SONG PREMIERE: Unlikely Friends Meld Existential Power Pop and Garage Rock “Broken Again”

Unlikely Friends (UF) aim to be the best hardly known, under-practiced pop band in the Northwest. D. Crane (of Seattle sloppy, loud, indie-pop band BOAT) and Charles Bert (of Seattle quiet indie-pop band Math & Physics Club (MAPC)) first played together in 2013 at an impromptu anniversary show for Seattle’s Three Imaginary Girls at a Seattle ice cream parlor.

Crane has always been a fan of Bert’s wistful vocal melodies, and Bert always tolerated Crane’s hoarse and throaty voice. The two envisioned making some kind of Simon and Garfunkel masterpiece that summer in Crane’s Tacoma garage. Over a few summer months, Crane and Bert would combine with drummer Chris MacFarlane (owner of local indie-pop record store/label Jigsaw Records) and bash out several instant classics in the sweaty confines of Crane’s garage. Less Simon and Garfunkel and more Monster-era REM fronted by Kermit the Frog and Paul Simon, these songs made up UF’s debut record entitled “Solid Gold Cowboys.” This first record became #1 on KEXP’s morning and afternoon shows, which led to a slew of shows including slots at the Sasquatch Music Festival, Bumbershoot, and opening for the likes of Death Cab for Cutie, The Young Fresh Fellows, and Juliana Hatfield.

During this time, Crane and Bert each invited a new multi-instrumentalist to play with the band. Mark McKenzie (BOAT) and Ethan Jones (MAPC) contributed to creating a new album full of even bolder, fuzzier, scruffier, and more lovable songs (recorded with mastermind producer Jackson Justice Long). This new collection is entitled Crooked Numbers and will be released by the venerable Swoon Records on January 12th, 2018.

Today Glide is excited to premiere the tune “Broken Again”, a clear standout on Crooked Numbers. “Broken Again” is melds power pop and garage rock with the proper amount of existential commentary, whimsy, and light-hearted nostalgia. The band’s simple, catchy and upbeat sound brings to mind fellow Northwesterners like Scott McCaughey alongside indie rock favorites like Built to Spill. Most importantly, the song makes it abundantly clear that Unlikely Friends are a fun live band to catch at a time when simple, infectious rock and roll is far too uncommon.  

Talking about the inspiration behind the song, singer Charles Bert says, “This song is dedicated to lovers of cheap Japanese guitars, people who notice a few more grey hairs than the year before, and people who like choruses they can sing along to on the way to work.”

LISTEN:

Unlikely Friends release Crooked Numbers on Swoon Records January 12th, 2018. For more music and info visit their Facebook page.