American Fangs

Oh, yes. American Fangs are really-truly one of the best damn things going in this city right now — they’re a rock band, to be sure, equal parts punk, alt-rock, and metal, with an added streetwise edge that makes them pretty freaking unique. They’re raw, heavy, and loud, and best of all, they just don’t give a fuck. American Fangs shows are a roof-punching free-for-all, with the band and the crowd going nuts.

Of course, none of that would matter at all if the songs themselves weren’t pretty badass — catchy and smart and melodic right where it needs to be. There’s only one release so far, a self-titled EP that includes number-one track “Le Kick,” which is my personal pick for Best Song of 2009, but I’ve got my fingers crossed for more. They’re reportedly working on a full-length, but I’m not sure when it’ll be out in the field, so to speak, particularly since guitarist Shelby “Schultz” Hohl left the band to focus on Free Press Houston-related stuff.

In the meantime, they’ve been making some big, big waves, playing the Afro-punk festival this year up in Brooklyn and getting some good ink. If these boys can stick around a while longer, they’re headed for good, good things, I swear to God.

I should mention, by the way, that these guys have a ridiculous level of H-town band history behind ‘em, although I’ve been sworn to secrecy as to which bands and whatnot they’ve been involved in — the main idea is to focus less on the past and more on the present. Which is pretty damn impressive on its own…

• WE LIKE THINGS 2011: A ridiculously-late look at what was cool last year.
• Yr. Weekend, Pt. 2: the last place you look + Adelaine + AThousandColours + Suffers + Sergio Trevino + More
• Yr. Weekend, Pt. 2: Montrose Winter Social + Linus Pauling Quartet + Rachael Yamagata + Adelaine + More
• The Wild Moccasins
• Yr. Weekend, Pt. 2: BestFest + Literary Greats + Wine Fest + Peloton + Moon Tower B-Day + Mix Master Mike + More
• Yr. Weekend (& Beyond), Pt. 1: Black Congress + Weird Party + Diplo + Goodnight Summer + Jealous Creatures + Blaggards + More
• Balaclavas
• The Literary Greats
• Scale The Summit
• Muhammad Ali
• Dance Down the Rain: Surviving Summerfest 2011, Day Two
• Summerfest 2011 Rundown, Pt. 1: American Fangs + Romulus Ate + Sour Notes + LIMB + + Black Congress + Grass Skirts + More
• Yr. Weekend, Pt. 1: Balaclavas + American Fangs + Featherface + RIVERS + Robbie Fulks + Cancellations + More
• Houston in Austin: Hometown Folks Playing SXSW 2011
• WE LIKE THINGS 2010: Amazingness you need to hear & see from last year.