39 Steps (Original Mix)

Unlikely Friends

Unlikely Friends (UF) aim to be the best hardly known, undertpracticed, pop band in the Northwest. D. Crane (of Seattle sloppy, loud, indiepop band BOAT) and Charles Bert (of Seattle quiet indiepop 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 envisoned making some kind of Simon and Garfunkel masterpiece that summer in his Tacoma garage. Over a few summer months, Crane and Bert would combine with drummer Chris MacFarlane (owner of local indiepop 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 first 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 a new multi-instrumentalist to play with the band. Mark McKenzie (BOAT) and Ethan Jones (MAPC) began 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 “Phony Psychology,” and will be released by the venerable Swoon Records on January 12th, 2018. UF plans to play shows, and eat pizza all overt the Pacific Northwest in 2018. The band idolizes local legends like Scott McCaughey, Doug Martsch, The Sonics, and Beat Happening. D. Crane says, “There are so many amazing bands from Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia (places the different band members call home), we want to keep these places on the official rock and roll map.”