We do underestimate Los Angeles’ music scene, but maybe we said that because we haven’t seen something radical yet. As we tried to know more about the culture in Los Angeles, we stumbled in one of the new bands who are bringing up the skater’s life in Los Angeles. It’s FIDLAR.

FIDLAR are four young men based in Los Angeles, the band are consisting of Zac Carper (guitar/vocals), Brandon Schwartzel (bass), Elvis Kuehn (guitar/vocals), and Max Kuehn (drums). The band used to train at the same karate dojo training (and that is why FIDLAR is the acronym for ‘Fear In Death, Love Always Reign’, which is the four pillars of their martial arts practice, but some also said FIDLAR stands for ‘Fuck It Dog, Life’s A Risk’), but on one fine evening, Zac and Elvis met they were at Rob Schnapfs’s recording studio, they were hungover and they tried to have some jam. The jam lasted for about three hours and the boys found some connection in their musicality for rock n’ roll music, so they decided to make a band. However, everything about FIDLAR was not really starting there, the band also had some hip/hop side project in 2008.

The Los Angeles-based band are embracing the punk music of skaters’ scene, having their music being influenced with Blink 182, NOFX, and the Offspring, FIDLAR got their music into a perfection for a garage-punk band. In 2012, FIDLAR have released three EPs, ‘Don’t Try’, ‘No Waves / No Ass’, and ‘Shit We Recorded In Our Bedroom’. FIDLAR are mostly breathing a youthful which you can clearly feel in their self-titled debut album. The album itself receives a good feedback from music critics, it even got named as one of the most anticipated albums in 2013 by TIME. Songs like ‘Cheap Beer’, ‘Whore’, or ‘No Waves’ gives a sunny hook and relatable lyrics. Pitchfork’s Brandon Stousy wrote “The L.A. skate-punk band FIDLAR don’t make music you’ll grow old with, and they won’t get an “A” for originality, but that’s not really the point. While there’s a definite lineage and history here, the quartet’s self-titled debut is about today– being young, broke, drunk, ecstatic, and not worrying too much about what happens next.”. Well, maybe FIDLAR are not getting an excellent score for their originality, but we really hail them for giving us some Black Lips or Blink-182 vibes in their music.

In spirit of their first embark to Kuala Lumpur, the land of diverse foods and culture, 10 fun facts about the band will be laid out for your extended knowledge prior to their upcoming show at Urbanscapes’ Satellite Show #2!

1. They’re a four-man band. Metric comprises of leading lady, Emily Haines and James Shaw who initially found the band in 1988 after the completion of the band with Joshua Winstead and Joules Scott-Key.

2. The band”s name has absolutely no relation to the metric system in Canada. Some would come to think that the Toronto based band to be named ‘Metric’ being in a country that applies the metric system in calculation, but the origin of their bands name came about after a sound that enthralled the original two members Emily and James that came from a sound programmed into James’s keyboard.

3. The bands original name was ‘Mainstream’. Yes you read that correct, the dynamic band was originally named ‘Mainstream’ by Emily Haines and James Shaw in 1997. They had an EP released under the name and fact is, both of them don’t even own a copy of it themselves.

4. Emily Haines has been online casino involved in two other bands. Besides being the front lady for her primary band, metric, Emily haines is also involved in two other projects under the moniker Emily Haines & the Soft Skeleton being her solo act. On top of that, Emily along with James are also involved in Canadian based band ‘Broken Social Scene’

5. Emily Haines is 39. Yeap guys, this bombshell of a gal is 39 years old and is engaged/married to Phillip Kressin of the band Neon Legion. Sorry to burst your bubbles fanboys.

6. The band has performed alongside rock legends. In their early years the band was approached to open for The rolling stones and Emily also had a unique relationship with the rock legend, Lou Reed (R.I.P). They’ve performed together in several shows, Lou Reed played “Pale Blue Eyes” before their song co-produced by him “The Wanderlust”

7. The band was side featured in a movie. Aside their other TV stardoms from concerts and videos, The band was side-featured in a 2004 movie directed by Olivier Assayas, “Clean”. The band was in the movie acting as them selves, even having minor dialogue in the background.

8. Emily Haines and James Shaw used to date. Back when the band was forming out the original two members tried their run at a romantic relationship but evidently decided to part and be “Creatively Involved” with each other throughout the years. Safe to say that’s probably why their music is so amazing. The chemistry is just there.

9. The band is under their own record label. Alike other bands like Wilco and Radiohead, Metric also strays away from the traditional record label deal. Not just musicians, they’re also their own bosses. The band stated that being a great singer isn’t enough nowadays, being a great marketer is also part and parcel with the career.

10. It’s going to be their first time in Malaysia! 3rd December 2013 during the satellite show as a part of Urbansacapes would be the first time the band has ever been to this region of south east asia, Malaysia. The band has yet to say anything about their performance, but we’re all excited to hear what they have to say!

The band also performed another song ‘Mad Sounds’ from their upcoming fifth album which probably will be released on September this year. From the two songs that they’ve revealed , we can say that their new album will be like a mix between Humbug, Suck It And See, and Submarine.

As you all know that Queens of The Stone Age newest album is supported by lot of big name such as Dave Grohl, Sir Elton John, Trent Reznor, Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters and last name added Alex Turner. Queens of The Stone Age long-time guests Mark Lanegan and Nick Oliveri will also appear in this album which will be released in June 2013 according to Press Release.

Alex Turner is not only supported QOTSA for …Like Clockwork but now he and Arctic Monkeys are currently working on their fifth Album that will be finished this year.

The band who previously known as Cavil at Rest also released another songs ‘Breakers’ one month ago on their youtube channel. These two brand new songs are from their upcoming album ‘Hummingbird’ and the album will hit the stores on 28th Jan (Infectious)/29th Jan (Frenchkiss) 2013. (Andriani NP)