Megan's Top 70 of 2010: #64 - The Ferocious Few

Why I Decree it to Be So:

Ah, the simple joys of the two man band. San Franciscans Daniel Aguilar and Francisco Fernandez unleashed Juices on the world earlier this year, and for that bloody mess of tawdry, filthy, gritty, noisy, punch-you-in-the-gut-and-break-a-beer-bottle-over-your-head rock the world offered grateful thanks. Between the almost possessed, honey-coated rocky howl of Fernandez and the tortuous, have mercy on the drum kit style of Aguilar, The Ferocious Few and their Juices take no prisoners.

mp3: Gasoline & Cocaine (The Ferocious Few from Juices)

mp3: Lord Save My Soul (The Ferocious Few)

100 Shows of 2010 - #93: The Ferocious Few @ 9:30 Club, 11/27/10

Sometimes I find myself way, way, way more excited about an opening band than a headliner. Either a band I'm totally digging or curious about gets added to a random major act's bill, or a band I'm totally digging or curious about is opening for some other indie band. It's not an everyday occurance, but it does happen quite a bit. And it happened recently, when I went to witness the live fury of those two dear San Franciscans Daniel and Francisco known to one and all as The Ferocious Few. Most of the packed house was quite possibly there specifically for the main event, Miss Cyndi Lauper (who Chris reviewed a few days ago), but yours truly was there for naught but the Few. And my friends, do they ever put on one heck of a rock&roll show.

MINI RECAP: The Ferocious Few = Wolfishly Fierce! Overall Score: B+

Sometimes touring with a major musical force must be a little bit of a challenge. After all, you've got to deal with the hordes of people who are attending this show solely for the purpose of seeing their beloved headliner, and have no interest whatsoever in whatsoever opening band is warming up on whatsoever evening. In such cases, the bands have to work terribly hard to turn heads and open ears. Luckily, I think The Ferocious Few was up to the challenge of winning over all of those 80s nostalgists (and their kids!), and I saw quite a few bobbing heads and attentive eyes directed their way during their (not nearly long enough!) set.

Many of you will know how much I loved (i.e. LOVED) the record Juices, the fine, fine filthy rock outing by these Ferocious Few. That raw, predatory straight-up rock of theirs sends shivers up my spine and then some. And mercy me, it did the same dang thing to me in the flesh. And then some. "Me And The Devil", one of my most favorite tracks off Juices, was rampantly on-edge, showing off the Few's (un)holy trinity of Francisco's impossibly perfect vocals, razor-sharp guitars, and Daniel's skin-lashing drumming. It's simple, but classic. Sometimes it does only take two to make a thing go very, very right. I was also particularly fond of "The San Francisco Song", just Francisco and his guitar, prettily-strummed and provoking of thought ("I got no desire to be a fly-by-night radio sensation").

I got one heck of a kick out of Francisco's introduction to the snarling "Gasoline & Cocaine", as he smirkingly called it a "song about sustainability." Daniel's arms and legs were furiously akimbo during this song in particular, giving him an almost Gumby-ian presence behind his kit as he smashed the drums with animalistic strikes. They closed it down with "Crazy Love", the perfect song for those ragged tinges in Francisco's tremendous yet tender voice, fierce and lonely all at once.

As good as they were, and believe you me little loves they were very good indeed, I can't wait to see these two live in a smaller venue, headlining in their own right. I can't even imagine the levels of awesome that might be reached.

mp3: Porcelain Doll (The Ferocious Few from Juices) (song from the most excellent Bay Bridged)

Album Review: The Ferocious Few – Juices

How long has it been since you last listened to a good goddam, Sweet Jesus, Lord have mercy on my soul rock & roll record? A record so filthy you need a shower after it’s done? A record so badass it leaves you breathless and exhausted at the same time? Can’t remember? It had been quite a while for me, and then I found The Ferocious Few and their record Juices, and surrendered myself to the raw, unholy, heavenly pure rock & roll therein.

The Ferocious Few is but two: Francisco Fernandez who supplies the guitars and vocals, and Daniel Aguilar who bangs the drums. These two can make a magnificent mess on their own, thank you very much extraneous band members. Juices is one hell of a rock record, coated in nasty, raunchy blues and pulsating with reckless abandon at every turn. “Gasoline & Cocaine” offers just a taste of what Fernandez and Aguilar have to offer, that being drums hell-bent on destruction and explosive guitar providing the backdrop for Fernandez’s snarling, sneeringly sullied voice.

“Me And The Devil” is one of my favorites, Fernandez’s voice reaching ungodly levels of unrepentant wickedness and his guitar not far behind. When Aguilar chimes in with his brash drum bashing, it all comes together with perfect hail and brimstone. Fernandez’s voice sounds coated with cheap whiskey and expensive regret on “Cryin Shame”, one of several slow-motion songs among the many hellraisers to be found on Juices. Another of my favorites, “Lord Oh Lord”, is absolutely exquisite, dusty and world-weary and reminding me ever so slightly of Skynyrd, with Fernandez channeling the late great Ronnie Van Zant vocally and lyrically.

It sounds like absolute chaos is but a note or two away, and yet The Ferocious Few keeps themselves on just the right side of oblivion. This is the good stuff, kids. These boys aren’t just whistlin’ Dixie. They’re as real as the day is long, and the days they’re getting pretty goddam long.

mp3: Lord Oh Lord (The Ferocious Few from Juices)

The Untitled Interview #39 – SXSW Edition: Starring Francisco Fernandez and Daniel Aguilar (The Ferocious Few)

I’m finding it hard to believe that it’s time once again for the annual industry hootenanny known as SXSW. As of today, Austin will be taken over. Inundated. Overrun. Engulfed. You get the idea. To celebrate the mad mad mad mad week of absolute havoc, Austin-style, we’ve thrown down the interview gauntlet to see what some of our favorite bands are going to be getting up to whilst gettin down in the wilds of Texas.

They are rather ferocious, and they are indeed few. They’re Francisco Fernandez and Daniel Aguilar, otherwise known as, well, The Ferocious Few. It’s hard to believe that two people can make the raucous kinda noise these guys can, but these two gents prove that sometimes two can be the magic number for achieving musical awesomeness. Further endearing themselves into the cockles of my heart, the band’s Myspace counts girls with boyfriends, Marvin Gaye, and ferociousness among their influences. They’re also badass and will play on stages and sidewalks alike. Talk about street cred. Oh, and ladies, they’re pretty dang foxy. The Ferocious Few is soulful and filthy and a little raunchy, and I sure do like it.

Les Enfants Terribles: How are you getting to SXSW: plane, train, or automobile?
Francisco Fernandez: Flying in on Southwest Airlines.
Daniel Aguilar: Plane.

LET: Inevitably, you will forget to pack:
FF: Anything useful.
DA: Enough pants

LET: How many showcases/parties will you be playing?
FF: 1 if anybody from the festival asks, but check our Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter for all shows.
DA: As many as possible

LET: Band you're most looking forward to seeing at the festival?
FF: Cheap Trick
DA: DJ Quik.

LET: What's the first thing you plan on doing upon arrival in Austin?
FF: Play on the street for some money to eat.
DA: Setting up.

LET: What was the first festival you ever attended, either as a musician or member of the general public?
FF: Warped tour 1995 Shoreline, I saw Sublime, No Doubt, Deftones, L7 all these bad ass bands in top form. I was in fifth grade.
DA: Reggae Sunsplash.

LET: Favorite thing about festivals?
FF: Being focused amid chaos
DA: The concentration of energy and heat.

mp3: Lord Save My Soul (The Ferocious Few – new album Juices out in April)

[photo by Jonathan Ratcliff]