(As published for Bournemouth Daily Echo)
NOT many bands can boast collaborations with the likes of Green Day and Reel Big Fish on their debut album.
Including
a song named after one of Dickens' most prestigious novels next to a
rendition of Peter Andre's Mysterious Girl many not have worked for
some, but it seems to do the trick for Surrey ska band Fandangle.
I
joined them in their tour bus before their show at the Gander in
Bournemouth to ask how things are progressing and what we can expect in
the coming months.
American frontman Adam Bantz told me that
when they started in 1999, the band comprised Americans and Puerto
Ricans, but moving to England he met trumpet player Eidur Starnes at
college, guitarist Tom Saunders online, and the other members through a
series of connections with other bands.
In June 2005, Fandangle
supported ska icons Reel Big Fish, who were so impressed that they
invited the band to join them on a second tour.
Since then they have also played support to other well established bands such as Less Than Jake, Spunge and Zebrahead.
Fandangle are no strangers to Bournemouth either.
They
shot the video to Cheap Escape - which can be viewed on YouTube - at
the former Bournemouth Aviation Museum and have played a number of
small gigs here.
Now headlining their Still In Transit Tour,
they are promoting their new album Fly Away, which was recorded in
Zebrahead's LA recording studio, featuring collaborations with Reel Big
Fish frontman Aaron Barrett and Green Day's Jason Freese.
With
the exterior artwork designed by the two guitarists, and the interior
drawings provided by dummer Jack Usher, it's clear to see their
artistic talent goes beyond the studio.
After support from
touring partners Short Warning, Fandangle took to the Gander stage to
play to a modest crowd, opening with the energetic Pornstars (Aren't
For Everyone).
They went on to play new song Figure It Out, I'm
High, the band's live favourite Cheap Escape, At Least I Tried, Oliver
Twist and Laws Of Gravity.
Despite a somewhat disappointing turn
out, Fandangle demonstrated a passion for the music they play, a
highly energetic performance, and the ambition needed to take them to
the next level.
The band say they hope to return to play Mr C's in Poole in September, and have acquired a slot on the 2009 Warped Tour.
Allana Cutter