I Fight Dragons Explained

I Fight Dragons
Alias:IFD
Origin:Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Years Active:2008–present (hiatus: 2023–present)
Current Members:
  • Brian Mazzaferri
  • Hari Rao
  • Packy Lundholm
  • Chad Van Dahm
  • Bill Prokopow
Past Members:
  • Laura Green
  • Mike Mentzer
  • Dave Midell

I Fight Dragons is an American chiptune-based rock band from Chicago.[1] [2] Their music is a combination of rock with chiptune, featuring electronic sounds made using Nintendo Game Boys and Nintendo Entertainment Systems, a genre also known as Nintendocore. To date they have released four full-length albums: 2011's KABOOM!, which came out on Photo Finish / Atlantic Records, 2014's The Near Future, which they self-released after raising over $100,000 on Kickstarter through their "Project Atma" project,[3] 2019's Canon Eyes, and 2021's Side Quests: B-Sides and Rarities. They have also released two EPs, 2009's Cool Is Just a Number and 2010's Welcome to the Breakdown.[4] Their music has been featured on Nintendo Video[5] as well as on the WWE, and they wrote and performed the theme song for ABC's The Goldbergs. They have toured the US with MC Chris and Whole Wheat Bread in 2009, 3OH!3, Cobra Starship, and Travie McCoy in 2010, The Protomen in 2011, and they were on the entire 2012 and 2014 Vans Warped Tours. They went on their first national headlining tour, "The War of Cyborg Liberation Tour", with openers MC Lars and Skyfox in 2012. From 2010 until 2012 they were signed to Photo Finish / Atlantic Records, but in fall 2012 they won their release from the label.[6] Since 2014, they have toured sporadically as well as playing annual headlining shows at Chicago's Lincoln Hall. Frontman Brian Mazzaferri attended Glenbrook South High School with Fall Out Boy lead vocalist and guitarist Patrick Stump.[7]

History

Cool Is Just a Number (2009–2010)

I Fight Dragons was formed in 2008, with all five members hailing from Chicago. Their first EP, Cool Is Just a Number, was self-released in 2009. In June, 2009, Mike Mentzer left the band to pursue his own solo career and was replaced by Packy Lundholm, who had played drums on the band's first EP, and has since played lead guitar in the band. On July 25, 2009, I Fight Dragons headlined the Metro in Chicago for the first time.[8] This show was captured as a Live DVD, and a limited run of 500 numbered and signed copies of the DVD, entitled "Dragon Fight!", were released in January 2010.[9] In August 2009, Dave Midell left the band to pursue humanitarian causes. Chad Van Dahm was brought in as the new drummer.

The band signed with manager J.J. Italiano[10] and with booking agent Gabriel Apodaca of The Agency Group.[11] in September 2009, signing their first major label contract. I Fight Dragons went on their first National Tour with punk group Whole Wheat Bread and nerdcore rapper MC Chris in October of that same year. They played 45 US shows from 1 October to 24 November.[12]

Welcome to the Breakdown (2010)

I Fight Dragons signed with Photo Finish / Atlantic Records in early 2010, and went on to appear on the MTV "Too Fast For Love" tour, opening for 3OH!3, Cobra Starship, and Travie McCoy from April–June 2010.[13] In his June, 2010, concert review, Rick Florino described the band as "one of the most unique, uplifting and unforgettable new acts on the scene."[14] World Wrestling Entertainment announced that their song "Money" from their 2009 E.P. Cool Is Just a Number would be used as the theme song for the inaugural Money In The Bank Pay Per View,[15] which helped to boost the band's popularity.

On November 27, 2010, I Fight Dragons released their second EP, Welcome to the Breakdown. They indicated that this EP consisted of songs written for their Photo Finish / Atlantic Records debut album, but which ended up not having a place on the album and so were released as an EP instead.

KABOOM! (2011–2012)

KABOOM! was released October 24, 2011. Its third single Save World Get Girl was released May 3, 2012, and was featured on Nintendo Video in late 2012.

Kickstarter album and The Near Future (2013–2014)

On January 17, 2013 "cRaZie$" was released as the third and final single from KABOOM!. The band was in the studio recording new music for an EP to be released in 2013. The band also released an Internet-only album composed of demos from 2010 and 2011 that were in various stages of development, but for various reasons never made it on KABOOM! titled DEMOlition: Songs That Didn't Make It On KABOOM!. On June 21, 2013, "Move" was released as a single from DEMOlition and the music video features the four heroines of Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds. In April 2013, the band launched "Project Atma", a Kickstarter project to fund their new album,[3] The Near Future. On June 13, 2014, the band announced that the release date for The Near Future would be September 16, 2014, and released the track "No Strings". On August 28, 2014, the band announced that, due to manufacturing issues with the albums, the release date would be pushed further back.[16] The Near Future was released publicly on December 9, 2014, and hit #5 on the Billboard Vinyl Album Charts the week of its release.[17] On December 20, I Fight Dragons played an album release show for The Near Future to a capacity crowd at Chicago's Lincoln Hall.[18]

Patreon page, Canon Eyes and Side Quest: B-Sides And Rarities (2017–2022)

On August 7, 2017, the band launched their Patreon[19] page that would be used for raising funds for new albums, which they called Album Adventures. This also saw the return of band member Bill Prokopow. Digital copies of the finished album, titled Canon Eyes, were sent to all Patreons who contributed $15 or more on August 5, 2019. On September 16, 2019, the band released the first single from the album, titled "Punch Drunk Destiny". The album was released to the public on December 9, 2019, followed by a sold-out album release show at Chicago's Lincoln Hall.[20]

On October 6, 2020, the band started raising funds for Album Adventure 2. As part of this Patreon campaign the band will release previously unreleased tracks exclusively for Patrons.[21] On July 12, the band announced via Twitter that an album titled Side Quest: B-Sides And Rarities will release on December 8, 2021.[22]

Hiatus (2023–present)

On October 9, 2023, the band announced that they would go on hiatus after one last show on December 30, 2023 in Chicago, citing the decision to go on hiatus as "the right one for the band members for now."

Musical style

I Fight Dragons' musical style has generally been regarded as geek rock,[23] [24] [25] chiptune,[23] [24] pop punk,[26] [23] pop rock,[24] [27] Nintendocore,[27] [28] electronic rock,[29] alternative rock,[26] electropop,[30] and power pop.[23]

Band members

Current members

Former members

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

TitleAlbum details
KABOOM!
DEMOlition - 12 Demos That Didn't Make KABOOM
  • Released: February 21, 2013
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
The Near Future
  • Released: December 9, 2014
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, vinyl
Canon Eyes
  • Released: December 9, 2019
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, streaming, CD, vinyl

Compilation albums

TitleAlbum details
Cool Is Just A Number / Welcome To The Breakdown 10th Anniversary[32]
  • Released: February 19, 2021
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Vinyl
Side Quest: B-Sides & Rarities
  • Released: December 18, 2021
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, streaming, CD, vinyl

Extended plays

TitleEP details
Cool Is Just a Number
  • Released: February 6, 2009, May 2010
  • Label: Self-released, Photo Finish Records
  • Format: Digital download, CD
Welcome to the Breakdown
  • Released: November 30, 2010
  • Label: Atlantic Records
  • Format: Digital download, CD

Singles

YearTitleAlbum
2011"KABOOM!"
"The Geeks Will Inherit the Earth"[34]
2012"Save World Get Girl"[35]
2013"cRaZie$"
"Move"DEMOlition - 12 Demos That Didn't Make KABOOM!
2019"Punch Drunk Destiny"[36]
"Artifact"[37]
"Oh the Places You'll Go"[38]
"Not Done Yet"[39]
"The Devil You Know"[40]
"A New Brain"[41]
2021"The Taste For Glory"[42]
"Move"[43]
"Chain Wallet Rock"
"Circles"

Compilations and soundtracks

Music videos

List of music videos with director(s)! Title! Year! Director(s)
"Money"2009Encargado[45]
The Faster The Treadmill2010BarfQuestion Films[46]
"KABOOM"2011rowspan="2"
"The Geeks Will Inherit the Earth"
"Working"2012Kera "162" Hildebrandt[47]
"Save World Get Girl"Josh Forbes[48]
"cRaZie$"2013Keith O'Hara[49]
"Move"Gail Salamanca[50]
"Pretend"2014Michael Cooney[51]
"A New Brain"2021Henry Lutts[52]
"Chain Wallet Rock"Tim Labonte[53]

In popular culture

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Chicago Tech Report. chicagotechreport.com. 2009-06-03. 2017-10-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20171003030441/http://www.chicagotechreport.com/2009/02/geek-rock-i-fight-dragons.html. dead.
  2. Web site: DOWNLOAD: I Fight Dragons. Chicagoist. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090427111307/http://chicagoist.com/2009/04/24/download_i_fight_dragons.php. 2009-04-27.
  3. Web site: Project Atma - I Fight Dragons Creates An Epic New Album. Kickstarter.
  4. Web site: I Fight Dragons Debut Album Info With Premiere Of New Song! - Blog Detail - PhotoFinishRecords.com. 30 September 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110930032725/http://my.photofinishrecords.com/news/98dc22-i-fight-dragons-debut-album-info-with-premiere-of-new-song/. 15 November 2020. 2011-09-30.
  5. Web site: I Fight Dragons premiere 3D music video for Nintendo 3DS - Alternative Press. Alternative Press. December 8, 2020.
  6. Web site: I Fight Dragons - Fellow Assailants of Angry Aeromorphs,... - Facebook. facebook.com.
  7. Web site: Rebecca Frank. April 17, 2012. Warped Series: I Fight Dragons. blog.ourstage.com. September 11, 2016.
  8. Web site: I Fight Dragons. last.fm.
  9. Web site: I Fight Dragons - Live DVD . 2010-02-03 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100208153842/http://www.ifightdragons.com/LiveDVD.html . 2010-02-08 .
  10. Web site: Steel Giant Management » Roster . Steelgiant.net . 2010-12-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110724082818/http://www.steelgiant.net/mainframe/roster/ . 2011-07-24 . dead .
  11. Web site: The Agency Group | Agent Overview . Theagencygroup.com . 2010-12-04.
  12. Web site: Geek Chic at the Waiting Room . 2009-10-31 . Noelle Lynn Blood . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091030111810/http://media.www.unogateway.com/media/storage/paper968/news/2009/10/23/Entertainment/Mc.Chris.Makes.Geek.Chic.At.The.Waiting.Room-3812217.shtml . 2009-10-30 .
  13. Cobra Starship and 3OH!3 team up for explosive "Too Fast For Love" Tour Web site: Atlantic Records :: THE TWILIGHT SAGA NEW MOON SOUNDTRACK RISES ON BILLBOARD 200, CERTIFIED PLATINUM . 2010-02-05 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100106112436/http://www.atlanticrecords.com/pressreleases/article/?pressId=8a0af81224c70dce01252c16d46d7fc4 . 2010-01-06 .
  14. Web site: Live Review: Too Fast for Love Tour — 3OH!3, Cobra Starship, Travie & I Fight Dragons — Club Nokia, Los Angeles. ARTISTdirect.
  15. Web site: WWE Money In The Bank 2010 Official. https://archive.today/20130205042132/http://buscar.univision.com/buscar/resultados.do?search_type=internet&query=WWE+Money+In+The+Bank+2010+++Official+th. dead. Buscar.univision.com. 5 February 2013. 15 November 2020.
  16. Web site: Project Atma / The Near Future Manufacturing and Release Date Update. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/2FyJicfupww . 2021-12-20 . live. Youtube. 29 August 2014.
  17. Web site: The Near Future is the #5 Vinyl Album in the USA this week!!!. I Fight Dragons Blog of Destiny. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150207172539/http://www.ifightdragons.com/blog/?p=910. 2015-02-07.
  18. Web site: We Sold Out Last Night's Show So We're Playing Another Free Show Tonight!!!. I Fight Dragons Blog of Destiny. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150207172619/http://www.ifightdragons.com/blog/?p=915. 2015-02-07.
  19. Web site: I Fight Dragons is creating Album Adventures . . August 7, 2017.
  20. Web site: SOLD OUT - I Fight Dragons w/ Violet Crime & Secret Bad Boy. Facebook. 15 November 2020.
  21. Web site: I Fight Dragons Patreon Album Adventure 2 Intro Video. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/axeFeBEllcg . 2021-12-20 . live. February 27, 2021. YouTube.
  22. Web site: I Fight Dragons on Twitter:I'm thrilled to announce that we'll be capping off the Brought To You By Science tour with an album release show at @LincolnHall in Chicago! On Saturday Dec. 18th, we'll release "Side Quest: B-Sides & Rarities" Tickets onsale this Friday!. August 14, 2021. Twitter.
  23. Web site: Check Out: I Fight Dragons - "Save World Get Girl" (CoS Premiere). 29 September 2011 . December 15, 2020. Consequence of Sound. Chiptune nerd-rockers I Fight Dragons have been gleefully fusing Nintendo MIDI effects and power pop-punk to geekgasming results for just a few short years, but theyve already amassed quite a following..
  24. Web site: Wilusz. Luke. October 18, 2010. Chiptune geek-rockers Fight Dragons. May 19, 2021. The Columbia Chronicle. en.
  25. Web site: Geek Rock: I Fight Dragons. February 9, 2009. Chicago Tech Report. Len. Kendall. December 14, 2020. October 3, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171003030441/http://www.chicagotechreport.com/2009/02/geek-rock-i-fight-dragons.html. dead.
  26. Web site: I Fight Dragons AllMusic. February 1, 2021. AllMusic.
  27. Web site: Nerdcore: I Fight Dragons. Josh. Raj. nerdsontherocks.com. 28 April 2012. 15 November 2020.
  28. Web site: 15 Spotify genres you probably didn't know existed. March 8, 2021. Alternative Press.
  29. Web site: I Fight Dragons - discography, line-up, biography, interviews, photos. December 18, 2020. spirit-of-rock.com.
  30. Web site: Young. Alex. December 13, 2010. Album Review: I Fight Dragons – Welcome To The Breakdown EP. May 19, 2021. Consequence. en.
  31. Web site: I Fight Dragons Behind-The-Scenes Tell-All. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/4lDbTsJlf6E . 2021-12-20 . live. December 18, 2020. YouTube.
  32. Web site: I Fight Dragons – Cool Is Just A Number / Welcome To The Breakdown 10th Anniversary (2021, Wax Mage, Vinyl). March 1, 2021. Discogs.
  33. Web site: I Fight Dragons – Dragon Fight! I Fight Dragons Live At The Metro (2009, DVD). March 1, 2021. Discogs.
  34. Web site: The Geeks Will Inherit the Earth. December 8, 2020. Spotify.
  35. Web site: Check Out: I Fight Dragons - "Save World Get Girl" (CoS Premiere). 29 September 2011 . December 17, 2020. Consequence of Sound.
  36. Web site: Punk Drunk Destiny. March 1, 2021. Spotify.
  37. Web site: Artifact. March 1, 2021. Spotify.
  38. Web site: Oh the Places You'll Go. March 1, 2021. Spotify.
  39. Web site: Not Done Yet. March 1, 2021. Spotify.
  40. Web site: The Devil You Know. March 1, 2021. Spotify.
  41. Web site: A New Brain. March 1, 2021. Spotify.
  42. Web site: The Taste For Glory. August 14, 2021. Spotify.
  43. Web site: Move. October 5, 2021. Spotify.
  44. Web site: Rewind ("The Goldbergs" Main Title Theme). Spotify.
  45. Web site: I Fight Dragons - Money. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/9FKoplr-c1k . 2021-12-20 . live. February 12, 2021. YouTube.
  46. Web site: I Fight Dragons "The Faster The Treadmill" Animated Video by Grey Gerling (Barfquestion). https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/QGKYmjsS0hg . 2021-12-20 . live. February 12, 2021. YouTube.
  47. Web site: I Fight Dragons - "Working" Moviestorm Music Video Contest Winner!. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/kJxk2Q-XoBQ . 2021-12-20 . live. February 12, 2021. YouTube.
  48. Web site: I Fight Dragons - "Save World Get Girl" Official Music Video - 2D Version. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/stbNyx3DOlM . 2021-12-20 . live. February 12, 2021. YouTube.
  49. Web site: I Fight Dragons - cRaZie$ [Official Music Video]]. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/2p5wGS-_uqg . 2021-12-20 . live. February 12, 2021. YouTube.
  50. Web site: I Fight Dragons - Move [Official Music Video]]. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/4QkEaf1WafI . 2021-12-20 . live. February 12, 2021. YouTube.
  51. Web site: I Fight Dragons - "Pretend" [Official Music Video w/Constant C]]. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/dBU41JPXaUI . 2021-12-20 . live. February 12, 2021. YouTube.
  52. Web site: I Fight Dragons - "A New Brain" Official Lyric Video. June 10, 2022. YouTube.
  53. Web site: I Fight Dragons - "Chain Wallet Rock" Official Lyric Video. June 10, 2022. YouTube.
  54. Web site: How The Goldbergs and Other New Shows Kept Their Theme Songs. Michael Schneider. 1 November 2013. TVGuide.com.
  55. YouTube. youtube.com.
  56. Web site: WWE Money In The Bank 2010 FULL MATCH. December 18, 2020. YouTube.
  57. Web site: WWE: Money In The Bank 2010 Theme Song "Money" by I Fight Dragons. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/xkThDiMXZDI . 2021-12-20 . live. December 18, 2020. YouTube.
  58. Web site: The Hills Music - Season 6: "All Good Things..." - TuneFind. TuneFind.
  59. Web site: NCIS. MWK. TV Fanatic. 7 November 2011 .
  60. YouTube. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/JyxWbXFEuaI . 2021-12-20 . live. youtube.com.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "I Fight Dragons".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.