CD review - Afraid of Figs -Safe
Seattle Alternative Music Examiner
Afraid Of Figs – Safe – AOF Music
If you like your rock served up on a bed of hot sarcasm, and spiced up with sassy vocals and saxophone then Seattle quintet Afraid Of Figs has just what you want with their new self released EP Safe. The six song set was recorded by Geoff Ott at the legendary London Bridge Studio, no doubt costing this indie band a pretty penny, but the sound is worth it.
Front Man TEE, has got to be an apostle of Weird Al and the Presidents of the U.S.A as has he talk sings his way through lyrics like “I gotta have a flying canoe a fu Manchu a kangaroo and a pack of Juicy fruit, what a great rhyme. These guys are for sure out to have fun as they stir up the occupiers with the sing along “Safe, Your Salvation,” and take on techno consumerism with the world music infused “Have.” AOF give us a glimpse inside the real male psyche with prog pop meets ska romp “Yada Yada.” Hasn’t every guy wanted to say those words to his girlfriend at some time or another but haven’t dared, now they can play her this song.
Araid of Figs, Safe (out now, self-released, aofmusic.com): A paradigmatic power-pop record. Clean, simple, prominent guitar riffs and energized drums drive this album, backed by harmonious vocals. If you dig Weezer, Safe is calling you. - LAURA SWARTZ
Afraid of Figs “Safe” CD release at the Crocodile on April 27th was amazing. Afraid of Figs unveiled their new “style” of music bringing in the talents of each member and playing a new harder “rock-and-roll” sound. They reworked some of their perpetual fan favorites liked “I Don’t Want To Be Your Facebook Friend.” It was obvious to the audience that each of them was in the groove and loved their new sound. They were not just playing their set list; they were living it and bringing the audience into their enjoyment. It was not just a "listen while I play my set." It was an EVENT to be enjoyed.
Without pausing, AOF kept moving from one song to the next intermixed with solo performances. They only gave us a few moments to catch our breath :). AOF gained new fans that night, for sure. Don’t miss their next show, and definitely check them out at “Lovefest”, July 1st. You won’t be disappointed.
Mark Gordon, Co-Creator
Seattle WAVE Radio
MySeattleNightout.com
Preview by Jessica Kaminski
Under the influence of caffeine and pork chops, Afraid of Figs will be pulling out all the stops at The Crocodile this Friday. It’s their album release show for Safe. Hailing from Seattle, Afraid of Figs have been described as “Bare Naked Ladies meets Cake”. Their hilarious lyrics and hyperactive stage show make it obvious the only thing Afraid of Figs take seriously, is making seriously good music. Get yourself down to the Crocodile and kick off your weekend with high energy power pop and celebrate the debut of their latest album.
Rick Bowen
Seattle Alternative Music Examiner
Seattle is known worldwide to be a cradle for musical productivity and that fact is fully on display this Friday night. Two local groups, Afraid of Figs and C-Leb and the Kettle Black are both presenting CD release party shows on the same night in an already competitive market.
Afraid of Figs, simply known as “AOF,” a high energy power pop band that mixes introspective, off the wall music and lyrics with manic, irreverent stage shows often compaired to the Bare Naked Ladies and Presidents of the USA, host a show at
The Crocodile in Belltown. The band recorded the new album “Safe,” at renowned London Bridge studios with Geoff Ott.
Afraid of Figs won the final fifth slot for the Battle of the Geek Bands on Nov. 1. After an intense fight, and more than 1,800 votes cast, the winner is … Afraid of Figs.
“People are coming to have a good time, and so are we”
To look at their music videos on YouTube, one might assume Afraid Of Figs are a big name, famous band. They are not. But that doesn't mean they won't be.
Afraid of Figs took the stage first, and clearly had the wittiest songs of the five contenders. The standout was "I Ate a Vegan," which made light of Seattle's political correctness and green-leaning lifestyles.
I discovered this Seattle-based band - and later this CD - from a track on a Radio sampler. The song " (Don't Wanna Be You) Facebook Friend" grabbed my attention right away. The clever lyrics about "Mafia Wars" and "Horoscopes", which many FB users - this all their friends, want to know about 12 times a day, really hit home.
Afraid of Figs describes itself as Seattle’s “most most prominent dried fruit related geek rock band.” That seemed like a natural fit for GeekWire, so we had to learn more from this Devo and Weezer-inspired quintet.
Afraid of Figs come at the listener with lyrics that lament on the trepidations of having to live a sustainable lifestyle. Recycling, for one, eating vegans another.
