.L., where he plays guitar. By the time the members leave high school, Zac Carper and Brandon Schwartzel join the band.

FIDLAR releases material independently at first and sets up a homespun label to record songs, while also using internet videos to promote the band and document their behaviour. In 2012 Mom & Pop signs the group for its debut album, FIDLAR, which appears in 2013. The record reaches number five on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart, number two on the Alternative New Artist chart, and becomes the most added release at CMJ. It also attracts strong critical attention.

After touring widely with acts including the Pixies, the Hives, Black Lips and Wavves, the band takes a break and begins a second album, but rejects the first version as too close to its established sound. Zac Carper then writes a new set of songs on a road trip, with additional writing from Elvis Kuehn and Brandon Schwartzel, and the group records in Nashville with producer Jay Joyce. The result is Too in 2015, which reaches the top of Billboard’s Heatseekers chart and also charts in the UK and Australia.

In 2019 the band releases its third album, Almost Free, after working with producer Ricky Reed, who is known for work with pop artists including Kesha and Halsey. Across its releases, FIDLAR keeps a reputation for freewheeling punk drawn from skate culture and Southern California influences.