Real Friends │Live Review

After supporting All Time Low on their European tour with Neck Deep, Real Friends performed 3 UK headline shows last week in the UK. After playing to stadium sized crowds, Real Friends toned it down and played at smaller, more intimate venues. We caught them at the Asylum in Birmingham to see them do their thing…  

First on the stage is Startford-upon-Avon's, Jet Pack. They give a rapturous performance laced with pop filled alt-rock. They play a short set and trigger the energy in the room with an exalted and ecstatic performance. 

Next up are Trash Boat who've just announced that they’ve signed to Hopeless Records. Trash Boat really elevate the energy with many fans surging to the front to bawl the lyrics at singer Tobi. Trash Boat give a raw and energetic performance and it’s clear that signing to Hopeless was a great move for both parties. Although they have a short set, their songs ascend around the venue. They also play songs from their upcoming EP Brain Work and let everybody know that it is definitely something to be excited about.

Brawlers are on next. They perform with a profusion of energy with the band putting 110% into each song they play. Their songs are fast, upbeat and they act as the perfect commencement for Real Friends. 

Finally, Real Friends emerge onto the stage to ‘Maybe This Place Is The Same…’ which then leads in to an ecstatic rendition of ‘I Don’t Love You Anymore’. The band bounce across the stage while the audience shouts back every word. Real Friends skip around their discography, playing fan favourites such as Alexander Supertramp and Floorboards, all the way to songs from the new album like Summer and Old Book. Real Friends look genuinely happy to be on stage, with bassist Kyle Fasel smiling at the crowd as they sing his lyrics back to singer, Dan Lambton.  The band also slow things down with I’ve Given Up On You and Sixteen which leaves Dan’s voice redundant due to the amount of voices partaking in the sing along. Overall, Real Friends play an awesome show and we hope they return to the UK soon.

Real Friends To Release New Acoustic EP

Real Friends are releasing a new acoustic EP titled 'More Acoustic Songs' on the 28th of April. The EP will include four new acoustic songs. An exclusive limited edition picture disc vinyl will also be available for Record Store Day on April 18th.

Real Friends Release Documentary

Real Friends have released a documentary titled 'Moving Forward' about 'growth, change and moving forward'. Watch it below:

Real Friends Documentary Trailer

Real Friends are releasing a new documentary titled 'Moving Forward' on the 19th of Feb. Check out the trailer here: 

Support Announced For Real Friends' UK Headline Shows

Trash Boat and Brawlers are supporting Real Friends on their 3 headline shows in the UK this March. Jet Pack will also be supporting the band in Manchester and Birmingham, while Six Time Champion will be supporting in London. Get your tickets here: Manchester, Birmingham, London. 

Real Friends Release New Video

Real Friends have released a new music video for their song 'Summer'. The song comes from their debut album 'Maybe This Place Is The Same And We're Just Changing'. The band will be playing a few headline shows in the UK alongside their support slot with All Time Low this March (check out the dates here). 

Neck Deep Added As Main Support For All Time Low Wembley Show

Neck Deep have been added as the main support to All Time Low's show at Wembley. Real Friends are also supporting with all three bands also playing dates across Europe. This will also be the last date of the Wishful Thinking album cycle before Neck Deep progress with album number two. Check out what they had to say below:

"We are excited to announce that we will be playing as main support to All Time Low at their one-off show at LONDON WEMBLEY ARENA on March 20th, 2015. Our mates in Real Friends are playing as well!
This will be the final date of the 'Wishful Thinking' album cycle, and, in fact, our last show until May, when we'll be kicking things off again on the Album #2 trail. So stoked to be wrapping up our debut album campaign with a show at Wembley!!
We'll also (finally) be playing a few dates in EUROPE with All Time Low & Real Friends in the lead up to the Wembley show. Dates are below:

Mon 09-Mar Italy Milan Fabrique

Wed 11-Mar Holland Utrecht Tivoli

Thu 12-Mar Germany Hamburg Markthalle

Fri 13-Mar Belgium Antwerp Trix

Sat 14-Mar France Paris Bataclan

Sun 15-Mar Germany Cologne E-Werk

Tue 17-Mar Ireland Dublin Olympia

Fri 20-Mar UK London Wembley SSE Arena"

Best of 2014

It's that time of year again where we get to look back at our favourite albums and EPs of the year, and let's be honest here, there's been a few good ones. From the return of New Found Glory and Four Year Strong, to Real Friends' first full length, pop punk definitely proved it wasn't dead (it even had it's own UK tour). Here's a list of things that we've loved in 2014 (in no particular order) and we'll see you guys in the new year...

   

Albums

Candy Hearts - All The Ways You Let Me Down

Forever Came Calling - What Matters Most

Handguns - Life Lessons

 Major League - There's Nothing Wrong With Me

Me vs Hero - I'm Completely Fine

Moose Blood - I'll Keep You In Mind, From Time To Time

 New Found Glory - Resurrection

Real Friends - Maybe This Place Is The Same And We're Just Changing

Rust Belt Lights - Religion and My Ex

Transit - Joyride

Neck Deep - Wishful Thinking 

Fireworks - Oh, Common Life

Trophy Eyes - Mend, Move On

Yellowcard - Lift a Sail

Gnarwolves 

EPs

The Story So Far - Songs Of

Knuckle Puck - While I Stay Secluded

Four Year Strong - Go Down In History

Seaway - All In My Head 

Homebound - Coming Of Age

 Boston Manor - Driftwood

Six Time Champion - Expecting Honesty

Trash Boat - Look Alive 

Nathan Detroit - Peace Of Mind

State Champs - The Acoustic Things

Thank you to everyone who has supported us in 2014 and we hope you all have a Happy New Year!

Real Friends Announce UK Headline Shows

Real Friends have announced that they will be playing three UK headline shows alongside their support slot with All Time Low in March. Tickets go on sale today! Check out the dates below:

Real Friends Post Acoustic Version of 'Summer'

Real Friends have posted an acoustic video of the song Summer from their recent album Maybe This Place Is the Same and We're Just Changing. Kyle can also be heard at the beginning of the video explaining the meaning behind the song:

Real Friends Explain the Concept Behind Album Artwork

Last night, Real Friends took to Facebook and explained the concept behind Maybe This Place Is The Same and We're Just Changing's artwork. It turns out that it actually has a really relevant meaning in relation to the album. Read the what they had to say below:

'Ever since we started this band I always wanted our fans to understand every aspect of it. We want you to understand our lyrics, our music, our motivations, and even our album art work. There are so many records that I hold close to my heart and I have no idea what the songs are about. Most of those records I have no idea what the significance of the album art is either.

I am writing this because I want to tell you the meaning behind the art work from 'Maybe This Place Is The Same And We're Just Changing.' As a listener of this band you deserve to know.

The album art on all of our releases have always been pictures. We do this because we feel like it defines us. We are just five normal dudes that play music. We have never wanted to give off a flashy look or anything. So we felt it was fitting to keep the picture theme going for the art work of our newest album. All of the past releases have had washed out looking pictures. For this one we wanted to go with a cleaner look. We also shot the picture with film to give it a more natural look.

The chest that all the objects are on is a sign of the past. It signifies still having old memories. I guess kind of like still holding onto them instead of letting them go. The picture frame and car keys carry over imagery that's used in the lyrics of the album. There are multiple times the album talks about driving and pictures. The small army men on the chest are a sign of fighting. More so fighting inside your head with your past, change, and growing older. They are also a sign of youth.

The most important part of the album work is the old rusted out bird bath. The most interesting part of it is that one of the bird is all rusted out and the other is still very white. The bird bath was sitting outside in backyard for quite some time. It's pretty interesting that over the years one bird stayed so white and the other became so old looking. I feel like it was a great sign to show the most important theme of the album, change. You can take it however you want to take it really. But for me it shows that at times we feel so new and at other times we feel so rusted out. It really shows that over time we can get so beaten down. But it's nice to know that when we feel that way the less worn out version of us is still there too. It's easy for us to forget that in life.

I hope when you look at the album art you see a little more meaning to it now. Thanks for reading'.

Pop Punk to Listen to This Summer

Although we've had some pretty hot weather in the UK, it has still managed to rain almost every other day. It's like someone is trying to punish us for our bad teeth and obsession with tea. For this reason we have decided to bring you some truly awesome pop punk to brighten the summer months and make you feel like you're on Californian beach (Skateboard and Khaki shorts optional). We've compiled a list of new albums, EPs and  just general summery songs that we hope will make your summer a little less like a giant accumulation of rain and thunder storms. 

Handguns - Life Lessons
If you haven't listened to Life Lessons yet, stop what you are doing right now and find whatever medium you usually use to listen to music and put that shit on right now.  Although only 28 minutes long, Life Lessons is packed with huge pop punk anthems that are perfect for summer time. Imagine all the best parts of their previous releases Angst and Don't Bite Your Tongue combined to make a spotless album which will leave you begging them to come and tour in the UK ASAP. 





Firestarter - Forget The Past
Hailing from Albany New York this means that Firestarter already share a home with bands such as State Champs and With the Punches (R.I.P). In May of this year the band released their EP Forget the Past, which is an essential accessory to any pop punk summer. It's pretty much a fast paced, gang vocal filled EP of perfection which you can buy for the equivalent of about £3





Candy Hearts - All The Ways You Let Me Down
It's a shame there are not more female fronted pop punk bands in existence but Mariel, Matthew and John are doing a good job of showing what wonderful things can happen when you have a female vocalist. All The Ways You Let Me Down is a mix of sugary pop punk reminiscent of New Found Glory or Blink 182. Speaking of New Found Glory, Chad Gilbert produced the album and his influence is evident throughout. If you love pop punk with super catchy lyrics and upbeat riffs, you should definitely give this a listen.   

Four Year Strong -Go Down In History
It's been three years since Four Year Strong have released anything and let's be honest, we have missed them a lot. Some fans were disappointed by the release of In Some Way Shape or Form. However, it seems that for the release of Go Down In History, Four Year Strong are coming back better than ever. This will be FYS's first release since they signed to Pure Noise Records and from listening to the songs they've put out already, it seems like they're returning to their roots. Go Down in History is released July 22nd. 




Stanley and the Search - Weightless
Stanley and the the Search recently released the follow up to their debut self titled. Weightless is a remastered version of their EP Weight. Although the album cover is cloudy, look at those palm trees, it has summer written all over it people. The band took a different direction to their debut; Weightless provides the listener with heavy, aggressive pop punk that has the potential to become catchy at any moment. If you're a fan of citizen, Polar Bear Club or Make Do and Mend you definitely need this album to complete you summer.




Smalls - Tired 
Smalls are another female fronted  pop punk band that we are massive fans of (complete with female drummer). Their first EP, Expecting the Worst, was practically the best thing you will ever hear so you can imagine our excitement when they released their new song Tired. To make it even better the video for Tired (Click on title) is a parody of The Get Up Kids video for Action and Action complete with dangly ceiling telephone and everything. Make sure you pick up a copy of Small's new EP when it's released.




Forever Came Calling - Indebted
Forever Came Calling aren't releasing their new album until September, but until then the band have released the single Indebted. The track is a catchy mixture of upbeat guitar riffs and lyrics. Forever Came Calling's new album is a follow up to their last album Contender. The new one, 'What Matter's Most', was produced and engineered by Kyle Black (New Found Glory, Comeback Kid) and will be available by Pure Noise Records on September 9th. 





Me vs Hero - I'm Completely Fine 
Me vs Hero are another band that we had been missing until they started putting out new tracks from their upcoming album - I'm Completely Fine. The band have currently released three tracks from the album - Marks of a Slave, Things We Know and Opposites and each song  has been epic. The only thing we're disappointed about is that the album isn't released until September but the three songs are enough to keep us going until then. Also, look at that artwork - it's practically the British summer summed up - a man standing in the sea fully clothed with an umbrella. 



Real Friends - Maybe This Place Is The Same and We're Just Changing
Pop Punk/ emo favourites Real Friends are releasing their debut album this summer and from what we've already heard it looks like it's going to be awesome. The band have already released Loose Ends, Sixteen and I Don't Love You Anymore all of which sound like the typical heart on sleeve lyric, pent up emotion, Real Friends songs we love. And don't fear, the sleepy eyes/ bony knees references have not disappeared. 






Homebound - Coming of Age
Homebound have spent a year writing the songs which make up their debut EP 'Coming of Age'. The EP consists of songs penned about regret, learning from past experience and just growing up in general. The outcome has resulted in an excellent EP that is an impressive first release from the band. Homebound's EP is also perfect for summer so make sure you get your copy. Also, if you want to go to a show but have no money, Homebound are participating in a free tour this September with As It Is and Like Torches. To find out more click here.  




The Story So Far - Songs Of 
Who knew that The Story So Far had a soft side? With all this beating up of security guards it's a hard to believe that TSSF are capable of putting out an EP with the capability of singing a newborn baby to sleep. Of course we have seen this side before on Placeholder and Clairvoyant but this EP is just simply beautiful. If you're having trouble sleeping through humid summer nights just put this on, it will work much better than counting sheep. 





Nathan Detroit - Peace of Mind
Nathan Detroit are releasing their new EP on August 11th. The band who hail from Trowbridge in the UK have a mixture of melodic riffs and heartfelt lyrics (listen to The Way Down) and also display catchy, upbeat songs such as 17 (Although this was released lat summer it's still great). Nathan Detroit have also been playing dates alongside ROAM, Light You Up and As It Is and will also be touring this summer. Find out more here.

Rust Belt Lights - Religion and My Ex
Rust Belt Lights released Religion and My Ex in February of this year and although the cover is quite dark, this deserves a place in this list. You know those albums you wish you had a soft top car for and you could put the roof down and play it really loud. This is that album. The album is full of fast paced drums, an abundance of energy and catchy lyrics. Our favourites include Old Ghost and How to Live Without which are perfect for summer. 





Aaron West and The Roaring Twenties - We Don't Have Each Other
Dan 'Soupy' Campbell from The Wonder Years recently started a side project called 'Aaron West and the Roaring Twenties'. Although it's extremely different from TWY (think acoustic guitars, harmonicas and country-esque music) if you're a big TWY fan, then it's definitely worth checking this out. The album - We Don't Have Each Other - sold 30,000 copies in the first week and was 89 on the American Billboard charts which is pretty impressive for a side project. If you want to find out more check out Soupy's interview with AP here.



Trash Boat - Look Alive 
Trash Boat have only officially been a band since the beginning of 2014 but from listening to Look Alive, you would never have guessed it. As Trash Boat's first musical endeavor, the EP shows no hint of weakness and is an impressive mixture of memorable melodies, youthful affirmations and an abundance of energy; the perfect musical accessory for summer. Trash Boat have also played a number of dates supporting ROAM on their UK tour this summer. Fear not if you have missed out as the band are playing shows throughout the next coming months. Find a date near you here.  




Knuckle Puck - The Weight That You Buried
Summer is not summer without Knuckle Puck. Whether you're listening to The Weight That You Buried, Don't Come Home or their recent split with Neck Deep, Knuckle Puck will definitely brighten up your summer. Knuckle Puck also recently released a new video fro their song No Good (click on the link above to watch), which was directed by Eric Teti, the same person who directed Real Friend's video for I Don't Love You Anymore. 





Seaway - Hoser
Although Hoser was released in 2013, it definitely belongs in any summer playlist. Especially as the band just got signed to Pure Noise Records. You could argue that 'Keep your stick on Ice' means that it should belong in a winter playlist but we're going to put it in here because nothing makes you feel more summery than an album that sounds like a modern spin on old blink 182. Seaway also released a new video for No Direction from the album which you can watch by clicking on the link above. 



No Sleep Records - A Comp For Mom
No Sleep Record's president/ founder Chris Hansen is releasing a compilation in memory of his mum who sadly passed away this year. The comp is limited to a 1000 copies and all proceeds go towards his mum's medical bills and any left over will go to the Linda Hansen memorial fund. The compilation features a previously unreleased full band version of the Living Room Song by The Wonder Years (Listen out for the Modern Baseball shoutout), an acoustic version of Montreal by Major League and a previously unreleased b-side from the Swellers.





Seasons Change - Nothing and Everything EP
Seasons Change hail from Pico Rivera California and even the cover to Nothing and Everything is sunny. Just Look at it. Although this was released last year it deserves a place on any summer playlist. The band also recently got signed to No Sleep Records and are recording their debut full length with Sam Pura at the Panda Studios. Sam Pura + Panda Studios + awesome band can only equal one thing: one fucking awesome album.  





Like You to Me - Bigger Jaws
Like You to Me, who we think are named after the Set Your Goals Song of the same name, recently released their new song Bigger Jaws which features a special guest. Yep, that's right New Found Glory's Jordan Pundik lends some guest vocals to Bigger Jaws. In fact, the singer sounds a lot like him so it's like a buy one get one free of Jordan Pundik's which we're definitely not complaining about. Also, look at the shark on the cover that has summer written all over it, right? Okay maybe not but the song is a pretty good one to put on your summer playlists. 


If you have any more suggestions, whether it's your favourite band, you're own band or a friend's band, we'd love to hear from you. Please email us pop.punk.uk@gmail.com