Real Friends

Real Friends
Origin Tinley Park, Illinois, U.S.
Genres Pop punk, emo
Years active 2010–present
Labels Fearless
Associated acts Knuckle Puck, Chris Roetter, The Fastest Kid Alive, The Elation
Website realfriendsband.com
Members Brian Blake
Kyle Fasel
Eric Haines
Dave Knox
Dan Lambton

Real Friends are an American pop punk band from Tinley Park, Illinois.[1] The band has released seven EPs and one full-length album. They are currently signed to Fearless Records.

History

Kyle Fasel and Dominick Russo started the band in the year 2008. Dan Lambton was soon added on vocals, and Dave Knox on guitar. The band, still in need of a drummer, was contacted by Brian Blake after he saw a post on Twitter that the band needed a drummer. The band announced in late 2013 that they had signed to Fearless Records, along with plans of a studio album in the following year. Real Friends released their debut studio album, Maybe This Place Is The Same And We're Just Changing on July 22, 2014, which debuted at #24 on the Billboard 200.[2] The band played on the 2014 Vans Warped Tour supporting the album's release, appearing on the Journeys Stage. On December 27, 2014, the band played a sold out Christmas show in their hometown with Knuckle Puck, Light Years and Expire at Metro Chicago.[3] In late 2014, the band recorded a Daytrotter session which was released in January of 2015.[4] In 2015, the band released a Record Store Day exclusive EP titled More Acoustic Songs.[5]

Style and influences

Real Friends describe themselves as emo and pop punk. The band cites American Football, Brand New, Jimmy Eat World, The Starting Line, Saves the Day, and Taking Back Sunday as influences.[6] Common lyrical themes in Real Friends songs are sadness and having trouble moving on. Kyle Fasel, the band's lyricist, is known to reference "sleepy eyes" and "bony knees" in many Real Friends songs (similarly to the use of "I'm not sad anymore" in Wonder Years lyrics). In a post on the band's Tumblr, Fasel talks of depression, sleep deprivation, and weight loss he experienced in 2011 to explain the repeated use of these words; "It’s about those nights when you’re so overworked and have so much going on that you can’t fall asleep, even if you are physically tired... I in fact do physically have bony knees. But I will surely say that there is a way deeper meaning behind these bony knees. Like I stated before there was some weight loss, which made these knees a little more bony than before. I also found myself physically and mentally down on my knees while going through depression..." [7]

Band members

Discography

Studio albums
EPs

Music videos

References

  1. ↑ Ableson, Jon; Tremain, James. "In The Spotlight: Real Friends". Alter The Press.
  2. ↑ Kraus, Brian. "Real Friends Announce Debut Album". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  3. ↑ http://metrochicago.tumblr.com/post/106328119561/tonight-sold-out-local-emo-band-real-friends
  4. ↑ http://blog.realfriendsband.com/post/105634334965/doing-a-live-session-at-daytrotter-today
  5. ↑ Sharp, Tyler. "Real Friends to release acoustic EP". Alternative Press. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  6. ↑ Real Friends reviews, music, news - sputnikmusic
  7. ↑ Real Friends Explain “Sleepy Eyes and Boney Knees” Adage | Mind Equals Blown
  8. ↑ Zarrillo, Zack. "Real Friends Land At 24 On Billboard Top 200". Property of Zack. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  9. ↑ Biddulph, Andy. "Real Friends Are Gearing Up To Release More Acoustic Songs". Rock Sound. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  10. ↑ Reandelar, Dana. "Real Friends To Release ‘More Acoustic Songs’ EP". Under The Gun Review. Retrieved 20 April 2015.

External links