Fan-Tan Hit Detroit and Finish Up in New York

When one of GLG's bands hits Detroit, we are only reminded even more how much we love our jobs. Fan-Tan played to a delicious group of dancing (and some of us, ahem, swaying) crowd at the Majestic Cafe Sunday night. The Brooklyn quartet took the intimate stage after Detroit's own Oblisk and put their sneaky pop groove into our heads and hips.

Detroit's gig was the band's second to last show for their Age of Discovery tour. They will take the long drive home to New York and after taking a breathe, Fan-Tan will play a "welcome back" home-to-New York-gig, show on Tuesday, May 25 at the Mercury Lounge with The Tryptucs, The Hotcakes, and The Flying Chang. The band has said they will play an extra long set, starting off the grooves around 10 p.m.

We're not the only ones into Fan-Tan's slick sound. After listening to EP Age of Discovery, website Oh My Rockness found themselves fans of synth-pop and they didn't even know it.

"We guess we're into totally epic synth pop lately, because Fan-Tan's big and sprawling melodies are hitting us kind of right. Listening to this, we really wish we were in a massive rainstorm and there was a camera shooting down on us from a crane, because then we could outstretch our hands and lift them high to heavens while shouting a roar that's equal parts joy and pain. That's what Fan-Tan makes us want to do."

Flavorpill also highlighted Fan-Tan's upcoming show on their site. It's a late night, coming home to write about a band we all just saw. But that's what makes this job so fan-tan-tastic. Sorry, that's funny to me. Maybe it's because I'm sleep deprived and swayed too much tonight.

photos by shannon mccarthy


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Fan-Tan(stic) Reviews for Age of Discovery

Straight from DOA's Bryan Sanchez, a swell review for Fan-Tan's new EP. I think some of us (ahem) may have a critic crush on him. He always writes insightful and fare reviews on albums (and often of varying genres). He knows what he's talking about and he seems to have really enjoyed Fan-Tan's latest EP The Age of Discovery

"Shaking with an uncontrollable amount of pizzazz and propulsion, Kuki and Sandee Kooks’ rhythm section has the band gelling and flowing together. Like some kind of well-oiled machine, the fluidity of their train is driven forward by Mike Walters’ timely synthesizers. Not only do they add flavor and dimension to the music but they provide those aforementioned colors that conjure up many different kinds of dynamics. Even as an EP, each song is at least four minutes long, allowing enough time for the listener to realize the band’s scope. By the time the fantastic “No Complaint” comes around to close it all out, you’ve already appreciated the album’s ability at providing excellent sounds from every corner."


Indyweek.com found their own vision of Age of Discovery, pulling out a Sunny Day Real Estate name check to boot.

"Fan-Tan, four Triangle expatriates who started their new, terse four-piece after converging in New York City, mix Sunny Day's grandiose post-punk melancholy with the sonic blueprints of Roxy Music and their New Wave antecedents. It's a good look, too—entertaining and appropriate, with energy to spare." Click Here to Read More..

Brooklyn's New Scene

In an engaging and inventive manner, this past April, Samantha Tilipman started a blog about Brooklyn's contemporary music scene. She wanted to dig deeper into the artists, their music and why Brooklyn is such a hub for creativity. She does so interviewing musicians and publicists (like our own Janelle Rogers of Green Light Go) to get to the heart of what continues to make Brooklyn a boiling pot for great music, almost a decade after the initial hype of the "hipster Brooklyn rock" was constantly being toted around.Tilipman states exactly what she intends to do with her blog Brooklyn Beats City Sounds.

"I write with a purpose."

Together we will travel the road to stardom through the eyes of a bubbling music group. We will see what it takes to make–what are the drives, desires, and dreams necessary to become known. Does making it in the New York music industry require talent or connections, a passion for fame or a passion for the art? Who’s involved in the success and who takes credit for it? These are just a few questions I hope to answer."

So far in her travels Tilipman has come across Brooklyn-based Green Light Go artists Naked Hearts and Fan-Tan, who both have new albums out this week. Tilipman interviewed both bands for the blog as well got some insight straight GLG head honcho Janelle Rogers.

Tilipman interviewed Naked Hearts' lead singer Amy Cooper about how the duo got their start and how they landed a high profile piece in Interview Magazine last year, and the band's future as an independent band.

"I hope that we’re able to still continue to make records. The main hope that I have is to be able to tour Europe; we would love to do that. We would just like to live being able to tour four to five times a year, and to plan our lives around tours. We’d record when we’re not touring. I think it’s totally possible. You just really have to keep doing what you want to be doing. There are a lot of ups and downs, and if you really love something, you just continue doing it and things will happen the way they’ll happen. I have faith that you’ll end up doing what you want to do for sure," Cooper told Tilipman.

Like many bands have done in the past decade, Fan-Tan, originally from North Carolina, moved to Brooklyn, in hopes of more support and they seemed to have found in according to their interview on Brooklyn Beats City Sounds. Among other things, Tilipman interviewed singer/guitarist Ryan Lee Dunlap about their transition from North Carolina to Brooklyn.

"It was pretty easy for us. We just moved and started playing shows. We emailed everyone as soon as we got here; it was a lot of calls and stuff. Our first show at the Cake Shop, and it was good. We had a good draw because we knew a lot of people in NYC at the time, so that sort of helped. And once you play one show at a venue you can book another show there later. We just kept doing that and then we went to bigger and bigger venues and started getting established as being able to play wherever we wanted to around the city."

The features on Fan-Tan and Naked Hearts were the direct result of a music industry insider who has seen bands come and go from the Brooklyn "scene," and as Green Light Go's publicist and owner, Janelle Rogers told Tilipman she didn't go out seeking "new: bands from Brooklyn.

"They actually chose me. A lot of my business is through word of mouth. It starts with one community and builds from there. Naked Hearts was the first Brooklyn band that I started working with and I met them from another Portland band that was called Star Fucker at the time [now called Pyramid]. And then the others were just word of mouth from other musicians."

Janelle also gave some great insight into why band's benefit from having a publicist. "From start to finish, we’re public relations because from the beginning we’re trying to help them find their identity. We don’t dictate that, we let them and we work with who they are and find their story within that. It’s targeting the people that we think would like their music. For Naked Hearts, they have their niche; an indie rock fan base that will eat them up and love them. For Fan Tan, because they’re synth-pop, the people that go out dancing on Saturday nights and listen to great retro-Brit-pop, that’s like their lifestyle. We’re playing into those things–how people would already consume the music and find the right writers for them."

Keep an eye on Brooklyn Beats City Sounds as Tilipman is adding new interviews and insights every week.
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Spinner Free Album Preview of Fan-Tan and Naked Hearts

This is a great week at GLG. We have two bands (oddly both are from Brooklyn) releasing albums this Tuesday, May 11. We can't wait to see what will happen when everyone finally gets to hear them!! Alt-rock darlings Naked Hearts will set Mass Hysteria out to the world and synth-popsters Fan-Tan will wow you with Age of Discovery.

The fine folks over at Spinner.com have chosen both albums to stream in their entirety on their site today for their Full CD Listening Party. Last week they had up albums by Broken Social Scene, The Hold Steady, and The New Pornographers. Spinner picks the best of the best for their Listening Parties. So head on over and hear why Spinner deemed Fan-Tan and The Naked Hearts as part of the mix.

Go revel in the ebb and flow alternative rock that duo Naked Hearts play with fire. We know this album is gonna get you. The New Yorker is on board: "The stripped down duo Naked Hearts is gaining momentum on the downtown scene."

Set your hips swaying with the moody synth-pop of Brooklyn's Fan-Tan by finally hearing all the tracks from Age of Discovery. "[Fan-Tan's] newest EP, The Age of Discovery ... is so good that the Killers will be flattered to be compared to Fan-Tan! It's time for some Fan-Tan worship." -- The Devil Has The Best Tuna. We agree!

Some lucky Philadelphia Fan-Tan fans (say that five times fast) are fortunate enough to catch the band tomorrow night, Tuesday, May 11 at the M Room in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Weekly chose to highlight this show with a gracious preview. "Fan-Tan may have formed in North Carolina, but they’ve got nothing to do with that angular, distortion-crusted guitar rock you know from Polvo or Archers of Loaf. Two of their four members—Kuki and Sandee Kooks—may be Indonesian, ethnically, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be whipping out the gamelan any time soon either. Instead, this fledgling band, now living in Brooklyn, makes the kind of sweeping, soaring, synth-glorious post punk you might remember from Echo & the Bunnymen, or even the Cure. They’ll be celebrating the release of their first EP, Age of Discovery, released via iTunes on the very day of this show."
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Eardrum NYC Features Fan-Tan's Gig This Thursday in NYC.

Noted website Eardrum NYC is one of the best sites to get yourself channeled in to the hippest shows happening in the New York Area. Eardrum may have only hit the world wide web in the summer of 2009, but they have continually gained a strong following.

The highlight of Eardrum is to really pick out the best of the best, out of the hundreds of gigs going on in NYC. They provide ample concert listings and, as they did with Fan-Tan, blurbed the band's upcoming stint at the Cake Shop as one of their "hand-selected featured shows." Basically, Eardrum weeds out the bad (and not so great) and gives you the best (or soon to be).

If you're in NYC this Thursday, April 15, head to the Cake Shop at 152 Ludlow St., New York, NY 10002.

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Music Monday's Melange of Mp3s

Alex Young of the website Consequence of Sound knows a good tune when he hears it. Each Friday the website makes these amazing mp3 Mixtapes. How cool is that?

Included on Friday Mixtape XCVIII (that's a lot of mixtapes!!) are free tracks by our own Alan Cohen Experience, Fan-Tan, Grand Atlantic, Naked Hearts and No Second Troy.

Our lovely artists share the "tape" with a really diverse mix of artists including The Futureheads, Owen Pallett, Elk City and Priestess.

CoS has a great thing going here. Just go to the page each Friday and listen to dozens of new songs instantly.

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Synth-popsters Fan-Tan Announce National Tour in May

Brooklyn’s Fan-Tan announces a national tour to support the release of their album Age of Discovery, set for national release on May 11, 2010. Fan-Tan’s post-punk intermingles with synth-pop melodies and moody Brit-pop tones on their latest recording, offering up sonic layers and evocative moods for listeners.

Age of Discovery represents Fan-Tan’s self-discovery as a band and the spirit of adventure and exploration that keeps the excitement within making music. Exhibiting a somewhat vague overtone in order to allow fans to create their own interpretation, the album addresses the various devastating emotions and circumstances of life. The band’s second EP was recorded with Arjun Agerwala (who has worked with names from Courtney Love to Ben Lee) at James Iha’s (Smashing Pumpkins) Stratosphere Sound Recording Studios in New York.

The main focus of Fan-Tan has always been to ignite fans through energy-charged live shows, inspiring them to place it above all else. “We actually write all of our songs live, with everyone in the room contributing simultaneously, so the material naturally comes off really well in a live setting,” explains singer/guitarist Ryan Lee Dunlap. No matter what the future holds for Fan-Tan, their unique and morose melodies allow the group to reach fans on emotional level that most bands just can’t match.

Fan-Tan Tour Dates

Thu Apr 15, 2010: Cake Shop - New York, NY

Tue May 11, 2010: The M Room - Philadelphia, PA

Wed May 12, 2010: The Velvet Lounge - Washington, DC

Thu May 13, 2010: The Plaza Bowl - Richmond, VA

Fri May 14, 2010: Local 506 - Chapel Hill, NC

Sun May 16, 2010: Snug Harbor - Charlotte, NC

Tue May 18, 2010: Drunken Unicorn - Atlanta, GA

Fri May 21, 2010: Derby City Espresso - Louisville, KY

Sat May 22, 2010: The Comet - Cincinnati, OH

Sun May 23, 2010: The Majestic Cafe - Detroit, MI

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Fan-Tan worship from The Devil Has The Best Tuna

"Despite their "east meets west" back story their obvious affinity for British post-punk and new wave of the 80s and their American location prompt comparisons to The Killers, or at least the first incarnation of the Killers before they went all mustachioed Bruce Springsteen on us. Their newest EP, The Age of Discovery (set for release in April) is so good that the Killers will be flattered to be compared to Fan-Tan!

It's time for some Fan-Tan worship." The Devil Has the Best Tuna wants you to hear Fan-Tan tracks "On Your Wall" and "Damage," both available right here on their blog.
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Absolute Punk Interviews Fan-Tan

Good old web zine Absolute Punk always has their finger on the pulse of newbie bands who quite often go on to huge heights. The zine asked 20 random questions to Fan-Tan about everything from having super powers they would have (" I would time-travel my ass back to Manchester around 1977-ish and watch it all happen again," they quipped); to what bands they are influenced by (classics such as "P.I.L., New Order, Magazine, The Cure, Gang of Four.")


Take a gander at some informative and quite often funny questions and answers on Absolute Punk.net. Click Here to Read More..

Fan-Tan Release Age of Discovery Nationally on May 11th

Brooklyn-based via Chapel Hill, NC quartet Fan-Tan, brood with post-punk Gang of Four mentality and synth-pop melodies ala The Cure. On their May 11th release Age of Discovery, Fan-Tan have brewed moody Brit-pop with tones of Arcade Fire sonic layers, honed on building on evocative and moody new wave pop infused with guitar hums since forming in 2006 in NC. New Yorker’s will get a sneak peak of Fan-Tan’s upcoming release at the local record release party at Mercury Lounge tonight with Surf City!

Back in North Carolina, Indonesian expatriates Kuki and Sandee Kooks joined with Ryan Lee Dunlap to draw on influence of the Manchester, England music scene circa 1983. After adding Mike Walter on synthesizers, the group decided on the name Fan-Tan, an ancient Chinese gambling game that was repeatedly mentioned in much of the history of the American west due to the many Chinese immigrant laborers in the area during that time, creating an “east meets west” connection similar to the band’s lineup.

Age of Discovery represents Fan-Tan’s self-discovery as a band and the spirit of adventure and exploration that keeps the excitement within making music. Exhibiting a somewhat vague overtone in order to allow fans to create their own interpretation, the album addresses the various devastating emotions and circumstances of life. The second track, “On Your Wall” shimmers and soars sonically and lyrically, while “Good Men” gives you a rush Interpol wishes they could. In five songs alone, Age of Discovery verges on epic soundscapes and soul gutting emotions. Discover what it makes you feel.

Age of Discovery EP Track Listing
1. Good Men
2. On Your Wall (Download the free mp3!)
3. AOD
4. Earrings
5. No Complaint

Don't miss out on Fan-Tan's upcoming Spring tour dates
May 11 2010 The M Room--Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 13 2010 The Plaza Bowl--Richmond, Virginia
May 14 2010 Local 506--Chapel Hill, NC
May 16 2010 Snug Harbor--Charlotte, North Carolina
May 18 2010 Drunken Unicorn--Atlanta, Georgia Click Here to Read More..

Deli Magazine nominates Fan-Tan for artist of the month

Online mag The Deli Magazine has nominated Fan-Tan for an artist of the month.

The winning artist will not only gain some awesome exposure but the following:

- a 3 hour session tracking or mixing at Grand Street Recording.
- Free mastering of one song at The Vault Mastering with Nathan James.
- $50 voucher to spend at Dale Pro Audio (also for the 2nd place).

All you fans out there have until March 31 to vote for Fan-Tan to take home the gold! 

Just go to the NYC homepage of Deli and click to the poll on the top right to vote!

Don't miss out on Fan-Tan's upcoming Spring tour dates
May 11 2010 The M Room--Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 13 2010 The Plaza Bowl--Richmond, Virginia
May 14 2010 Local 506--Chapel Hill, NC
May 16 2010 Snug Harbor--Charlotte, North Carolina
May 18 2010 Drunken Unicorn--Atlanta, Georgia

Click Here to Read More..

Fan-Tan Announces East Coast Tour dates

Heads up Eastcoasters and Southeasters! Brooklyn's Fan-Tan may be bringing their synth-pop sounds ala bands like Interpol and Echo and the Bunnymen to a city near you. They've announced five cities on an upcoming May tour which starts on May 11th in Philadelphia in celebration of the national release of Age of Discovery on April 27th.

Fan-Tan Upcoming Tour Dates
May 11 2010 The M Room--Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 13 2010 The Plaza Bowl--Richmond, Virginia
May 14 2010 Local 506--Chapel Hill, NC
May 16 2010 Snug Harbor--Charlotte, North Carolina
May 18 2010 Drunken Unicorn--Atlanta, Georgia

In the meantime, download On Your Wall. In NYC on March 26th? Catch them at the Mercury Lounge for the local record release party with Surf City, the band Stereogum annointed as "Band to Watch" in 2008 .
Get your tickets in advance for only $10. Click Here to Read More..

NYC Artists on the Rise

The Deli Magazine deems Brooklyn's Fan-Tan one of "NYC Artists on the Rise" stating, "Fan-Tan’s origins lie in the college town of Chapel Hill, N.C., which has sparked the musical careers of the likes of Superchunk and Archers of Loaf and more recently, The Love Language.The quintet’s distinctive “city” sound – dark, mysterious and alluring – probably disoriented the town’s residents and sonically clashed with other local musicians. Now based in Brooklyn, Fan-Tan is comfortably playing shows with artists that compliment its synth-pop sound such as Cale Parks and Led Er Est. On the band’s second EP “The Age of Discovery,” the urgent vocals compel the vivid guitar and looming bass with an overlay of atmospheric, subtle synths. The music is full of dramatics and tension, and it has an unyielding ability to remain in listeners’ heads for days. ”  - Nancy Chow

Fan-Tan celebrates the NY release of The Age of Discovery at the Mercury Lounge on March 26 when they join Surf City, the band Stereogum annointed as "Band to Watch" in 2008. Get your tickets in advance for only $10. Click Here to Read More..

Fan-Tan Record Release Party at Mercury Lounge on March 26th

Brooklyn's Fan-Tan brings their haunting synth-pop hooks and soothing undertones to the Mercury Lounge when they celebrate the local record release of Age of Discovery on Friday, March 26th.
Fan-Tan focuses on igniting fans through energy-charged live shows, inspiring them to place it above all else. Lead singer, Ryan Dunlap explains, The Age of Discovery, set for a national release on April 27th, represents Fan-Tan's self discovery as a band and the spirit of adventure and exploration that keeps the excitement within making music. Exhibiting a somewhat vague overtone in order to allow fans to create their own interpretation, the album does address devastating emotions and circumstances of life. The song "Earrings" contemplates the romantic side of being driven insane by the tick-tock of everyday life and "Good Men" is a meditation on the difficulty of settling into a romantic relationship.
Age of Discovery Track Listing
1.Good Men
2. On Your Wall
3. AOD
4. Earrings
5. No Complaint Click Here to Read More..