LIVE FC VIDEO FOR MEINL CYMBALS + ONE MORE SHOW IN 2019!

Hey!
Huge thanks to all who made it out to the shows FC just did in the Western half of the country! They have one more show this year, on November 20th! They'll be at Media Rerun in Murfreesboro TN for a loud and heavy night of music. Head on out if you're around - and it's all ages!

We're thrilled to share this new video FC did for Meinl Cymbals! Enjoy this instrumental version of their song, "HORRIFY," tracked at Sound Emporium in Nashville!

Friendship Commanders are focusing on new music this Fall; hope to have it to you before long!

Thanks for stopping by!
-TTS

FC OCTOBER + NOVEMBER TOUR DATES!

Hello!
FC are finally heading back West! It's been two years since their last tour to that coast and they're so excited. They haven't played the BILL songs for you yet! They haven't brought you the purple palms tees! They haven't shared their brand new unrecorded work with you!

BUT THEY WILL. OH YES, THEY WILL.

The upcoming tour dates are below. Please do follow them on Bandsintown to get updates about added shows! Also note the local show this Friday at Little Harpeth Brewing. Should be a banger.

Thanks for stopping by!

-TTS

Image by Kurt Grenig | VAMP

Image by Kurt Grenig | VAMP

TOUR DATES

10.04.19 // Little Harpeth Brewing // Nashville TN

10.16.19 // Zephyr // Santa Fe NM

10.17.19 // The Rhythm Room // Phoenix AZ

10.19.19 // The Lexington Bar // Los Angeles CA

10.20.19 // Elbo RoomJack London // Oakland CA

10.23.19 // Jub Jub's Thirst Parlor // Reno NV

10.26.19 // Funhouse // Seattle WA

10.27.19 // Hawthorne Hideaway // Portland OR

10.28.19 // Ranch Club // Boise ID

10.30.19 // Streets of London // Denver CO

11.01.19 // Click's Live // Tyler TX

11.02.19 // Division Brewing // Arlington TX

11.04.19 // Poor Boys Bar // New Orleans LA

UPDATED JULY + AUGUST TOUR DATES FOR FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS // BUICK AUDRA ON FRET BUZZ

Hi there!
We have some updates for the upcoming FC tour! They're now playing Brooklyn Bazaar on July 29th. We're also excited to announce the Nashville show at the end of the run on August 3rd with fellow local heavies, Howling Giant. Save the date, Nash!

If you'd like to receive notifications about when Friendship Commanders are coming to a city near you, follow them on Bandsintown!

———

Buick Audra performed a new solo song called “Pocket-Sized Friend” on a new web series by Mike’s Music called Fret Buzz! The show is about songwriting, guitar players, vintage instruments, and coffee. Mike’s Music is a terrific music store with two locations; one in Cincinnati OH and one in Covington KY. The Covington spot has a sound stage and they’re hosting this new series there! Buick was on the third episode, which airs on August 1st. Subscribe to their YouTube channel here and stay tuned for updates!

That’s all for now!

Thanks for stopping by.

-TTS

Friendship Commanders July Poster.jpg

UPCOMING FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS TOUR DATES:

7.21.19 // Highlands Tap Room // Louisville KY

7.22.19 // Cobra Lounge // Chicago IL

7.23.19 // Buzzbin // Canton OH

7.24.19 // Sanctuary // Detroit MI

7.25.19 // Westside Bowl // Youngstown OH

7.26.19 // Milk Boy // Philadelphia PA

7.27.19 // O’Brien’s Pub // Allston MA

7.28.19 // Apohadion Theater // Portland ME

7.29.19 // Brooklyn Bazaar // Brooklyn NY

7.30.19 // Wonderland // Richmond VA

7.31.19 // Slim’s // Raleigh NC

8.01.19 // Caledonia Lounge // Athens GA

8.02.19 // The Cave // Chapel Hill NC

8.03.19 // Little Harpeth Brewing // Nashville TN

FC JUNE, JULY, & AUGUST DATES // BUICK AUDRA SOLO SHOW IN NASHVILLE

Hello!

Friendship Commanders are heading our for their June shows tomorrow, and their July and August dates were just announced this morning! Very exciting! Posters and complete dates below!

Also, Buick Audra is playing a solo electric show in Nashville on June 21st at the Groove with Jason Clark of Jay Satellite (Austin). He'll be performing solo as well.

Thank you for stopping by and for your interest and support!

-TTS

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Friendship Commanders July Poster copy.jpg
6.21 poster.jpg

UPCOMING FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS TOUR DATES:

6.08.19 // Firehouse // Birmingham AL

6.09.19 // 529 // Atlanta GA

6.10.19 // High Watt // Nashville TN

6.12.19 // Snug Harbor // Charlotte NC

6.13.19 // Sly Grog Lounge // Asheville NC

6.29.19 // Mag Bar // Louisville KY

7.21.19 // Highlands Tap Room // Louisville KY

7.22.19 // Cobra Lounge // Chicago IL

7.23.19 // Buzzbin // Canton OH

7.24.19 // Sanctuary // Detroit MI

7.25.19 // Westside Bowl // Youngstown OH

7.26,19 // Milk Boy // Philadelphia PA

7.27.19 // O’Brien’s Pub // Allston MA

7.28.19 // Apohadion Theater // Portland ME

7.29.19 // Saint Vitus // Brooklyn NY

7.30.19 // Wonderland // Richmond VA

7.31.19 // Slim’s // Raleigh NC

8.01.19 // Caledonia Lounge // Athens GA

8.02.19 // Local 506 // Chapel Hill NC

NEW FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS VIDEO OUT TODAY + SPRING TOUR DATES

Friends!
We have so much to share with you today!

First, we're so happy to announce the release of FC’S brand new video for "WHAT YOU RAVAGE"! They collaborated with director/editor Matthew Sterling for this project and love what he brought to it. We invite you to check it out over at the Nashville Scene where it premieres it today!

Second, FC have a bunch of tour dates this Spring! Check the dates at the bottom of this email to see if they're coming to your neighborhood! If not, they'll be touring for a lot of this year. They'll do our best to come to you.

Last, local friends can see FC headline the High Watt next Thursday night, April 4th.

Thank you! We appreciate you all more than you know.
Thank you for stopping by!

-TTS

'WHAT YOU RAVAGE' - from the album BILL, available everywhere now! Order BILL - Released 10.5.18: https://friendshipcommanders.bandcamp.com/album/bill Video Credits: Track Producers: Steve Albini, Friendship Commanders Director/Editor: Matthew Sterling Producer: Friendship Commanders Concept: Buick Audra, Friendship Commanders Follow Friendship Commanders: Website: http://www.friendshipcommandersband.com/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4sP7ipyYUfdkpzCEP0kSw2 Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/friendship-commanders/1075996539 Bandcamp: https://friendshipcommanders.bandcamp.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_oe...

+ + +

BILL: BANDCAMP // ITUNES // AMAZON // SPOTIFY
"HORRIFY" VIDEO
"WOMEN TO THE FRONT" VIDEO
"SAW AND HEARD" LYRIC VIDEO
"YOUR FEAR IS SHOWING" VIDEO

+ + +

TOUR DATES

4.04.19 // High Watt // Nashville TN

4.18.19 // Caledonia Lounge // Athens GA

4.19.19 // Burger Bar // Asheville NC

4.25.19 // Northside Yacht Club // Cincinnati OH

4.26.19 // Sauna Venue // Muncie IN

5.14.19 // P&H // Memphis TN

5.15.19 // Circle Bar // New Orleans LA

5.16.19 // Rudyard’s // Houston TX

5.17.19 // LOUD!Fest // Bryan TX

5.18.19 // Division Brewing // Arlington TX

5.19.19 // Whitty Books // Tulsa OK

5.20.19 // Backspace // Fayetteville AR

6.09.19 // 529 // Atlanta GA

6.29.19 // Mag Bar // Louisville KY

BUICK AUDRA ON FACING THE MUSIC, LITERALLY

Here goes nothing!

Hello, all! Buick here. ’m going to do something this year; something outside of my band, Friendship Commanders. I’m not quite ready to talk about what it is yet, but I can tell you it’s already on the calendar—and not just my calendar. A few other people are involved. Something is going down.

I’ve committed the last five-plus years to FC; the choice to do so was mine. Time was, I’d do a bunch of projects at the same time. I had solo output, other collaborations and bands, and was always writing for other outlets. And I was a clothing designer for big chunk of years, too. I made a lot of work, sometimes through very complicated periods of my life. I’ve said many times that the creative outlets likely kept me alive and sane through those times. However, it was hard to do the work justice. Touring was difficult, and I scarcely had label or PR support of any kind for the work I was putting out into the world. At a certain point, I had to simplify. I put all other projects and personas on the shelf, literally and figuratively. I paused. And when we started Friendship Commanders, I went all in. While I have had the occasional outside collaboration in that time, all participation has been brief and limited. In the six years we’ve been a band, we’ve released two full-length albums, four EPs, four Halloween singles, and seven videos. It’s been an intense focus. The band is my favorite thing I’ve ever been a part of.

But I can’t pretend it’s the only thing I’ve been a part of. I’ve made a lot of work. And I just looked at a bunch of it because I was reorganizing the storage of all past releases to make room for new work. There isn’t any room. I’m maxed out, living among the work I don’t talk about for various reasons. Well, I’m going to talk about it. And I’m going to do something radical, in this age of crowdfunding and patreon and all that, I’m going to ask you to buy my previous work. This will help me pay for and make room for new work, both within my physical space, and also within myself. I’m treating it as a reclamation. My previous work has been wrapped up in difficult stories and realities relating to family, dysfuctional collaborative dynamics, loss, and grief. I set it aside to recover. But, I’m upright these days, and I’m going to claim it for what it was: mine. Regardless of who else was involved, these records are my writing and my concepts, outside of the few outside writers on Family Album. (More on that in a minute.) This work belongs to me, and I’d like to share it with you. I’d like to be known. And when/if there is something else to share, I hope you’ll check that out, too. But for now, I don’t want donations or to knit you a scarf or write out lyrics by hand. I want to share my previous work with you. And I’m making it as easy as humanly possible. All options and descriptions below.

Also, I send terrific mail. I can guarantee you’ll like getting the packages. Bonus materials will be involved. 

I’m not going to strap a bunch of empty genre descriptors to the work below. It’s music. Some is electric, some is not.

* * *

33 SLADE

The Way To Win: A True Story

First album by my first band! We made it with J. Robbins at the legendary Inner Ear studio in Arlington VA! 33 Slade was Boey Russell on drums, Levi Fuller on bass, and me on guitar and vocals. I started my record label, Trimming The Shield Records, with my brother to release this album. It came out in December of 2002. This is the true beginning.

My favorite track: "Mourning Rush"

 

Harmonies For One

This was our second album, produced in part with Grant Hart, and also with Matt Squire. Matt engineered it as well. Paul Kolderie mixed it. All of the above happened at Camp Street in Cambridge MA, a wonderful studio that is now gone, sadly. I loved working there and did so a few different times. I released this album after the band had already parted ways (geographically, primarily; Levi moved to Seattle). The record came out in 2007. I’m super proud of it. Oh, and this is the first record on which I ever acted as producer. 

My favorite track: "Paved In Teeth"

 

BUICK AUDRA

Rose Ink

I tracked this record right after 33 Slade wound down. I had just moved to Brooklyn (like, the week before), and did this project at SOMD in College Park MD. I worked with Matt Squire again; he was briefly working at this studio before moving out West. This EP was tough. It was the first solo effort I ever made and it felt lonely and pretty revealing. It’s an eight song body of work that features just me playing a 1960 Fender Duo-Sonic and singing. Mixed by Alex Hartman. Came out in the Summer of 2006. Also, Stumptown printed these CD cases, and they’re really lovely. Cover logo and lettering by acclaimed tattoo and visual artist, Scott Campbell.

My favorite track: "The Worst Of Me"

 

Singer

I could write a book about making this record and the one after it, no joke. But for now, I’ll just say that this work took a lot to get together for some reason. Singer was my first full solo album, and I made it over the course of two very long years. I made it in four studios between Boston, New York, and San Diego—with at least as many engineers! You’d never know it to look at the CD. It looks like a cool breeze. It wasn’t. BUT: I did make the trip to Ojai CA to master the record with the late great Doug Sax at the Mastering Lab, and man, was that a treat. If you don’t know about Doug, look him up. If you do know about him, you know that his contributions pulled the whole thing together with whatever wizardry he possessed. Not to downplay the work itself; I’m proud of it, But it was very cool to watch Doug change it for the better. This record came out in February of 2008. (I only have eighteen copies of this album left in the wide world; that feels crazy.) Cover logo and lettering by tattoo artist Ram Hannan.

My favorite track: "Happy Loser"

 

Family Album

This record also took around two years to track, and here’s why: I made it with twenty-three members of my families of choice and origin, in homes all over the country. Field recordings! I finally have enough distance from the experiences to say that I love this work, and I’m glad I did it when I did. I certainly don’t have the stomach for it now. Along with songs written by me, the album features work by Boey Russell (my brother), Catherine Huebsch (my mother), Randy Prentice (my biological father), and Fred Neil. Fred was a close friend and collaborator to my mother, and I grew up knowing him as a sort of uncle. I recorded “Little Bit of Rain” by Fred for this collection. I mixed the record with Eric McConnell, here in Nashville, which worked on a couple levels. I had recorded the music in homes, and Eric’s studio is also in his home (you’ve maybe seen his home on the cover of Loretta Lynn’s Van Lear Rose; that record was made at his house, too). And, Eric was terrific to work with, letting me lead the mixing sessions and see the vision through. I valued that experience very much. I returned to Ojai once more to master this body of work with Doug. Again, he applied magic; again, I was grateful. And that was the last time I saw Doug. He passed a couple of years later. This record was released in February of 2011. Cover logo and lettering by tattoo artist Ram Hannan.

My favorite track: "Brand New Lie"

* * *

Those are the greatest hits! There are other records with other people, but I’m focusing on these right now. This is the major work of my life, pre-Friendship Commanders. I’m proud of it. I hope you like it. Thanks in advance for your support, and of course to the people who have been paying attention all along! All sales of these previous albums will contribute to Something New. Feels like a good system. Physical media bundles below! Oh—and I’m making a few ties for this project. I have a necktie line called B. Arson Neckwear, and to honor this new reclamation of my work, I’m making a limited edition tie called AUDRA. The fabric is the very silk I made the Singer cover dress from. It’s stunning. Photos and description below! Enjoy.

ALL FIVE RECORDS - $33 (+shipping) 

ALL BUICK AUDRA RECORDS - $23 (+shipping)

BOTH 33 SLADE RECORDS - $13 (+shipping)

AUDRA NECKTIE + ALL BUICK AUDRA RECORDS - $86 (+shipping) - only 3 available

If you absolutely can’t have physical media in your life, and have no use for the lyrics and liner notes (that we labor over as artists), you can buy the digital media on my bandcampprofile, on iTunes, or on Amazon.

Thank you for honoring my work. Art is not charity; it is art.

And I want to say this for myself, and for as well as for anyone else who needs to hear it: we are not our wounds. We are not extensions of our families. We are not what others think or say of us. We are our own. What a beautiful, powerful thing to be.

-Buick Audra

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NEW! AUDRA NECKTIE 

Handmade necktie // jacquard silk with charmeuse lining // 60 inches long by 2 inches wide at bottom (can be made shorter if necessary)

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THANK YOU FOR 2018 // FC WINTER DATES AHEAD

As the year draws to a close, we'd like to thank you for your support! For buying and streaming the BILL album by Friendship Commanders, for attending their shows, for watching and sharing the videos, for writing about them, for letting them know you see and hear them. Thank you.

FC were honored to share the stage with so many terrific musicians this year; too many to list. They have a good deal of touring ahead in 2019 and look forward to meeting more great bands and listeners! We'll post February and March tour dates next month, but for now, FC are doing some stuff close to home. They'll be live on the air with Jonathan Marx on Nashville's own WXNA on January 21st! They'll be talking about the BILL album, working with Steve Albini, why they made the record they did, and what's on the horizon for the band. And they'll be playing the music of other bands and artists they admire. Be sure to tune in! Also, they’re playing Media Rerun in Murfreesboro TN on February 9th. After that, they’re on the road.

The links to everything Friendship Commanders released this year are below. Thanks again for listening and watching. Happy new year to you.

Thanks for stopping by!

-TTS

BILLBANDCAMP // ITUNES // AMAZON // SPOTIFY
"HORRIFY" VIDEO
"WOMEN TO THE FRONT" VIDEO
"SAW AND HEARD" LYRIC VIDEO
"YOUR FEAR IS SHOWING" VIDEO

Photo by Gregg Roth

Photo by Gregg Roth

NEW FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS VIDEO OUT TODAY + NOV. YOUR DATES!

Hello,!

Thanks so much for all of the support around the release of the BILL album by FC earlier this month! They played a terrific release party on October 16th in Nashville. Here's a great review of the record by Jen Dan for Rebel Noise. We appreciate all of you for listening!

To that end, please enjoy this new video for the opening track on the album, "YOUR FEAR IS SHOWING." The song gives shout-outs to some of horror's great characters while also addressing the very real fear that some of us may live with. We hope you enjoy it. 

From today through midnight October 31st, we will donate the entirety of proceeds from digital sales of FC’s new album, BILL, to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline. We will also donate a percentage of all physical sales of the album on those dates. 

BILL: BANDCAMP // ITUNES // AMAZON // SPOTIFY

* * *

Also, they’re heading out for some tour dates in just a few days! Please check to see if FC are coming to your city!

11.4 // Columbus OH // Cafe Bourbon St.
11.5 // Philadelphia PA // Kung Fu Necktie
11.6 // Allston MA // O’Brien’s Pub
11.8 // Chapel Hill NC // The Cave
11.9 // Cleveland OH // Maple Grove Tavern
11.15 // Indianapolis IN // Melody Inn

Thanks for stopping by!

-TTS

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BILL BY FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS IS OUT TODAY!

IT'S A HAPPY DAY OVER HERE!

The BILL album is now available everywhere you get your music!

BILL: BANDCAMP // ITUNES // AMAZON // SPOTIFY

The vinyl arrived this week and it's absolutely beautiful. 

There are several merch bundles available on the Bandcamp page!

Thanks to Steve Albini and everyone at Electrical Audio; thanks to Matthew Barnhart and the good folks at Chicago Mastering Service! Thanks to our team: Mark Vieira, Austin Griswold, and Aaron Gray! Thanks to Zach Barocas, Iris Robert, and Ric Simenson for the stunning imagery and artwork. We are incredibly grateful. And thanks to all who have listened and will listen. 

* * *

If you haven't yet, please watch the videos for "SAW AND HEARD," "WOMEN TO THE FRONT" and "HORRIFY"!

FC’s official album release show is on October 16th, here in Nashville. They're excited to be part of a crazy night of music with all kinds of people, and the whole event 100% benefits Best Buddies Tennessee! They'll even be donating a portion of our merch sales to the organization, including the BILL album! Additional Fall tour dates to be announced very shortly, so make sure you follow them on Bandsintown for those updates.

Thank you all so much. Thank you for your continued support. We hope you love the new music.

Thanks for stopping by!

-TTS

NEW SINGLE FROM FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS "SAW AND HEARD" OUT TODAY!

The third FC single is here, friends!

We're thrilled to share "SAW AND HEARD" with you all! This was one of the first songs written for the BILL album, and many of you have heard Friendship Commanders play it on the road over the last two years. The music was produced by Steve Albini and FC. They made a lyric video for this one; watch it below.

SINGLE: BANDCAMP // SPOTIFY // YOUTUBE

On "SAW AND HEARD":
The moment at which we reclaim our personal traumas and difficult experiences is one in which we gain the power. Staring abuse and abusers in the eye and saying, “I see it now, and I see it so very clearly,” strips those forces of any power they once possessed. It’s never too late to take back what’s yours, dignity included.

* * *

The BILL album is now only two weeks away! You can still pre-order it on vinyl, CD, or as a download, if you haven't already. And please check out the recently released videos for "WOMEN TO THE FRONT" and "HORRIFY"!

ALBUM: BANDCAMP // ITUNES // AMAZON

Fall tour dates (and a rad local album release show) to be announced soon!


Thanks for stopping by!

-TTS

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SAW AND HEARD
I’ve had cause to look back on the ins-and-outs of us
they tell me not to stare, they tell me not to stare
I’ve held all the guilt for who we were right in my gut
but maybe that’s not fair, maybe that’s not fair
tapes can still rewind
I keep them in my mind

saw and heard you say you’re not the same as everyone
saw and heard the things you did while we were “having fun”
it’s a brand new day
I think I’ll be okay

your new presentation makes you look so very well
I want to wish it so, I want to wish it so
but I’m not yet at that place, I’m sorting through the hell
so I can let it go, so I can let it go
these tapes preserved just fine
I played them all last night

saw and heard you say you’re not the same as everyone
saw and heard the things you did while we were “having fun”
it’s a brand new day
I think I’ll be okay

all those smiles
no accountability!
years and miles
where’s the accountability?
HEY!

saw and heard you say you’re not the same as everyone
saw and heard the things you did while we were “having fun”
it’s a brand new day
I think I’ll be okay
I’m sending this your way