The Observer, March 28, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 22
The Fiery Furnaces prepare to burn up The Spot on April 23
The Fiery Furnaces' Matt Friedberger, one half of the true brother-sister rock duo (eat your heart out, Jack and Meg White), certainly likes to think outside the box. The name, for starters, stems from an unconventional inspiration: "It occurred to me as a band name while we were watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang...It sounds redundant and pedantic…It sounds like a famous Bible phrase. [In addition,] it fits with the first letter of our last name, Friedberger." It is with this kind of multidimensional thought that this hidden gem of a band forms itself – unconventional, but still accessible.
And with unconventionality comes the difficulty of classification. Although considered by many to be an "indie" band of the revivalist garage rock following, infused with a side of R&B (the White Stripes comparisons certainly don't end with the band members), Matt doesn't agree. In his mind, each album has a different sound than the others ("rock rhythm on the last album"), but as a whole, "We think we're a mainstream rock band."
Upon being asked where his band's musical inspiration came from, Matt was quick to respond with a funny but unorthodox concept. "We're inspired by pop culture – ads, the newspaper – especially non-English speaking newspapers." This response was followed by an explanation of how an advertisement about dentures that he was reading in the New York Daily News would make an interesting song. The band also has other ideas, like taking something like a receipt from a crowd member, and building a story about their life.
"A drugstore receipt – those are my favorite."
Fans will also send in poems to the band, and after music was written to accompany the work, the band gladly records the new piece, confirming the unusual manner with which the band conducts itself.
Still, while conceptually bizarre on paper, when fully realized in song these notions not only create a quirky, enjoyable experience, but also allow the band to reach its listeners on a more personal level. After all, that personal level is what is most important to the Friedbergers. In discussing the Fiery Furnaces' trip to The Spot, on Wednesday, April 23, the question of which type of crowd is preferred by the band was raised. Did Matt like wildly bouncy crowds, such as the ones possibly found at an Of Montreal show or a fist-pumping and psyched Beastie-Boys-esque crowd? As expected, Matt's response was open-minded and reflected his desire to allow an individual response to everything the band has to offer.
"[What's most important is] the crowd doing what they want to do." Still, he was quick to point out that unlike many of his musical peers, he did not fear a quiet response: "It's interesting to play to a crowd with no movement."
With so many ideas floating around, it's not surprising that The Furnaces have more than one project in the works. An online caucus is planned to determine what the band's next album will be. They have seven in works. In addition to the studio releases, a live album is planned, as well as a primary-inspired LP that Matt plans to title "Democ-Rock." And as for Case Western's show? As soon as Matt explained, "We sometimes like to get out the phone book, read names, and play along," it was made known that we'd have the phone book ready and waiting.
