Fishboy

Fishboy is a four-piece eccentric indie pop band from Denton, TX that began as the bedroom solo project of front man Eric Michener. He was given the nickname on a middle-school field trip after a dare to pluck and swallow a fish at the Dallas World Aquarium. Six years and several shoe boxes full of cassette tapes later, Michener moved from the suburbs to the Texas rock-and-roll Mecca of Denton with a handful of low budget recordings released by the close-knit Austin music collective Business Deal Records. It’s here that the little project became a full-fledged rock band that has since taken on several forms, the most current of which meshes the band’s lo-fi twee pop roots with a loud, energetic rhythm section topped with the occasional horn, piano, or organ, the result of which is somewhere along the lines of fellow Texans Daniel Johnston and Britt Daniel (Spoon) joining the Danielson Famile to play for Anthony Daniels (C3PO) and Daniel Day Lewis (moustache) as they both drink Jack Daniels on a Sunday afternoon.Since 2005 the band has toured across the nation more than a few times and has walked away with a couple of broken vans and a few gold nuggets, the first of which is a partnership with the Athens, Georgia label Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records. The second is a greater appreciation of their home, the folks that surround them, and the rich history of Texas music. These themes run deep through the band’s new album, Albatross: How We Failed To Save The Lone Star State With The Power Of Rock And Roll, a record that Michener calls “a rock opera about how myself, the band, and the ghost of Buddy Holly attempt to save Texas by going on a tour/crime spree in order to perform all 8,030 of the songs I've written in my sleep since I was in the womb.”As well as a new album, the next year will feature a 7” as part of the HHBTM Singles Club, appearances on HHBTM, Business Deal, and Asthmatic Kitty compilations, a trip to the 2007 CMJ new music festival, SXSW 08, and a couple more of those US tours (the ghost of Buddy Holly has yet to be confirmed.)
Here are some kind things people have said about ALBATROSS:
"Like the Who if the Who were four skinny kids with a surprisingly wiry strength and a predilection for wearing headbands."
-ALLMUSIC
“what may stand up to be one of the best records of the decade”
-RETROLOWFI
Fishboy is perhaps ill-prepared for taking on the second largest state in the United States by themselves but they’re quite capable of smashing out a few amazing pop hooks or two.
- SMOTHER
"this is eleven blasts of sugar rush indie power pop."
- 75ORLESS
"It's nice to come across a band that genuinely makes you laugh and enjoy life. Fishboy does that and more."
PASTA PRIMAVERA
"After a brilliant story, beautifully written and performed songs, a concept that will touch your heart and make you fall in love; how can you not love this band and this album? Were this Ebert and Roeper, it would be two thumbs way up (hell, they'd throw in the other two just for fun to make it four). Were it a play it would receive massive cheers from the crowd and a standing ovation. Were it a charity, I’d give a million dollars if I had a million to give. Were this site to have ratings out of 10, my answer would be 10 ten times over."
-FENSEPOST
"Albatross stands as one of the finest rock albums to come out of Texas this year, loaded with loud guitars, catchy melodies, and fun verses."
KERA.ORG
"Why aren't all albums concept albums? And why aren't all indiepop albums this great?"
JOE MATHLETE'S GREAT AMERICAN BLOG
"1 Album of 2007: ...But what's more important is that underneath all of this manic energy is a batch of amazingly catchy songs with clever lyrics,. Basically, this is one of the best records released this year, and deserving of any and all praise heaped upon it. MTQ=11/11"
INDIE PAGES
"2 Album of 2007"
Liz, THREE IMAGINARY GIRLS
"Creating good lo-fi pop/rock music isn't an easy task, yet Fishboy have produced an entire album's worth of material that makes it seem easier to do than swallowing a fish. Gulp!"
I GUESS I'M FLOATING
Live on ChicaGoGo July 2006
'A Surprise Return' Dir. Ryan Anderson
'Musician of the Year' a movie about how great we are.
Dir. Owen Greenmeadows
Please read about our many exploits over at the FISHBLOG