The Friends hit New York City for CMJ

With a single tear of joy in my eye, I am happy to report a return to my former home town. This time I'm bringing my partner-in-crime, Justin, to help me coordinate these events for Fanatic Promotion! We love you Fanatic!

Fanatic Promotion Announces CMJ Events Including Showcase Headlined By Girl Talk, An "Acoustic Afternoon" Featuring Wooden Wand, and a Late Night DJ Extravaganza With Drop The Lime, and Prefuse 73 DJ Leb-Laze.

Fanatic Promotion is pleased to announce a slew of events taking place at this year's CMJ Music Marathon in New York City. Fanatic has long been known for giving artists of tomorrow their first mainstream exposure today - Sufjan Stevens, My Morning Jacket, Kings of Convenience, Ladytron, and VHS or Beta are just a few artists to work with the company in its formative years - and once again, Fanatic will present its best and brightest.

Two of Fanatic's biggest success stories of 2006 -- Girl Talk and Figurines -- will headline the company's showcase at The Mercury Lounge on November 1 co-sponsored by the most cutting edge video show on the airwaves, New York Noise, and the internet's one-stop shop for indie rock Oh My Rockness. Girl Talk (the nom-de-tune of Gregg Gillis) is currently riding a typhoon of attention for his album Night Ripper which expertly pieces together the work of over 160 artists for a seamless blend of audio collage art. The record has bowled over the media, and the Girl Talk live experience has quickly become known as the partier's party. Girl Talk will headline Fanatic's CMJ show along with Denmark's Figurines which released its album Skeleton to rave reviews in 2006, followed by a sold out US tour. The band will wrap its current US headlining tour at the Fanatic CMJ night. They too are known for high energy performances and Fanatic is very proud to have the band join its CMJ lineup.

The rest of the Fanatic CMJ showcase night proves to be just as exciting. CMJ, the revered music industry trade magazine, featured Figurines on its cover earlier this year, and another of Fanatic's showcasing bands also earned that honor. That band is Canada, a group with a lot of people making a big sound. In addition to the CMJ cover, the band's debut album This Cursed House earned the #1 most added spot at college radio earlier in 2006. When the kids arrive early to secure a spot for Figurines and Girl Talk, they'll also be getting to lay their eyes and ears on this lovely band from Michigan (yes, Michigan) that makes music that's inviting and warm.

The first half of the evening will have its share of suprises and favorites as well, offering up what, for many, will be the first chance to see the debut of Daylight's For The Birds, the new band formed by members of the much beloved dreamscapers On! Air! Library. The group's debut album Trouble Everywhere is just hitting industry desks now and by the time November 1 rolls around, the band will surely have the Mercury Lounge audience eager with anticipation to hear its wall-of-sound. Big amps people, big amps!

Also in the house is The Mobius Band (Ghostly International's electronic rock trio) as well as L.A.-based band Hello Stranger, the latest signing to Aeronaut Records (Nous Non Plus, Les Sans Culottes).

In addition to Fanatic's night time show, the company will be hosting two more events (with Fringe Benefits/Friends With Benefits):

Returning to the fun and funky East Village venue Mo Pitkins, Fanatic will host an Acoustic Afternoon on November 3rd from 2-6PM. The day will feature performers hand-picked by company founder Josh Bloom and is intended to showcase a substantial group of talented songwriter friends of Fanatic. The lineup will include fast and furious sets from Wooden Wand, Pink Nasty, modwheelmood, Grand Mal, Purrbot, Peasant, and Death Ships. As in years past, this event will feature some fancy sponsored giveaway packages - this time comprising what Fanatic describes as its "CMJ Survival Package" featuring packs of Emergen-C (you don't want a cold during CMJ!), sleeping masks courtesy of Daylight's For The Birds (you need to rest during CMJ!), plus garments and accessories (a fresh change of clothes at CMJ!) from Onitsuka Tiger and Threadless.

Later in the evening, Fanatic will host an after-party evening from 10PM-4AM at Bar13. The event starts with a listening session for the new collaborative CD The House of Apples and Eyeballs from Austin's The Octopus Project and Pittsburgh's Black Moth Super Rainbow out on Graveface Records. Then, the night kicks into overdrive with DJ sets from Bang Gang leader (and Bird of Lady & Bird with Keren Ann), Bardi Johannsson. His set is followed up by Sara T, the woman behind Denver's hottest dance party Dance-O-Tron. A performance from San Francisco's Dark Side of The Cop will lead into a couple more sets on the decks - one from Prefuse 73 DJ Leb-Laze, and another from Tigerbeat6 sensation Drop The Lime (Luca Venezia).

In an effort to reduce paper waste, Fanatic will make invitations to its events available in electronic form as e-cards donated by For Satellites Design. Fanatic's electronic party invites will stream music by all of the artists mentioned above, as well as offering artwork, photos, and background info on all of the participants. Viewers will also be able to click and print out coupons to receive the giveaway merchandise available at each Fanatic event. Fanatic is proud to be able to offer this environmentally friendly solution to its party guests.

The friends in Seattle during the Suicide Squeeze Records 10-year anniversary parties. We love you Seattle!

our version of a quiet night in is...

Prepping for tomorrow's Radio Birdman release party and poster art show. We're really excited about the press we got-thank you Harp and SF Station! Thanks Redeye! (yeah, we did the obligatory google search, and we are quietly smiling over here at Friends HQ).

The Friends get a little lip service!

Check it out, fans of the Friends!

Friends of Benefits get good lip from Harp

*blush*

Comets On Fire Amoeba in-store review

Soooo...

I really want to get mad at all of these proggy, hairy bands.

...but man. they're good. Some are even GREAT.

Comets on Fire is no exception to greatness. Saw them at their in-store at Amoeba, was blown away. World: Take note.

(This is a Louise view)



gold star for robot boy on bearded nu-prog.

hello friends

...hello?

(tap tap tap...hello? is this thing on?)

Ahem. Mimimimimiiiiiiiiiiiii.

Welcome to Friends With Benefits San Francisco. This will be our cozy little home.
If you want to talk to the Friends via e-mail, please drop in at friendswithbenefitssf@gmail.com

Meanwhile, chew on this:


Friends With Benefits and Yep Roc Records present Radio Birdman's Zeno Beach record release party, in conjunction with Burn My Eyes poster art show

The release of Zeno Beach sees our heroes coming back after a twenty-five year hiatus.

Radio Birdman info (from the Yep Roc site):
After forming more than thirty years ago, Australian rock pioneers Radio Birdman will finally tour the US for the first time this summer, hitting a series of major cities throughout August and September. Featuring four of the six original members, these shows will be a unique opportunity to catch this legendary Australian underground band live. To make things even better, the band will also be releasing a new album on Yep Roc Records, Zeno Beach, their first new recording in twenty five years. Ann Arbor born guitarist Deniz Tek and vocalist Rob Younger started Radio Birdman in 1974 in Sydney, Australia. They envisioned a band that would break rules and have no regard for the status quo of the parochial Australian rock business of the time. The band would play extremely volatile music with maximum involvement from the members at all times. It was to be an art form created from passion, with no strict format or structure, which could go in any direction at any time.

Yep Roc is set to release the disc mid August. Radio Birdman are, and always have been, independent of the mainstream music industry. The new recording, as well as their live performance schedule, is totally self-financed and self-directed. They see their independence as essential to maintaining complete artistic freedom. What you hear is solely the creative output of the band - not a marketing strategy. This year will be an eventful one for Radio Birdman and their many fans. Those who love the real thing are invited to climb aboard...it promises to be an amazing trip.

In conjunction with the Radio Birdman "ZENO BEACH" Record Release Party, we will be featuring the Burn My Eyes poster show featuring Stainboy, Ron Donovan/Firehouse, Chris Shaw, Alan Hynes, Lil Tuffy, Richie Goodtimes, & Paul Imagine.

Stainboy, famed Florida poster artist and Ron Donovan (Firehouse SF) will be creating original posters for this event.

Giveaways including tickets to the Radio Birdman show on Aug 31st (at Great American Music Hall), silk screened posters, and cds compliments of Stainboy, Yep Roc, and Friends With Benefits.

DJ SET BY DJ EVIL JUSTIN

Wednesday, Aug 16, 8 pm-late
Annies Social (the old CW)
917 Folsom St. (@ 5th.)
St. San Francisco, CA 94107

This event is free and open to the public. We love you.

So does Stainboy. Peep this: