A Perfect Album - Waitsgiving by Fishboy
Exploring albums that need no skip button
An album so perfect it now has an annual celebration on May 17th in Denton, TX. One we can all take part in.
Eric Michener, the mastermind behind the band Fishboy, has given us ten unstoppable songs that each tell individual stories, all revolving around the larger narrative of a fictional holiday called Waitsgiving, which celebrates the virtue of patience.
It’s playful, it’s entertaining, and it’s silly, all while maintaining rich character development that draws you in emotionally and gets you genuinely invested in each character’s journey.
Imagine blending the emotional vulnerability and absurdity of Dracula’s Lament from Forgetting Sarah Marshall with the nonlinear, unexpected storytelling of Pulp Fiction. That’s the kind of tone and structure Waitsgiving delivers. It's a quirky yet heartfelt narrative, stitched together with both sincerity and surrealism.
Oddly enough, this music doesn’t even feel like music after a while. The deeper I get into the album, the more it feels like I’m reading a book or binge-watching a TV series called Waitsgiving. Each song pulls me further into a world of characters, places, and moments so vividly told, it’s hard not to picture every scene unfolding in your mind.
This blending of mediums feels intentional, and perhaps it is. Eric Michener has a professional background in film and cinematography, and that influence is evident in the way Waitsgiving unfolds like a carefully directed series.
His passion for storytelling is clear, not just in crafting complex, character-driven plots, but in presenting them with a clarity and charm that make even the most intricate arcs easy to follow. More impressively, he does so through songs that are not only narratively rich but also irresistibly catchy.
One lyric I never thought I’d find myself singing passionately out loud while driving around town simply says:
“Pecan, Elm, Hickory, Locust, Pecan, Elm, Oak.”
I say that as a credit to Eric’s ability not only to write a song but to write a melody and to make the seemingly mundane incredibly interesting and entertaining.
To simply call him a songwriter and performer would greatly undersell what he does… though I’m not entirely sure how to define it either. I’ve never heard another artist write and perform quite like Eric does. Sure, there are similar styles and genres, but the big picture blend of concept, narrative, and tone is completely unique to Fishboy.
To give you an idea of just how invested Eric is in the theme of his album, he’s brought it to life through a real world tradition: an annual Waitsgiving celebration every May 17th in Denton, TX.
Each year, he leads a walking tour around the downtown square, anchored by the iconic courthouse featured on the album cover, singing songs and sharing the stories that inspired the record.
It’s a one of a kind experience that blurs the line between fiction and reality, turning Waitsgiving into something you can actually step into.
Fishboy has created an album of such pure perfection that whether or not you like the genre is irrelevant. If you’ve read this far, it’s time to give Waitsgiving an uninterrupted listen from start to finish.
From the Fishboy website: This year marks the fifth Waitsgiving, which features a traveling acoustic performance, a walking tour of the album’s historic inspirations, and the continuation of cherished traditions.
Travis Wright is the host of the “I’m a fan of…” podcast. If you enjoy music and comedy, be sure to subscribe to the podcast and check out the You Tube Channel. Thanks!
