Description
Chicago’s FIG DISH didn’t name themselves after a soft, sweet, fleshy fruit; rather, the name is a
phonetic approximation of the German expletive, fick dich. (make of that what you will). FIG DISH
were four high school friends: guitarists/vocalists Rick Ness and Blake Smith, bassist/vocalist Mike
Willison, and drummer Andy Hamilton. In their day (a day that began in the late Winter of 1991 and
ended in the early summer of 1998), they were known for catchy songs, memorable (often boozefueled)
live shows, and self-sabotage.
In July 1995, FIG DISH’s debut That’s What Love Songs Often Do was released. And just like that,
the band was catapulted from regional obscurity into national obscurity. MTV played the video for the
band’s first single, “Seeds” and FIG DISH toured the U.S. and Canada relentlessly with bands like
Veruca Salt, The Muffs, Letters to Cleo, Juliana Hatfield, Local H, and The Rentals. In 1997, their
sophomore album When Shove Goes Back To Push, was sunk by a risqué music video for the single
“When Shirts Get Tight”
Featuring adult film stars that MTV refused to play and the band was dropped by an indifferent
Polygram Records in the summer of 1998. FIG DISH returned from hibernation in 2024 with two sold out shows in Chicago and the release of Feels Like The Very First Two Times, the band’s first “new” release in 27 years, collecting unreleased tracks recorded in the late 90s. On June 26, 2026, Forge Again Records reissued When Shove Goes Back To Push on vinyl for the first time, 29 years after the original CD release. The officially licensed 2xLP features white vinyl, reworked gatefold jacket art by Wall of Youth and vinyl mastering by Carl Saff.
FIG DISH celebrated the 2025 re-release with live shows in Chicago and Milwaukee with old tourmates
Letters to Cleo and capped off the year with shows in Kenosha and Chicago with Local H and
Fountains of Wayne.
TRACK LISTING:
01. Come On (Don’t Come On)
02. When Shirts Get Tight
03. Pretty Never Hurts
04. Dare You To Vanish
05. Bend
06. Wheel Holders
07. Sleep Startles
08. Serene
09. I Just Want What You Want
10. They Can Only Hurt You
11. Sinking Feeling
12. All Eyes Upon You
13. Hidden Track
GENRE: Alternative/Indie/Power Pop
BARCODE: 608275543798
RELEASE DATE: 26/06/2026
