FIZGIG: Reviews

Fizgig - Out Loud

Fizgig is a project based around bassist Greg Jess from Iowa. 'Out Loud' is rather nifty seven track mini CD that kicks off with
'Partytown' which is an awesome catchy melodic rocker, close your eyes and bands like Autograph, London Drive, Johnny Lima, REO Speedwagon and Alliance will come to mind. Nice crispy vocals from Dan Manemann, and simply but effective guitar work from Mark Page make this track a winner and by rights should be all over radio.

'Take My Hand' doesn't let the side down either, stomping stadium style drums and forceful vocals make this song another winner. It's very eighties in style with fantastic vocals from Dan Manemann, this track is actually reminiscent of Survivor, Axe and Night Ranger and is excellent with cool lead guitar work from Mark Page.

'Cryin' Out Loud' is another solid driving track with shiny guitars and excellent vocals, this track makes me think a little of Big Country jamming with a little Danger Danger, very catchy melodic rock.'Whats It Mean?' is a fun Night Ranger style hard rocker and then we hear the albums highlight. 'Up All Night' skips the lights of fandango and once again has a strong hammond feel, this track is more loose and nods it's head to the 70's and 60's. The guitar work on this track from Mark Page is stunning, very melodic and almost romantic, a superb track that bares Fleetwood Mac and Procol Harlem influences amongst others, this would utterly smoke live, just awesome and played with perfection from all the band.

'SRV' is a blues tinted track, dedicated to the late Stevie Ray Vaughn, almost balladic in style with soothing vocals from Dan Manemann coupled with excellent hammond keyboards which gives this track an earthy Bon Jovi meets vintage 70's melodic rock feel, one of the CD's highlights. Last track is the radio friendly 'You & Me' which showcases a pop/westcoast feel and ends the album on a summery vibe.

Overall a varried and interesting CD that blends just about all styles of classic melodic hard rock with a little pop, most enjoyable and we look forward to a full CD from Fizgig.


Nicky Baldrian TSM Promotions
Fireworks Magazine UK

From: "TSM Promotions" Subject: FIREWORKS REVIEW
Date: Sat, February 7, 2009 10:55 am
To: "FIZGIG (Tim)"
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Fizgig are a five-piece formed in Iowa in 2005 when three members jammed
together in a Pink Floyd tribute band, and
decided to form their own band. Lead singer Dan Manemann has a warm but
powerful voice, somewhere halfway between
Gotthard's Steve Lee and CJ Snare from Firehouse, while Mark Page is a real
talent, delivering his guitar solos with style and
panache, sometimes searing and intense, but always fluid and melodic.
This release is a seven track mini album with a variety of styles. Opener
'Partytown' does exactly what it says on the tin, it's a true party rock
song, very melodic with a Firehouse/Danger Danger feel. 'Take My Hand' is
more moody and intense, with a stomping beat, and wouldn't sound out of
place on a Tesla album. 'Cry'n Out Loud' starts on acoustic, then builds
into another party rock anthem with a great chorus; this song has Hit
written all over it. 'What's It Mean?' is an upbeat heavy rocker with a
stunning solo from Page. 'Up All Night' is a gentle ballad with subtle organ
undercurrent, and yet another fantastic melodic guitar solo, it could be The
Eagles jamming with Bon Jovi. 'SRV', a bluesy tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan,
opens with more organ and acoustic guitar, before building to a powerful
chorus, and has a real Lynyrd Skynyrd 'Freebird' vibe running throughout.
'You & Me' is a pop-rock tune with a summery feel, and a good way to close
the album.
The whole CD is well produced, the songs well written and diverse, and the
band, completed by bassist/vocalist Greg
Jess, guitarist Tim Junk and drummer Steve Klauer, are extremely talented.
Somebody should sign Fizgig to a major label as
soon as possible, as they have the potential to be huge. CD available from
www.fizgigband.com
Ant Heeks

With their wacky name and muted psychedelic cover artwork, Fizgig could be vying for the same territory as Ozric Tentacles. And we don't need two of them. In fact, they were first formed after jamming in a Pink Floyd 25th Anniversary of "The Wall" tribute band. But the music doesn't conform to these prejudices at all. This album only just sounds like a debut. It has one foot in that camp, the other in the demo camp. The production is clear and unfussy, but the songs sound constructed, the rough edges not really smoothed out. The guitar solos may be good (and they are the highlights of these seven tracks) but they are thrown in halfway through the song and then brought back to reprise three quarters of the way through. On almost every song. There's an attempt at bubblegum rock here and they almost hit the bullseye, but there's also a bit of AOR too and a real Radio 2 feel in the melody of the surprisingly sunny standout "Up All Night". There is something in "Out Loud" that's affecting; perhaps it's the committed playing, perhaps it's the determination to be liked, perhaps it's the love of commercial hooks. Fizgig haven't really exploded here, it's more of a soda stream, but keep watching and they may be popping their corks in the charts.

Rock band defines an original path…FIZGIG
No matter how you spell it, the Dubuque and Bellevue, Iowa based rock group Fizgig is giving a new definition to what local bands are capable of. Just shy of two years in the making, this five- piece outfit has accomplished more than many groups have at their stage. “We have sort of worked backward,” joked bassist Greg Jess. “A lot of bands will play out with cover tunes first and then write originals and release a CD. But the bulk of our experience has been writing original songs. Formed along a common thread of a love for classic rock and a passion for Pink Floyd, Fizgig includes Greg Jess on bass and vocals; Dan Maneman on vocals; Steve Klauer on drums; Mark Page on lead guitar and vocals; and Tim Junk on guitar and vocals. The group set out to perform as a tribute band. “We originally specialized in performing the music of Pink Floyd,” said Page. “We formed during the 25th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s “The Wall,” and our intent was to set out to play the music from that album and a few other Pink Floyd tunes,” Jess said. But their original intent didn’t last for long. The group soon began collaborating on original music, as well as expanding its cover selection to include a broad range of classic rock anthems and other songs. “We really play a variety,” said Junk. “A friend of ours said we play all the best of the ‘80s –classic rock, ballads, even a reggae song.” The members said although they perform covers, they are unlike the other cover bands in the area. “We do our own stuff,” said Manemann. “we’re not concerned with Top 40, and we don’t do what everyone else does.” The new CD reflects seven of Fizgig’s original songs. The group recorded for 60 hours for one week at a high-tech studio in the heart of Madison, Wis., collaborating with some of the industry’s most sought after engineers from Madison, Milwaukee and New York, who have worked with several big-name bands in various aspects. “We’re very happy with the CD,” Page said. “Going into the studio to record something gives you the liberty to do well. It almost elevates the music.” Two tracks on the CD include “Partytown” and “Cryn’ Out Loud,” the latter, a friend-turned-fan, who happened to have some musical “pull,” heard the group perform at Dubuque’s Pit Stop and became drawn to the group’s sound. “Tim Kunkel heard us perform “Cryn’ Out Loud” and said,`Where have you guys been? That’s going to be a hit’,” Junk said. Kunkel who funded the Fizgig CD project, credited the bands sound with being accessible to mainstream music audiences. “Their music has a good beat,” Kunkel said. “It’s just really good music that everyone can enjoy listening to. A couple of the songs, even the engineers said, had serious potential to be big hits. Now it’s just about getting the word out.” The reaction falls in sync with what many are saying about the band-perhaps a band that has been the best kept secret in Dubuque, until now, with more live bookings under way and additional local music staples taking notice, including Denny Garcia, who recently hosted the band on “Midwest Music Makers” radio show. The band also recently had their music debuted on KUNI, in Cedar Falls, Iowa. After receiving a significant amount of hits on their E-Mail and many requests to re-play songs, the band is on the station’s radar and is soon to be interviewed.