FIDLAR
The Catalyst Club, Santa Cruz
September 23, 2024
Photos by Geoffrey Smith II
Kicking off their tour for North America in Santa Cruz was an appropriate move for SoCal’s FIDLAR. Not only do the quartet lean heavily into the surf punk sound, but their lyrical content celebrates the culture surrounding it. Unsurprising, given that vocalist Zac Carper’s father is a famous surfboard designer. The youthful energy of the sport and culture certainly hasn’t waned since the band’s first full-length album in 2013, as evidenced by their energetic and uplifting performance, and the fun vibes radiating from their new album, ‘Surviving the Dream.’
It had been ten years since I last saw FIDLAR; they performed at San Francisco’s Slim’s venue in 2015, and myself and a couple of other local photographers were remarking on how old we felt amongst the predominantly late teen crowd. I thought that perhaps that same crowd of fans from the early 2010s would still be present and now older, but it seems FIDLAR still have an appeal that gets kids off their computers and out to shows because the Santa Cruz show still skewed young and their new releases are still bringing in new blood to the punk scene. Definitely a win for live music.
While the band’s performance had a couple of minor hiccups – most notably an odd high-pitched whine over the PA the entire set, and a broken pedalboard interrupting the flow, they played fairly tight and consistent, and seemed to relish in the experience of performing. Their classic hit 40Oz saw the crowd at probably the height of their energy, with an extended break in the middle of the song allowing for some serious momentum in the mosh pit. All of the tracks felt heavier and deeper live, with lots of intentional feedback and shoegaze flavored fuzz embellishing the songs. At one point they managed to get the whole audience to sit down and jump up during a song’s refrain. Even though the venue was only 2/3 full, the enthusiasm from the crowd made it seem packed. A girls-only mosh pit and a parody cover of Weezer’s Sweater Song were just two more of the fun moments from their satisfying set.
Support for FIDLAR on the tour and at the show were ALEXSUCKS.
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