Fig Dish
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1990s |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
| Products | Studio albums, singles |
Fig Dish was a rock band originating from Chicago in the 1990s, which secured a contract with PolyGram Records in 1995. They issued two studio albums before ceasing activity in 1998. In 2024, they unveiled their third album, Feels Like the Very First Two Times, composed of demo recordings from the late 1990s.
Description
The musical style of Fig Dish was influenced by college rock and indie acts from the 1980s, drawing inspiration from groups such as Dinosaur Jr. and The Replacements, and often being likened to Cheap Trick. During the mid-1990s, they were integral to Chicago's rock scene alongside bands like The Smashing Pumpkins, Veruca Salt, and Local H, frequently performing alongside local groups including Triple Fast Action, Smoking Popes, and Hushdrops. Their band name bears resemblance to the German expression fick dich.
Their debut on a major label, That's What Love Songs Often Do, initially released in 1995, was reissued in April 2013 after being unavailable for several years. Chicago Magazine characterized them as a "folkloric Chicago outfit," with lead singer Blake Smith reflecting on their challenges as "underdog Midwestern raging partying guys" who "weren’t very good at playing the game." Early missteps included missing key chances such as an A&R showcase where they performed Neil Diamond covers instead of original songs.
Fig Dish cultivated a loyal fanbase locally through dynamic live performances marked by engaging banter, audience participation, and an overall festive vibe. They were regulars at Chicago's Double Door Halloween shows, occasionally featuring guest vocalist Wes Kidd of Triple Fast Action donning quirky costumes.
In September 1998, Fig Dish ended their relationship with A&M Records. The band attributed their limited recognition outside Chicago to the label’s lack of promotion efforts, despite spending approximately $80,000 on a controversial music video for their single "When Shirts Get Tight," which ultimately did not receive MTV airplay. The lyrics of this track included nods to indie influences like Game Theory's "Friend of the Family" from the 1985 album Real Nighttime.
Musical careers after Fig Dish
Following Fig Dish’s disbandment, several members pursued new musical projects:
- Blake Smith and Mike Willison established Caviar in 1999. Subsequently, they teamed up with Local H frontman Scott Lucas for the electronic music endeavor The Prairie Cartel. By 2015, Smith was leading Forgotten Species, a Chicago-based noise-pop group that released its debut EP, Hades Fades, in January of that year.
- Rick Ness contributed to The Cells and The Webb Brothers, later initiating his own project named Ness alongside Veruca Salt’s drummer Jim Shapiro.
- Bill Swartz participated in Ness as well, collaborating with John San Juan of The Hushdrops and musician Jonny Polonsky.
- Brian Nolan joined forces with drummer Stacy Jones in 1998 to create BMX Girl, which eventually transformed into American Hi-Fi.
Members
- Blake Smith – Guitar and vocals
- Rick Ness – Guitar and vocals
- Mike Willison – Bass guitar and vocals
- Andy Hamilton – Drums (featured on That's What Love Songs Often Do, 1995)
- Bill Swartz – Drums (featured on When Shove Goes Back To Push, 1997)
- Brian Nolan – Drums
- Gustavo Lovato – Bass and vocals (prior to signing with PolyGram)
Discography
- Unleash the Cracken (Touchy-Feely Records, 1991)
- "Rollover, Please" backed with "Miss California" (7" single, 1993)
- "Nimble" backed with "Bury Me" (7" single, 1993)
- That's What Love Songs Often Do (1995)
- When Shove Goes Back To Push (1997)
- Feels Like The Very First Two Times (recorded in 1998, released 2024)