FIGHTs — or The Formal Institute Of Great Hit Tunes, if you prefer — was conceived by singer J Burton on the way to SXSW from Lafayette, LA in 2009. Of course, he was en route to the music festival as part of another band, Dire Wood. But after hearing Brian Eno’s “King’s Lead Hat” off his Before and After Science record, Burton was inspired to leave Dire Wood and create something different — music not tied in any way to his previous work. Drawing in a cadre of renowned Louisiana musicians, he initially brought together a group of seven individuals, including two bassist and two drummer, though the band was eventually winnowed down to a paltry six members. Burton and the band have recorded two EP’s (The Mature Sound of FIGHTs and Summer Hits) and are now gearing up for the release of their debut LP, Music For Villains, which is due out October 22th.
For our first glimpse of Villains viscous rock landscape, the band has chosen, appropriately enough, the melodic rocker “Beginning” for their lead single. Blending Burton’s expressive vocals with distorted fiddle-work and spitfire synth rolls — not to mention a tight-as-hell rhythm section — the band barrels through the track, with their focus centered entirely on a quickly approaching point in the distance. Because in this case, the journey is just as important as the destination. Getting swept away in the undertow of a musical riptide has rarely been this much fun or as likely to make you jump up and start to dance uncontrollably.
Beats Per Minute is pleased to premiere FIGHTs’ latest single, “Beginning,” from their upcoming debut LP, Music For Villains.
