Yes Giantess who performed a few weeks ago at Bones Gate fraternity is known for its "high-energy dancing music," according to FNR booking manager Sam Welch '10, who compared the band's sound to a more dance-oriented version of Passion Pit. The band was named Boston's best new act in 2009 by the Boston Phoenix.
According to Welch, FNR-veteran Red Wire Black Wire "has a very similar sound" to Yes Giantess but is distinguished by their use of synthesizers. The band, which formed at Wesleyan University, incorporates "dance beats" and "fast, keyboard-driven pop," Welch said.
According to general manager Matt Knight '11, FNR usually sponsors between three and five concerts per term. This winter, FNR sponsored two shows near the beginning of the term and, following Friday's show, will conclude its concert lineup on Feb. 26 with "guitar surf rock" band Surfer Blood. Knight said he expects the concert will be a "big, riotous, fun shindig."
That show will also feature the music of Grooms, a Brooklyn-based band that Welch said has a "darker, more angular" sound. Grooms will take the place of the originally-scheduled Small Black, who had to reschedule the concert for next term due to a conflict.
"It's kind of interesting to learn to be assertive on the fly like that," he said.
Panache the booking company representing Small Black helped find a replacement quickly and also agreed to negotiate the price, Welch said. Cancellations and rescheduling, however, are a routine part of the planning process for FNR shows.
The process starts with the input of the FNR staff. Knight said that the group's meetings, which happen once at the beginning of each term as well as on Monday or Tuesday the week of a show, provide a time to share music and suggest bands for future shows.
Welch said that the Internet is a great resource for investigating and booking bands. Blogs and web sites like Last.fm feature demos and fan reactions that help gauge the buzz around groups to determine whether or not a band is worth pursuing. Booking generally occurs three months in advance of shows.
Knight lauded the work of staffers who make the shows possible. Despite the group's ability to draw big-name groups including last term's Sleigh Bells the operation remains entirely student-run with the exception of contractual agreements signed by College employees, Knight said.
These contracts also signed by the acts do not necessarily ensure that the band will end up playing in FNR's lineup. While contracts protect costs incurred, a band can back out at any time before FNR has expended funds for the show.
"Contracts are more like promises that they'll be here that they can break," Welch said.
For Knight, the draw of the performance comes from the quality of live material produced and the energetic atmosphere. He recalled past performances made memorable when bands resonate with the crowd, citing Jan. 15's Cymbals Eat Guitars show as a recent example.
FNR shows start at 10 p.m. in Fuel, with doors opening a half-hour before. Admission, snacks and soda are free, as is beer for anyone over the age of 21.
"We get the rep for being smelly hipsters, but FNR is one of the most easygoing groups out there," Knight said. "If you haven't been, you should check out a show. And the beer's free."
