The Figgs

The Figgs
Background information
Origin Saratoga Springs, New York, USA
Genres Garage rock, pop rock[1]
Years active 1987–present
Labels Stomper
Associated acts Graham Parker
Website www.thefiggs.net
Members Mike Gent
Pete Donnelly
Pete Hayes
Past members Guy Lyons, Mike Viola, Brett Rosenberg, Ted Collins, Jed Parish, Scott Janovitz

The Figgs are a rock ‘n’ roll band formed in Saratoga Springs, New York in 1987. Originally known as The Sonic Undertones, their output includes thirteen studio albums and multiple EPs and singles. They’ve served as the backing band for rock and roll legend Graham Parker on and off since 1996 and also toured with Tommy Stinson of The Replacements fame.

Background

The original lineup of Mike Gent (guitar), Pete Donnelly (bass), and Guy Lyons (drums), all went to high school together.[2] Lyons temporarily left the band in 1989 and was replaced by Pete Hayes. When he returned in 1992, Hayes remained on drums and Lyons moved to lead guitar. Lyons left for good in 1997 after the recording of Couldn't Get High.

The band has continued recording and touring steadily and in 2017 celebrated their 30th anniversary with shows featuring Lyons sitting in on some of their earliest tunes. In May 2013 Lexus used The Figgs' Je T’Adore in a commercial entitled First Sight for the Lexus RX. Je T'Adore was released on the album Palais in 2004.[3]

1987-1993

By 1993 The Sonic Undertones/Figgs had been performing for over half a decade and already had an album under their belt. But the year ‘93 was a pivotal one for the group as it saw the release of both of the first two full-length Figgs records! “Ginger,” recorded throughout the previous year in various New Jersey locales and the immediate follow up, “Ready Steady Stoned,” recorded in the Donnellys’ attic, are monuments to early 90s DIY, full of aggressive punk and shimmery pop tunes.

1994–1998

Imago was the first label to sign The Figgs and the resulting album, “Low-Fi At Society High” led to wider recognition and deepening industry interest. 1996’s “Banda Macho” was the band’s lone release on Capitol Records but during their brief tenure at the label one relationship was formed that would help map the course of the group’s next decade and beyond. Graham Parker was a forgotten man at Capitol in the mid 1990s but he found kindred spirits in The Figgs. Their first of many collaborations is documented on Bloodshot Records “The Last Rock And Roll Tour.” Meanwhile, the band returned to the indie world to release 1998’s “The Figgs Couldn’t Get High” on Absolute A Go Go Records. Produced and arranged by Andy Shernoff at Mixolydian Studios, the record would be Guy Lyons’ last with the band. Once again they would carry on as a trio.

The Figgs Discography

  • 1993 Ginger (cassette) - Absolute A Go Go
  • 1993 Ready Steady Stoned (cassette) - Absolute A Go Go
  • 1994 Low-Fi At Society High (CD/LP/Cassette) - Imago
  • 1994 Hi-Fi Dropouts (CD) - Imago
  • 1996 Banda Macho (CD/LP/Cassette) - Capitol Records
  • 1998 The Figgs Couldn't Get High (CD/LP) - Absolute A Go Go/Stomper
  • 1997 The Last Rock'N'Roll Tour (CD) - Bloodshot Records w/Graham Parker
  • 1999 For EP Fans Only (CD) - Hearbox
  • 2000 Rejects (LP) - Philthyrex
  • 2000 Sucking In Stereo (CD/LP) - Hearbox/Peterwalkee/Stomper
  • 2001 Badger (CD) - Hearbox
  • 2002 Slow Charm (CD/Vinyl) - Hearbox/Good Land/Stomper
  • 2003 Ready Steady Stoned (CD Deluxe Reissue) - Stomper/Sodapop
  • 2003 Official Bootleg: Live Cuts From Somewhere (CD) - UpYours Records w/Graham Parker
  • 2004 Palais (CD/LP) - Stomper/Sodapop/Redeye/Soo Intense
  • 2005 Songs Of No Consequence (CD) - Bloodshot Records w/Graham Parker
  • 2005 Continue To Enjoy The Figgs Vol. 1 (CD) - Stomper
  • 2006 103° In June: Live In Chicago (CD) - Bloodshot Records w/Graham Parker
  • 2006 Follow Jean Through The Sea (CD/LP) - Gern Blandsten
  • 2007 Continue To Enjoy The Figgs Vol. 2 (CD) - Stomper
  • 2010 The Man Who Fights Himself (CD/LP) - Stomper
  • 2010 3.28.01 Kansas City, MO - The Hurricane (CD/LP) - Stomper/Peterwalkee
  • 2010 Live At FTC (CD/DVD) - Image Entertainment w/Graham Parker
  • 2012 The Day Gravity Stopped (CD/LP) - Stomper/Peterwalkee
  • 2013 1000 People Grinning: The Figgs Anthology (CD) - Stomper
  • 2013 Three For The Price Of Three! (LP Box Set) - Good Land/Stomper
  • 2014 Badger LP (LP) - Stomper
  • 2015 Other Planes Of Here (CD/LP) - Stomper
  • 2016 On the Slide (CD/LP) - Stomper

EPs

  • 1994 Hi-Fi Dropouts (CD) - Imago
  • 1999 For EP Fans Only (CD) - Hearbox
  • 2001 Badger (CD) - Hearbox

Live Albums

  • 3.28.01 Kansas City, MO - The Hurricane (CD/Vinyl) - Stomper/Peterwalkee - 2010
  • 04.16.16 Moorestown, NJ - Jen & Dave's House Concerts - (Digital) - thefiggs.com - 2016

Compilations

  • 2013 1000 People Grinning: The Figgs Anthology (CD) - Stomper

References

  1. ↑ Wheeler, Vicky (October 25, 2013). "The Figgs: 'Longing for You'". The New York Observer. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
  2. ↑ Brodeur, John (30 August 2007). "To Be Continued: Celebrating two decades in the life of a band called the Figgs". Metroland. 30 (35). pp. 16–17.
  3. ↑ "Lexus RX First Sight Commercial Song Je T'Adore by The Figgs". Livingly Media, Inc. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
  • Official website
  • MySpace page
  • A Minor Obsession online Figgs archive
  • Marc Maron (November 13, 2013). "Episode 442 - The Figgs". WTF with Marc Maron (Podcast).
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