I Fight Dragons

I Fight Dragons is an American chiptune-based rock band from Chicago.^[3][4][5] Their music is a combination of rock with chiptune, featuring electronic sounds made using Nintendo Game Boys and Nintendo Entertainment Systems, a genre also known as Nintendocore. To date they have released four full-length albums: 2011's KABOOM!, which came out on Photo Finish / Atlantic Records, 2014's The Near Future, which they self-released after raising over $100,000 on Kickstarter through their "Project Atma" project,^[6] 2019's Canon Eyes, and 2021's Side Quests: B-Sides and Rarities. They have also released two EPs, 2009's Cool Is Just a Number and 2010's Welcome to the Breakdown.^[7] Their music has been featured on Nintendo Video^[8] as well as on the WWE, and they wrote and performed the theme song for ABC's The Goldbergs. They have toured the US with MC Chris and Whole Wheat Bread in 2009, 3OH!3, Cobra Starship, and Travie McCoy in 2010, The Protomen in 2011, and they were on the entire 2012 and 2014 Vans Warped Tours. They went on their first national headlining tour, "The War of Cyborg Liberation Tour", with openers MC Lars and Skyfox in 2012. From 2010 until 2012 they were signed to Photo Finish / Atlantic Records, but in fall 2012 they won their release from the label.^[9] Since 2014, they have toured sporadically as well as playing annual headlining shows at Chicago's Lincoln Hall. Frontman Brian Mazzaferri attended Glenbrook South High School with Fall Out Boy lead vocalist and guitarist Patrick Stump.^[10]

I Fight Dragons
I Fight Dragons in a press photo from 2011. From left to right: Bill Prokopow, Hari Rao, Brian Mazzaferri, Packy Lundholm, Chad Van Dahm.
Background information
Also known as	IFD
Origin	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	Geek rock chiptune pop punk pop rock Nintendocore electronic rock alternative rock
Instruments	NES^[1]^[2] SNES^[1]^[2] NES Advantage^[1]^[2] Power Pad^[1]^[2] Power Glove^[2] LSDJ^[2] Guitar Hero controller^[1]^[2] guitar^[1] bass guitar^[1] drums^[1] vocals^[1] keyboards synthesizers
Years active	2008–present (hiatus: 2023-present)
Labels	Photo Finish Atlantic
Members	Brian Mazzaferri Hari Rao Packy Lundholm Chad Van Dahm Bill Prokopow
Past members	Laura Green Mike Mentzer Dave Midell
Website	ifightdragons.com

History

Cool Is Just a Number (2009–2010)

I Fight Dragons was formed in 2008, with all five members hailing from Chicago. Their first EP, Cool Is Just a Number, was self-released in 2009. In June, 2009, Mike Mentzer left the band to pursue his own solo career and was replaced by Packy Lundholm, who had played drums on the band's first EP, and has since played lead guitar in the band. On July 25, 2009, I Fight Dragons headlined the Metro in Chicago for the first time.^[11] This show was captured as a Live DVD, and a limited run of 500 numbered and signed copies of the DVD, entitled "Dragon Fight!", were released in January 2010.^[12] In August 2009, Dave Midell left the band to pursue humanitarian causes. Chad Van Dahm was brought in as the new drummer.

The band signed with manager J.J. Italiano^[13] and with booking agent Gabriel Apodaca of The Agency Group.^[14] in September 2009, signing their first major label contract. I Fight Dragons went on their first National Tour with punk group Whole Wheat Bread and nerdcore rapper MC Chris in October of that same year. They played 45 US shows from 1 October to 24 November.^[15]

Welcome to the Breakdown (2010)

I Fight Dragons signed with Photo Finish / Atlantic Records in early 2010, and went on to appear on the MTV "Too Fast For Love" tour, opening for 3OH!3, Cobra Starship, and Travie McCoy from April–June 2010.^[16] In his June, 2010, concert review, Rick Florino described the band as "one of the most unique, uplifting and unforgettable new acts on the scene."^[17] World Wrestling Entertainment announced that their song "Money" from their 2009 E.P. Cool Is Just a Number would be used as the theme song for the inaugural Money In The Bank Pay Per View,^[18] which helped to boost the band's popularity.

On November 27, 2010, I Fight Dragons released their second EP, Welcome to the Breakdown. They indicated that this EP consisted of songs written for their Photo Finish / Atlantic Records debut album, but which ended up not having a place on the album and so were released as an EP instead.

KABOOM! (2011–2012)

KABOOM! was released October 24, 2011. Its third single Save World Get Girl was released May 3, 2012, and was featured on Nintendo Video in late 2012.

Kickstarter album and The Near Future (2013–2014)

On January 17, 2013 "cRaZie$" was released as the third and final single from KABOOM!. The band was in the studio recording new music for an EP to be released in 2013. The band also released an Internet-only album composed of demos from 2010 and 2011 that were in various stages of development, but for various reasons never made it on KABOOM! titled DEMOlition: Songs That Didn't Make It On KABOOM!. On June 21, 2013, "Move" was released as a single from DEMOlition and the music video features the four heroines of Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds. In April 2013, the band launched "Project Atma", a Kickstarter project to fund their new album,^[6] The Near Future. On June 13, 2014, the band announced that the release date for The Near Future would be September 16, 2014, and released the track "No Strings". On August 28, 2014, the band announced that, due to manufacturing issues with the albums, the release date would be pushed further back.^[19] The Near Future was released publicly on December 9, 2014, and hit #5 on the Billboard Vinyl Album Charts the week of its release.^[20] On December 20, I Fight Dragons played an album release show for The Near Future to a capacity crowd at Chicago's Lincoln Hall.^[21]

Patreon page, Canon Eyes and Side Quest: B-Sides And Rarities (2017–present)

On August 7, 2017, the band launched their Patreon^[22] page that would be used for raising funds for new albums, which they called Album Adventures. This also saw the return of band member Bill Prokopow. Digital copies of the finished album, titled Canon Eyes, were sent to all Patreons who contributed $15 or more on August 5, 2019. On September 16, 2019, the band released the first single from the album, titled "Punch Drunk Destiny". The album was released to the public on December 9, 2019, followed by a sold-out album release show at Chicago's Lincoln Hall.^[23]

On October 6, 2020, the band started raising funds for Album Adventure 2. As part of this Patreon campaign the band will release previously unreleased tracks exclusively for Patrons.^[24] On July 12, the band announced via Twitter that an album titled Side Quest: B-Sides And Rarities will release on December 8, 2021.^[25]

On October 9, 2023, the band announced that they would go on hiatus after one last show on December 30, 2023 in Chicago, citing the decision to go on hiatus as "the right one for the band members for now."

Musical style

I Fight Dragons' musical style has generally been regarded as geek rock,^[26][27][28] chiptune,^[26][27][3] pop punk,^[3][26] pop rock,^[27][29] Nintendocore,^[29][30] electronic rock,^[1] alternative rock,^[3] electropop,^[31] and power pop.^[26]

Band members

 

I Fight Dragons performing at Martyrs', Chicago, in 2009

Current members

• Brian Mazzaferri - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, NES (2008–present)^[1][2]
• Bill Prokopow - keyboards, backing vocals, NES, NES Advantage, Power Pad, NES Zapper, Guitar Hero controller (2008–2014, 2017–present)^[1][2]
• Hari Rao - bass, NES (2008–present)^[1][2]
• Packy Lundholm - backing vocals, NES, SNES (2008–present), lead guitar (2009–present), drums (2008–2010)^[1][2]
• Chad Van Dahm - drums, NES (2009–present)^[1][2]

Former members

• Mike Mentzer - rhythm guitar, backing vocals, NES, SNES (2008–2009)^[1][2]
• Dave Midell - drums, NES (2009)^[1][2]
• Laura Green - backing vocals, NES, SNES, NES Advantage, Power Pad, Power Glove (2008–2010)^[1][2]

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Album details
KABOOM!	Released: October 25, 2011 Label: Photo Finish Records/Atlantic Records Format: Digital download, CD
DEMOlition - 12 Demos That Didn't Make KABOOM!	Released: February 21, 2013 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download
The Near Future	Released: December 9, 2014 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download, vinyl
Canon Eyes	Released: December 9, 2019 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download, streaming, CD, vinyl

Compilation albums

Title	Album details
Cool Is Just A Number / Welcome To The Breakdown 10th Anniversary^[32]	Released: February 19, 2021 Label: Self-released Format: Vinyl
Side Quest: B-Sides & Rarities	Released: December 18, 2021 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download, streaming, CD, vinyl

Extended plays

Title	EP details
Cool Is Just a Number	Released: February 6, 2009 (original), May 2010 (re-release) Label: Self-released (original), Photo Finish Records (re-release) Format: Digital download, CD
Welcome to the Breakdown	Released: November 30, 2010 Label: Atlantic Records Format: Digital download, CD

DVDs

Title	Details
Dragon Fight! I Fight Dragons Live At The Metro^[33]	Released: 2009 Label: Photo Finish Records Format: DVD

Singles

Year	Title	Album
2011	"KABOOM!"	KABOOM!
	"The Geeks Will Inherit the Earth"^[34]
2012	"Save World Get Girl"^[35]
2013	"cRaZie$"
	"Move"	DEMOlition - 12 Demos That Didn't Make KABOOM!
2019	"Punch Drunk Destiny"^[36]	Canon Eyes
	"Artifact"^[37]
	"Oh the Places You'll Go"^[38]
	"Not Done Yet"^[39]
	"The Devil You Know"^[40]
	"A New Brain"^[41]
2021	"The Taste For Glory"^[42]	Side Quest: B-Sides & Rarities
	"Move"^[43]
	"Chain Wallet Rock"
	"Circles"

Compilations and soundtracks

• 2017 - The Goldbergs Mixtape
  • Features the track "Rewind" (The Goldbergs Main Theme)^[44]

Music videos

List of music videos with director(s)

Title	Year	Director(s)
"Money"	2009	Encargado^[45]
The Faster The Treadmill	2010	BarfQuestion Films^[46]
"KABOOM!"	2011	—
"The Geeks Will Inherit the Earth"
"Working"	2012	Kera "162" Hildebrandt^[47]
"Save World Get Girl"		Josh Forbes^[48]
"cRaZie$"	2013	Keith O'Hara^[49]
"Move"		Gail Salamanca^[50]
"Pretend"	2014	Michael Cooney^[51]
"A New Brain"	2021	Henry Lutts^[52]
"Chain Wallet Rock"		Tim Labonte^[53]

In popular culture

• I Fight Dragons wrote the theme song, "Rewind", for the television show The Goldbergs.^[54]
• Their song "No Kontrol" was featured in commercials for season 14 of Big Brother.^[55]
• Their song "Money" was the official theme song for WWE's July 2010 Pay-Per-View Money in the Bank.^[56][57]
• Their song "Heads Up, Hearts Down" was featured in the series finale of The Hills.^[58]
• Their song "Disaster Hearts" was featured in a long-form commercial for NCIS.^[59]
• Their song "Hero" was featured in the credits sequence for Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014.^[60]

References

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2. "I Fight Dragons Behind-The-Scenes Tell-All". Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved December 18, 2020 – via YouTube.
3. "I Fight Dragons | AllMusic". Retrieved February 1, 2021 – via AllMusic.
4. . chicagotechreport.com. Archived from the original on 2017-10-03. Retrieved 2009-06-03.
5. . Chicagoist. Archived from the original on 2009-04-27.
6. "Project Atma - I Fight Dragons Creates An Epic New Album". Kickstarter.
7. . 30 September 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-09-30. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
8. "I Fight Dragons premiere 3D music video for Nintendo 3DS - Alternative Press". Retrieved December 8, 2020 – via Alternative Press.
9. "I Fight Dragons - Fellow Assailants of Angry Aeromorphs,... - Facebook". facebook.com.
10. Rebecca Frank (April 17, 2012). "Warped Series: I Fight Dragons". blog.ourstage.com. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
11. "I Fight Dragons". last.fm.
12. . Archived from the original on 2010-02-08. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
13. . Steelgiant.net. Archived from the original on 2011-07-24. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
14. "The Agency Group | Agent Overview". Theagencygroup.com. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
15. Noelle Lynn Blood. . Archived from the original on 2009-10-30. Retrieved 2009-10-31.
16. Cobra Starship and 3OH!3 team up for explosive "Too Fast For Love" Tour . Archived from the original on 2010-01-06. Retrieved 2010-02-05.
17. "Live Review: Too Fast for Love Tour — 3OH!3, Cobra Starship, Travie & I Fight Dragons — Club Nokia, Los Angeles". ARTISTdirect.
18. "WWE Money In The Bank 2010 Official". Buscar.univision.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
19. "Project Atma / The Near Future Manufacturing and Release Date Update". Youtube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
20. . I Fight Dragons Blog of Destiny. Archived from the original on 2015-02-07.
21. . I Fight Dragons Blog of Destiny. Archived from the original on 2015-02-07.
22. "I Fight Dragons is creating Album Adventures". I Fight Dragons Patreon. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
23. "SOLD OUT - I Fight Dragons w/ Violet Crime & Secret Bad Boy". Facebook. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
24. "I Fight Dragons Patreon Album Adventure 2 Intro Video". Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved February 27, 2021 – via YouTube.
25. "I Fight Dragons on Twitter:I'm thrilled to announce that we'll be capping off the Brought To You By Science tour with an album release show at @LincolnHall in Chicago! On Saturday Dec. 18th, we'll release "Side Quest: B-Sides & Rarities" Tickets onsale this Friday!". Retrieved August 14, 2021 – via Twitter.
26. "Check Out: I Fight Dragons - "Save World Get Girl" (CoS Premiere)". 29 September 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2020 – via Consequence of Sound. Chiptune nerd-rockers I Fight Dragons have been gleefully fusing Nintendo MIDI effects and power pop-punk to geekgasming results for just a few short years, but theyve already amassed quite a following.
27. Wilusz, Luke (October 18, 2010). "Chiptune geek-rockers Fight Dragons". The Columbia Chronicle. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
28. Kendall, Len (February 9, 2009). . Chicago Tech Report. Archived from the original on October 3, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
29. Raj, Josh (28 April 2012). "Nerdcore: I Fight Dragons". nerdsontherocks.com. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
30. "15 Spotify genres you probably didn't know existed". Retrieved March 8, 2021 – via Alternative Press.
31. Young, Alex (December 13, 2010). "Album Review: I Fight Dragons – Welcome To The Breakdown EP". Consequence. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
32. "I Fight Dragons – Cool Is Just A Number / Welcome To The Breakdown 10th Anniversary (2021, Wax Mage, Vinyl)". Retrieved March 1, 2021 – via Discogs.
33. "I Fight Dragons – Dragon Fight! I Fight Dragons Live At The Metro (2009, DVD)". Retrieved March 1, 2021 – via Discogs.
34. "The Geeks Will Inherit the Earth". Retrieved December 8, 2020 – via Spotify.
35. "Check Out: I Fight Dragons - "Save World Get Girl" (CoS Premiere)". 29 September 2011. Retrieved December 17, 2020 – via Consequence of Sound.
36. "Punk Drunk Destiny". Retrieved March 1, 2021 – via Spotify.
37. "Artifact". Retrieved March 1, 2021 – via Spotify.
38. "Oh the Places You'll Go". Retrieved March 1, 2021 – via Spotify.
39. "Not Done Yet". Retrieved March 1, 2021 – via Spotify.
40. "The Devil You Know". Retrieved March 1, 2021 – via Spotify.
41. "A New Brain". Retrieved March 1, 2021 – via Spotify.
42. "The Taste For Glory". Retrieved August 14, 2021 – via Spotify.
43. "Move". Retrieved October 5, 2021 – via Spotify.
44. "Rewind ("The Goldbergs" Main Title Theme)" – via Spotify.
45. "I Fight Dragons - Money". Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved February 12, 2021 – via YouTube.
46. "I Fight Dragons "The Faster The Treadmill" Animated Video by Grey Gerling (Barfquestion)". Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved February 12, 2021 – via YouTube.
47. "I Fight Dragons - "Working" Moviestorm Music Video Contest Winner!". Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved February 12, 2021 – via YouTube.
48. "I Fight Dragons - "Save World Get Girl" Official Music Video - 2D Version". Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved February 12, 2021 – via YouTube.
49. "I Fight Dragons - cRaZie$ [Official Music Video]". Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved February 12, 2021 – via YouTube.
50. "I Fight Dragons - Move [Official Music Video]". Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved February 12, 2021 – via YouTube.
51. "I Fight Dragons - "Pretend" [Official Music Video w/Constant C]". Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved February 12, 2021 – via YouTube.
52. "I Fight Dragons - "A New Brain" Official Lyric Video". Retrieved June 10, 2022 – via YouTube.
53. "I Fight Dragons - "Chain Wallet Rock" Official Lyric Video". Retrieved June 10, 2022 – via YouTube.
54. Michael Schneider (1 November 2013). "How The Goldbergs and Other New Shows Kept Their Theme Songs". TVGuide.com.
55. YouTube. youtube.com.^{[dead YouTube link]}
56. "WWE Money In The Bank 2010 FULL MATCH". Retrieved December 18, 2020 – via YouTube.^{[dead YouTube link]}
57. "WWE: Money In The Bank 2010 Theme Song "Money" by I Fight Dragons". Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved December 18, 2020 – via YouTube.
58. "The Hills Music - Season 6: "All Good Things..." - TuneFind". TuneFind.
59. MWK (7 November 2011). "NCIS". TV Fanatic.
60. YouTube. youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20.

External links

• Official site
• I Fight Dragons official Uvumi profile