Formed in 2000, Filligar consists of Casey Gibson, Johnny, Pete, and Teddy Mathias. Despite their young age (all four are in college), Filligar has recorded over 60 songs on six full-length CDs.
Their most recent record, "The City Tree" (recorded at the acclaimed Gravity Studios in Chicago) has received favorable reviews from many reputable critics, such as top-notch American pop music critic Jim DeRogatis (of the Chicago Sun-Times and Sound Opinions) who praised the album for its "poetic lyrics, keyboard arpeggios and genteel but winning melodies, which hone to the right side of twee (a la Belle & Sebastian at its best) while avoiding the smart 'n' sensitive preppie shtick of indie-rock heroes of the moment Vampire Weekend." IvyGate Blog says that "Filligar has the chops to explode into the next big thing."
Filligar has a great live-show and trans-generational appeal, making the band a boon for bookers. Their talent has earned them appearances at legendary Midwest rock-venues such as Subterranean, The Beat Kitchen, and Martyrs as well as larger commercial stages at the Taste of Chicago and U.S. Cellular field. They have toured the East Coast several times and among their more notable stops were NYC's famed Knitting Factory and Lion's Den, Cambridge's T.T. The Bears' Place, Nantucket's Rose and Crown, and the RISD auditorium in Providence.
Filligar is rising fast. In 2007, they were awarded "Youth Ensemble of the Year" by the Madison Area Music Awards (MAMAs). In March 2008, the Illinois Entertainer said that "Pop rock prodigies Filligar... are scary good."
"The Observatory" Music VideoWhat critics have said about "The City Tree" (2007):
"The group issued its second self-released album last year, "The City Tree," and it’s a strong showcase for its poetic lyrics, keyboard arpeggios and genteel but winning melodies, which hone to the right side of twee (a la Belle & Sebastian at its best) while avoiding the smart ’n’ sensitive preppie shtick of indie-rock heroes of the moment Vampire Weekend" -Jim DeRogatis, The Chicago Sun-Times
"Pop rock prodigies Filligar, comprising three brothers and a family friend, are scary good. Despite their relatively young ages, the Ivy League college students, by way of Chicago, have recorded six albums since 2000. The band’s latest, The City Tree, is packed with sparkling guitar and piano rock, complete with orchestrated harmonies and emotive lyrical delivery. Like most of the 12 tracks, “James Alan & The Fire†builds masterfully from acoustic guitar and simple piano leads to a crescendo ending, with subtle and varied songwriting techniques mined throughout the fully realized tracks." – Jason Scales, Illinois Entertainer
"These young men from Chicago (also home of Wilco) released a fantastic album in 2006 called Succession, I Guess. This year's The City Tree shows a more mature (and mellow) side which only makes me think and hope that the name Filligar will be met with much wider recognition in the near future. Do yourself a favor and become acquainted with the sweet sounds of Filligar"- All Kids Love Blog
"Filligar is fun, after all. “Rattle Me,†the fifth track on the album, has been rattling around in my head non-stop the past few days. And the opening track, “The Observatory,†(“Everyone was happy when the light had run/We were pretty for a while, we were staring at the sunâ€) embodies the sort of melancholic-but-shrugging-it-off attitude that characterizes much of Filligar’s work. They’ve got adolescent angst galore, but not obnoxiously so: “Who’s fake honey?/You’re the one I’ll take/to lunch,†sings Johnny on the romping “Yo Hi Hey.†- The Dartmouth
What critics have said about "Succession, I Guess" (2006):
"These Chicago-based indie rockers are making their mark on the music scene. Their latest release, Succession, I Guess, is like a trip through music history making it difficult to classify their sound as anything but ecletic...we'd all benefit from encouraging these young lads to keep doing what they do, frankly, to see where their electic tastes and influences might lead them." -Way Cool Music
"The best of the bunch: Filligar, a Chicago-based quartet featuring brothers Pete, Teddy, and Johnny Mathias, and fourth-wheel Casey Gibson... Filligar is remarkably mature. When we asked our friend Andrew to write ivyTunes for us, he agreed on one condition: that after picking the best (those were Filligar, Vampire Weekend and The Main Drag, sort of), he'd get to do one final hatepost. It takes a lot of guts to submit your heartfelt music for public evaluation; naturally, we need to betray those hopes and dreams without further delay." -Ivy Gate
"In its latest album, "Succession, I Guess," Chicago-based Filligar projects a sweetly affecting charm that's hard to ignore -- and, curiously, hard to dislike... "Succession, I Guess" offers a set of lyrically smart songs accompanied by satisfying keyboard- and guitar-driven melodies... It really is about succession: the growing chain of time and people and places and things. Alternately breezy and brainy, the album is a tremendous success." -Allison Ruderman, The Dartmouth
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Book Filligar
U.S. and International Booking:
Julie Anderson
(Three•One•Two Productions)
[email protected]