May the Fourth is an important date the intergalactic calendar, and this week's Music Monday, is a profile of one of the universe's most beloved groups: Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes, or as they're more commonly known, The Star Wars Cantina Band.

Tatooine-based Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes were an all-Bith music band, whose bandleader "Fiery" Figrin D'an was known to be overbearing and compulsive. The Modal Nodes were members of the Intergalactic Federation of Musicians (IFM), a trade guild organization whose function was to protect and promote the business interests of singers, songwriters and performance artists across the galaxy, and FDATMN maintained a reputable standing within the trade guild.

Their biggest hit was "Mad About Me." The tune, though fairly nondescript, was bouncy and upbeat. After getting the gig as the regular band at Chalmun's Spaceport Cantina in Mos Eisley, one day the Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and his protege Luke Skywalker came to Mos Eisley in search of transport off Tatooine, and the band squabbled over their choice of song before settling on "Mad About Me." The band was unaccustomed to performing at places like Chalmun's, and their performance of it was off both key and tempo, glaringly noticeable to patrons with sensitive hearing.

Groovin High covers "Mad About Me"

Although the Modal Nodes enjoyed success on the Intergalactic circuit, they never rose to great prominence beyond the Outer Rim Territories worlds, which some attribute to the fact that they never incorporated vocalists into their act.

The band roster alternated over the years, but they persistently maintained at least five permanent performers at any one time and sometimes as many as seven. The known members of the Modal Nodes included:

• Doikk Na'ts (dorenian beshniquel)
• Figrin D'an (kloo horn, gasan string drum)
• Ickabel G'ont (double jocimer)
• Lirin Car'n (second kloo horn)
• Nalan Cheel (bandfill)
• Sun'il Ei'de (drums)
• Tech Mo'r (ommni box)
• Tedn Dahai (fanfar)

[source: wookieepedia]

BONUS MATERIAL:

CollegeHumor's All-Star Cantina Band Auditions