Fibbers remain true to musical passion
Critical acclaim could propel L.A.-based group to commercial
success
By Olivia Mandel
Daily Bruin Contributor
Geraldine Fibbers guitarist Daniel Keenan is having a piece of
toast while talking on the phone. "I’ll try to be as quiet as
possible," he says apologetically.
Keenan and the Fibbers, playing a free show tonight at the
Palace, have garnered much critical acclaim of late for their most
recent album, "Lost Somewhere between the Earth and My Home."
The Fibbers’ ethereal, often darkly poetic lyrics and music set
them apart from other modern rock bands. And while this unique
sound has brought the Fibbers much critical attention, commercial
success is still at least one step away.
"I can’t go anywhere anymore," Keenan jokes. "I don’t know if
that’s something that this band is going to have anytime soon."
"A listener has to listen to our music once or twice – (they)
either like it or they don’t."
But mainstream success is still a real possibility, especially
after the Fibbers’ tour with grammy-nominee Joan Osborne in April.
"Ask me after that," Keenan says.
The Fibbers first got together in January of 1994, when Keenan
suggested to now-lead singer Carla Bozulich that she leave her
previous band and form one with him.
They recruited their friends, bassist Bill Tutton, guitarist
Kevin Fitzgerald and violinist Jessy Greene, to round out the new
band.
At first, the Fibbers played clubs around Los Angeles, doing
country music covers for the sheer joy and campiness of it. One of
their first gigs was opening for a band called the Royal Trucks at
Fuzzyland, a local venue. What began as a performance solely for
fun’s sake turned into a stroke of luck for the young band.
The very next day, the L.A. Times wrote an article raving about
the Geraldine Fibbers and their performance, which according to the
critic, had completely upstaged the Royal Trucks.
By the end of the year, the Fibbers were signed by Virgin
Records. In early 1995, they recorded their debut album, "Lost
Somewhere Between the Earth and My Home." They then launched an
extensive nationwide tour with Lollapalooza and other bands.
Keenan wishes to dispel any myths about touring. "It’s not very
glamorous," he explains. It’s all about "eating shitty food,
keeping weird hours, doing a lot of traveling, standing around a
lot."
But there are a few tricks that Keenan and the Fibbers have
learned to stay entertained.
"You find another band that’s really fun to be around," Keenan
says. "That’s how you keep from being bored."
Keenan cites Hole and Possum Dixon as bands who fit this
category perfectly.
The style which Keenan plays now is a far cry from that of
classic rock he grew up listening to. In fact, the first concert he
ever attended was Ted Nugent. A self-described Rolling Stones and
Led Zeppelin fanatic, Keenan says he continues to listen to music
from days of old.
"I’m kind of a dinosaur," he says. "I still listen to all my
Beatles records. I’m more into a certain sound that was achieved
back in the early days."
But Keenan’s influences aren’t necessarily shared by the rest of
the band.
He describes each individual band member as having different
musical influences and talents that all mesh together to form the
unusual style of the Geraldine Fibbers, which is often compared to
bands such as X and the Velvet Underground.
Bozulich does much of the song writing with Keenan. Tutton and
Fitzgerald also contribute their melodic two cents. Greene’s violin
and viola playing add to their unique sound. However, the lyrics
are principally the artwork of Bozulich.
All these characteristics culminate in the Fibbers’ live shows.
The band hopes to capture this live sound on their upcoming
nine-song concert album from a recent performance in San
Francisco.
Keenan and the band are pleasantly surprised by the sound of the
live album. However, "we’re not out to sell a million records," he
says. Keenan is happy just "touring and making good records."
The Geraldine Fibbers’ passion for music ensures that they won’t
stop creating any time soon. Keenan sums it up best when he says,
"I love to play music. It’s everything that I do. Commercial
success or not, I’m going to keep playing music for as long as I’m
alive."
CONCERT: The Geralidine Fibbers play a free concert tonight with
the Presidents of the United States of America at 8 p.m. at the
Palace in the Grammy National Showcase. Line up early for tickets.
For more info call (800) 200-8991.
The Geraldine Fibbers will play a free concert starting at 8
p.m. at the Palace.
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