Summary
- Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes played the iconic Cantina Band song, but few know of this talented Bith band in the
Star Wars
universe. - Despite his brief appearance in
A new hope
The group made an incredible impact with their music in different establishments. - Each member of the band, including Figrin D’an, Doikk Na’ts, and Ickabel G’ont, had unique instruments and personalities that added depth to their story.
The song that the cantina band played in A new hope is iconic, but few know about the in-universe band behind the song. Known by the name of Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes, this group has played music in different establishments throughout the galaxy. Despite only appearing briefly in the first Star Wars Movie, they have had an incredible impact.
Composed entirely of Bith musicians, Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes were talented and well-known, especially in the Outer Rim. The group, which was briefly based on Coruscant before moving to Tatooine, has a variety of songs, including the iconic “Cantina Band,” which is known in the Star Wars Universe called “Crazy About Me”. Listed below are the members of the group, who have gone through different stages over time.
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8 Figrin D’an was the leader of the modal nodes
He also played the kloo horn and the gasan string drum.
Also known by the nickname “Fiery”, Figrin D’an, the leader of the musical group is best known for his critical nature. He was incredibly demanding of the band, giving them orders and even possessing all of the band’s instruments. It was Figrin who eventually signed Jabba the Hutt, causing the rest of the Modal Nodes to fear Jabba’s wrath whenever they played.
Aside from this, Figrin did not choose a side in the war against the Galactic Empire. He stayed out of this conflict, deciding that it would be more beneficial to remain neutral and focus on music. This, along with his addiction to stimulants and gambling, would remain the sole focus of his life.
7. Doikk Na’ts was one of the most relaxed members of the band
He was a master of Dorenian beshnickel
Doikk Na’ts was the only member of Modal Nodes to own his own instrument, a reed instrument known as the Dorenian Beshniquel or Fizzz. This was because he made his instrument himself, hand-carving the reeds that were used to play it. His music was considered to be of incredibly high quality, and his temperament was incredibly level-headed.
When Jabba the Hutt hired Doikk Na’ts, he was accused of stealing part of Jabba’s collection of defective toads that he kept for food. Because of this, the group was threatened with being thrown into the hands of a Rancor, causing them all to need to escape from his palace. The series of events that follow their escape is what eventually leads them to the Mos Eisley Cantina, and from there, they continue to play across the galaxy.
6 Ickabel G’ont differentiates between canon and legends
The character’s characteristic instrument was the double jocimer
Much less is known about Ickabel G’ont than the other members of the band, though there is a clear difference between the character’s depiction in canon and in Star Wars Legends. In Legends, Ickabel was a male Bith, but is referred to as a woman in the canon. Ickabel played the double jocimer for the group’s songs, which was another type of reed instrument similar to the Dorenian beshnickel.
Ickabel’s favorite song to play with the band was one known as “Tears of Aquanna.” This was because the song featured a lengthy Double Jocimer solo, allowing Ickabel to showcase the skills required to play the instrument at such a high level. In the canon, he also wrote an autobiography about his time in the band titled The lady has a jocimer: my life as a modal node, a memory.
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5 Lirin Car’n was the son of a famous kloo horn player
In Star Wars Legends, he was a mercenary
Originally written as a powerful and tactically minded mercenary, Lirin Car’n’s character was changed after being brought into Star Wars canon. Here, Car’n was described as the son of the famous Lirin D’avi, considered by many to be one of the greatest Kloo Horn players of all time. While he did not possess his own Kloo Horn in Star Wars Legends, After his father’s death, the instrument was left to him in the canon.
However, he did not have this instrument for long. Initially intending to sell the Kloo Horn to pay off a debt he owed Greedo, he lost the horn in a card game. He would eventually be freed from this debt once Greedo was killed by Han Solo, and his father’s Kloo Horn would finally be returned to him.
4 Nalan Cheel was an elusive member of the gang
He played a complicated instrument called a bandfill.
Unlike the previous members, not much is known about Nalan Cheel. He was a member of the group that played Bandfill, which had a variety of different moving parts and buttons. He had several different wind instruments, allowing him to play different pieces.
Although he enjoyed traveling with the rest of the band, Nalan Cheel also longed to retire. More than anything, after a while of traveling with the band, he expressed the desire to return to his home planet. This planet was Clak’dor VII, which was best known for its bubbling, pink swamps.
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3 Sun’il Ei’de was a mystery to fans for years
The drummer was barely visible in A New Hope
Another elusive member of Figrin D’an’s Modal Nodes, Sun’il Ei’de was best known for his skills as a professional drummer. He was also present during the famous scene at the Mos Eisley Cantina, being one of the original members who played the Cantina Band song “Mad About Me.” Even though he was present in this scene, he was not confirmed to be one of these members until the album’s release. Star Wars Star Wars Holiday Special Cantina Blog Article: Who’s Who by Tim Veekhoven and Kevin Beentjes.
“Mad About Me” was not the only song in which he participated within the Star Wars Franchise. He also played drums for the cantina’s bartender, Ackmena, and accompanied a song titled “Goodnight, But Not Goodbye.” Despite this, Sun’il remains one of the most underrepresented members of Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes.
2 Tech Mo’r scorned the gang’s leader, Figrin D’an
He played a strange instrument called Omni Box
Tech Mo’r was a bit of an oddball compared to the other band members, as he was often quiet and reserved. He was often under the influence of some drug during the band’s performances, and his glazed look would be noticed by the other band members. Despite this, Tech was still an incredible instrumentalist, able to play the Ommni Box despite having lost his to Figrin D’an in a game of sabacc.
It was this event that gave rise to Tech’s hatred towards Figrin, as he was never allowed to get his instrument back. This grudge would continue throughout the time the two worked together. However, it is notable that neither of them allowed this to interfere with their professional relationship as musicians.
1 Tedn Dahai held a grudge against Ickabel G’ont in Legends
He was not a core member of the group.
Although Tedn Dahai was a long-time member of Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes, he was often forced to stand in for Ickabel G’ont. This was because they both played an instrument known as the Fanfar, and Figrin considered Ickabel to be the more talented of the two. He held this against Ickabel, and the two argued over small things, including the size of their Fanfar cases.
Being a musician was not the only career path Tedn pursued, as before that he was a member of the Imperial Navy. He was an explorer for the Empire, but in Star Wars Legends, He eventually abandoned all this to become a musician. However, due to Ickabel’s talent, he was limited by his shadow.
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope 
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The film that kicked off the Star Wars franchise, Episode IV – A New Hope tells the story of the brooding Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), a Force-sensitive man who longs to leave his home planet of Tatooine to fight the evil Empire. After inheriting his father’s Jedi weapon, a lightsaber, Luke sets out under the tutelage of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) with smuggler Han Solo (Harrison Ford) to join the Rebellion and confront the evil Darth Vader.
Director George Lucas Release date May 25, 1977 Studio(s) Lucasfilm Distributor(s) 20th Century Screenwriters George Lucas Cast Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford , Carrie Fisher , Alec Guinness , David Prowse , James Earl Jones , Frank Oz , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , Peter Mayhew , Peter Cushing Duration 121 minutes Franchise(s) Star Wars Sequel(s) Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back , Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi , Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens , Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi , Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker prequel(s) Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace , Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones , Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith , Solo: A Star Wars Story , Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Budget $11 Million Primary Genre Sci-Fi Expand