In Profile: Fat History Month

For some reason, I have this demand that the music I listen to, for the most part, takes itself seriously. Which is why I don't own any “Weird Al” albums. There can be humor, sure, but I just cringe when something comes off as a novelty act.

Since this is the case, by all accounts, I should really hate the band Fat History Month.

Just look at their name.

Fat History Month.

Their most recent LP, released in April of this year—it’s called Bad History Month.

Their forthcoming 7” single—it’s called “Sad History Month.” (Ok, that's a pretty baller name.)

But Fat History Month is awesome.

Another thing they unfortunately have going against themselves is the penchant to sound like Modest Mouse. And like thirteen years ago, I tried to get into Modest Mouse—right when they originally released The Moon and Antarctica. And I remember listening to it my car, on the way to go see Memento, and I thought, “Oh God. This is awful.”

But as I said before, much to my surprise, Fat History Month is awesome.

The duo, hailing from Boston, caught my attention after “Sad History Month” was repped on Pitchfork earlier in the summer. A sprawling six minute track, it’s actually a drastic shift in sound from their other material—sounding more like The Microphones than Modest Mouse. A quick something search on the band directed me to their Bandcamp page, and I was instantly enthralled by the t-shirt they have for sale—a crude stick drawing of a baby pulling an adult in a stroller. I thought that even if I didn't like the rest of their music, this shirt was too incredible to pass up.

The good news is that I thoroughly enjoyed both their most recent effort, as well as 2011’s Fucking Despair.

Even with song titles like “You Can Pick Your Nose, You Can Pick Your Friend’s Nose, But You Can't Escape Your Horrible Family,” there’s actually some real poignancy within these songs—Bad History  Month’s “Christmas In Hell” hit especially close to home for me once the lyrics clicked.

Due out on August 17^th, the “Sad History Month” 7” sounds like it’s from a completely different band. Set up in parts—the song switches gears roughly halfway through, although the underlying tension created by relentless blasts of guitar feedback connects the beginning to the end. It’s a surprisingly mature and dark turn for a band that put a drawing of a pear with a dick on the cover of one of their albums.

And if that weren't enough—roughly ten days later, on the 27^th, the duo is set to release ANOTHER 7”—“Skindivers in Action.” Nearly equally as sprawling, “Skindivers” is an intense, instrumental piece of sloppy, brash indie rock. Similar to the sound they achieved on their LPs, just exponentially more aggressive.

A nod by P4K doesn't guarantee you anything, but it's a nice start to gain a wider audience. Had I not come across the blurb about "Sad History Month," this band may not even be on my radar, which would be a tragedy in three acts. 

The Bad History Month LP is currently available, courtesy of Sophomore Lounge and Exploding Sound. The "Sad History Month" split 7", also featuring My Dad, drops on 8.17, via Exploding Sound. And finally, the "Skindivers in Action" split 7", also featuring Spook Houses, drops on 8.27, via Double Double Whammy.