Fight Nice
"Fighnally"
An uneven recording of sturdy indie jams packed with hooks and melodies.
Reviewed October 25, 2024
Fight Nice’s four song demo Fighnally does all the things a demo should do: it captures the general style and aesthetic of the band; it highlights their strengths in terms of songwriting and instrumentation; it shows the scope of their ambition; it conjures a variety of comparisons; but it also leaves enough room for improvement that listeners will wonder what this would sound like if it had a bit more polish and cohesion.
​
Hit play and you’ll know we’re in ‘90’s inspired “Indie Rock” territory. Crunchy guitars strum through off-kilter progressions, through which plaintive vocals map careful melodies. On the surface these tunes seem inspired by acts like Sebadoh, weaving a punk ethos into melody-forward tunes. Just beneath that surface is a strong post-punk commitment to restraint that distinguishes Fight Nice’s style from so many other indie heyday emulators. “Happy Vally Set,” and “Sir Blanche Du Bois” all conjure Television more than Pavement, for example, while “Sir Blanche Du Bois” blends Joy Division and Elvis Costello into a sparkling approximation of Hot Hot Heat.
​
There is some excellent playing here – notably in the layered picking that swells beneath the chorus of “Caught Near the End,” as well as the garage-psych leads rounding out “Latest Report.” In the latter, the band puts forward a nearly anthemic tune that refuses to give in to self-importance. The steadiness of the drumming does an excellent job keeping these songs humble, though the primary factor on that front is the lofi recording.
​
On occasion these tunes sound charmingly DIY, with a muddy balance that gives the demo its indie edge. On other occasions, it sounds like it’s been recorded live in the practice space on a phone – everything is audible, but none of the sounds sound intentional. “Latest Report” and “Happy Valley Set” in particular feel like undeniably strong songs held back by their recordings.
Fight Nice have a knack for strong melodies delivered with charisma—which was not always true of the college radio pioneers. All of these songs hint at rock radio friendliness – not that rock radio drives discovery anymore. But with their emphasis on clever hooks, propulsive rhythms, and restrained dynamics, Fight Nice seems well positioned to build on the momentum of Fighnally and find a ready audience.
