The upstart four-piece that met in art school in St. Paul may be as fresh-faced and wide-eyed as they come, but this summer they’re going to have to get used to success. Thus far they only have a six-song EP to their name, but lead single “Suicide Saturday” has the precise kind of ebullient catchiness characteristic of the most infectious summertime anthems. When we put the band in a room to record a stripped-down version of the track at uShip’s Austin headquarters, the band was gearing up for a few more SXSW performances followed by their first national tour, which will include a stop at Lollapalooza.
“It’s overwhelming a little bit,” they said about the prospect of hitting the road. “Minnesota has awesome venues and awesome fans, but it’s a dream to be able to go across the world and check out all the other places we could possibly branch out to.”
The enthusiasm in their performance for us was so genuine that it didn’t surprise us in the slightest when, suddenly, a week later they made their national television debut on Conan. It’s an achievement not many bands claim during their first trip to the West Coast, but if you’ve got the goods, you’ve got the goods, and we dare you to listen “Suicide Saturday” without it getting lodged in your head. Summer can’t come soon enough.
Watch our exclusive live session with Hippo Campus from SXSW below.
The Fat Angel Sings 