Super Best Friends
Music
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Karma Karma
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You Want It
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The Bleachers
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General Info
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Genre: Indie / Punk / Rock
Location Canberra, Au
Profile Views: 59068
Last Login: 4/21/2013
Member Since 10/2/2006
Website www.superbestfriends.com.au
Record Label BOOKINGS: Sam White - sam@imcmusic.net PUBLICITY: Reckoning Entertainment - +61(2)8084
Type of Label Unsigned
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Bio
"Outraged party rock. Maximum headbangability." Ready Aim Fire! 4/5 stars - Blunt Magazine -
Members
Johnny, Matt, Adam // BOOKINGS: Sam White - sam@imcmusic.net PUBLICITY: Reckoning Entertainment +61 (2) 8084 2007 info@reckoningentertainment.com THE BAND: band@superbestfriends.com.au -
Influences
Some of the bands we've played with (or at least been on the same bill as...) Children Collide Art Vs. Science British India Calling All Cars Regular John The Living End The Nation Blue Lions At Your Door Hoodlum Shouts The Fighting League The Cherry Marines The Trivs MM9 Furcurve The Hard-Ons The Unseen (USA) Nunchukka Superfly Dukes Of Windsor The Porkers The Brunettes (NZ) Young & Restless Slimey Things The Barons Of Tang Unpaid Debt Cuthbert & The Nightwalkers Hytest Jump 2 Lightspeed The Lazys Hell City Glamours Zebras Cant Be Tigers Casual Projects Daughters Of The Rich Lover Ohana Death Mattel Wifey Burn The City Tiltmeter Los Valentinos Teen Archer Mirror House Antics Terrordactyl Green Green Green 0010 The Complimentary Headsets SuperFunHappyBand Curse @ 27 Takedown Brisk Epic Flagon The O'Hooligans Penguin Bent Hen Tres Terros Radical Surf Ninjas From Hell On Fire Los Capitanes Inflatable Ingrid Dahahoo Hancock Basement Inside The Exterior Corgi Crisis Lamexcuse 4Dead Strong Like Sam See Archy Against All Odds The Borderline Escape Ghetto Pimp Missing Lincolns Yoko Oh No Australian Kingswood Factory Red Menace Switch 3 Fistful Of Nothing A Death In Radio Friend Or Enemy Cool Weapon Corporate Takedown Johnny United So it Begins Super Zombie -
Sounds Like
Videos
Releases
Click to buy HANDSHAKE online from iTunes,
also downloadable from bandcamp
or get a physical copy in shops, at a gig
or from Waterfront Records.
Click to buy online from Waterfront Records,
also available on iTunes, in music shops,
and at SBF shows.
Stream
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Super Best Friends
New show! Supporting British India at ANU Bar in Canberra with The Love Junkies from WA - Friday May 3!
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Super Best Friends
posted an eventANU Bar supporting British India w/ The Love Junkies
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Super Best Friends
uploaded a new photo
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Super Best Friends posted 3 events
EMPERORS WA TOUR - Amplifier Bar w/ Grim Fandango & The Sensitive Drunks
BETTER SITES THAN MYSPACE
Shows & Events
No upcoming shows/events
Reviews
Apparently being young and free and living in Canberra isn't all that amazing. Maybe it's just something in the air - a subtle waft of politics, weed and indifference - all melding to form a cocktail that is definitely less than the sum of its parts. Emerging from the haze in 2009, Super Best Friends came out swinging with debut EP, Ready Aim Fire, 6 tracks that fused punk, garage and metal into an angsty mess. Though it clocked in at under 20 minutes it still felt a little long and a tad unfocused. Despite this, the EP was still pretty badass and definitely gave off glimmers of something bright to come. That brings us to April 2011 when Super Happy Friends began recording this hot little item we've just received: the 5-track, year in the making, Handshakes EP. The young group have improved themselves in nearly every aspect - dropping the slightly bizarre hardcore-esque breakdowns and driving drum-rolls, opting instead for what can only be called a controlled chaos. For the first time it sounds like each element of every song is complimenting another instead of all the individual bits racing each other to the finish. It hasn't screwed with the trio's energy at all, they come off sounding like the lovechild of local party-rockers, DZ, Mansfield garage-rock saviours Violent Soho and, one of Australia's most consistently badass and interesting groups of the last 5 or so years the mighty Eddy Current Supression Ring. The EP format suits Super Best Friends very nicely, they cram an absolute ear-full into this not-quite 15 minute affair. The first half blasts you hard and fast, including first single, the incredibly catchy 2 minutes of Karma Karma. Then the 2nd half: another big blast, from standout (and also longest) track, The Bleachers, a little gem in which the lads rip apart the worst aspects of our hot, sticky country and all the backwards, racist rubbish that seems to go hand-in-hand with Aussie "pride". Word to that little bro's. Let's hope Super Best Friends stay that way - very exciting stuff and definitely one to watch out for - even K. Rudd has acknowledged the group - and, as we all know the only thing Mr. Rudd ever got wrong was bieng tricked by a dang seductress harpy.
(Jay Edwards, 4ZZZ)
AAA BACKSTAGE - HANDSHAKE REVIEW
Super Best Friends are a trio of energetic, snotty young upstarts from Canberra who play catchy, high-tempo, pounding indie-punk tunes, and sound like they could be the soundtrack to possibly the best party ever. Handshake, their second EP following on from 2009 release Ready Aim Fire, sees the boys from our nation’s capital continue in a similar vein but with added musicianship, better songs and improved production. Adam Bridges’ punchy drumming underpins everything the band does, and when overlaid with Matt Roberts’ distorted bass makes for one tight rhythm section, allowing Johnny Barrington to go off the rails with vocals, guitar, and keyboards. Opener and latest single ‘No Logo Is a Joke’ sees Barrington raging against corporate greed and consumer culture alongside crunching guitar breaks, before working himself up into a screaming frenzy just in time for the song to crank to a grinding halt. Next up is ‘Karma Karma‘, the initial single from Handshake, and the first to feature keyboard in a way Fight Like Apes might enjoy, before rocking out in frenetic and unmistakable fashion to an almighty climax, finishing what is probably Handshake’s best song. Full of angst and snarling vocals, it’s a tune to get crowds pumping their fists in the air and throwing their plastic cups to the sky. Third track ‘You Want It’ continues where ‘Karma Karma’ left off, with everything louder than everything else, a thundering bass line, shouted vocal harmonies of “You want it! Come get it!” and angry blasts of apocalyptic guitar. Penultimate track ‘The Bleachers’ is slow by Super Best Friends standards, allowing Barrington to squeeze out some fuzzed-out synth sounds to compliment the hard-drinking, fast-living lyrics, before firing off a measured guitar solo mid-song. “We are the Bleachers, we fight on the beaches!” could be Super Best Friends’ call to arms, calling on their fans to party/riot/break stuff. Closer ‘It’s an Evolution’ builds on a heavily-distorted bass riff and follows the by-now familiar pattern. Although some of the half-sung, half-shouted lyrics are lost in the mix, the threesome make their final track rock hard and fast, before slowing the tempo and slumping into an exhausted, spent heap of crashing cymbals and feedback. Handshake sounds like it could bring the house down when played live; the barely-veiled restraint in the studio hints at some unseen force ready to explode onto the audience. With tracks on average around two minutes thirty, Super Best Friends sound like they could punch out tune after tune of rocking punk without even breaking a sweat. Catch them live before they get too big.
(Paul McBride - AAA Backstage)
PUSHTOFIRE.com (UK) 4/5 Karma Karma review
Super Best Friends are a band that seem to be haunting me at the moment. Underground music scene mentions, playing at local venues - this is a band that I had already heard so much about, but have never actually heard play. Thankfully, latest single 'Karma Karma' landed in my hands this week, and I finally discovered just what I was missing out on. Clocking in at two minutes and thirteen seconds - the track is full of blistering noise and angst, snotty-nosed punk attitude, and an infectious melody to boot. The snarl of frontman Johnny Barrington's vocals drum up images of the punk days of old, while the simple punk 'three chord' riff, drives that vibe home. The inclusion of a slight electro beat is a little questionable at the start, but by the final bridge and subsequent chorus, it explodes into a frenzy of noise and mess that pounds through your speakers. Undoubtedly, Super Best Friends are a band that have definitely caught my interest. If my attention were a person, this single would have grabbed it, shaved its head and pierced its ears with a safety pin. I will definitely be watching out for these guys in the future. [4/5]
(Meghan Player, UK webzine PUSHTOFIRE.com)
4/5 STAR BLUNT MAGAZINE REVIEW!!!..
"Ready Aim Fire!" by Super Best Friends (Initiate)
The muscular three-piece is a rare beast in the alternative rock landscape these days, what with all the twin-guitar attacking and superfluous keyboarding afoot. The three-pronged fury of Canberra troublemakers Super Best Friends most resembles that of black humoured Welsh threesome (recently turned awesome foursome) Future Of The Left. They too make use of a small crack team of musicians sticking to monster beats that would normally be deemed inappropriate, distorted bass and jagged guitar riffs to deliver their brand of outraged party rock. Backed by occasional divergences into nursery rhyme-flavoured metal, Ready Aim Fire! Provides variety, sly laughs and maximum headbangability. (Ed Lamington)
NEW LIVE REVIEW!!!
Transit Bar Feb 10 2011
Transit Bar, the place that many local music lovers call home. A venue so diverse you can have a casual beverage, a game of pool, or simply rock out (when the moment is right). [Thursday] night proved to be one of those appropriate moments. Super Best Friends put on an immaculate display on one of their final Canberra shows before they hit the recording studio in Melbourne. However, no good act comes without its supports! The night kicked off with Assassins 88 demonstrating an interesting combo of pop, punk and noise. While the venue was still fairly empty, the boys played as though it were a full house. Unfortunately, the vocals were slightly drowned out by the volume of the instruments. No time was wasted with a changeover and The Fighting League took to the stage. The boys got straight to the point and showed that they felt at home on the Transit stage. The audience’s attention remained on the vocalist who wasted no time in getting his shirt off and proceeding to rub his hands all over his body while he belted out the tunes. While controversial, it was extremely entertaining and got members of the crowd moving in hysterics. By the end of their set, The Fighting League pleaded with the sound team at Transit Bar for the chance to play one more song. When the band’s so into what they are doing, it’s hard not to join in! Regrettably, the request was dismissed and clothes were quickly donned at a glacial pace. Super Best Friends boasted a surprising stage setup with four instruments for only three people. Armed with tracks from their Ready Aim Fire EP, the trio was ready to rule the stage. Adam, Matt and Johnny delivered a killer set including Karma Karma, You Want It, Ready Aim Fire, The Monkey is the Man, and The Bleachers. When asked to describe their sound, Super Best Friends hit the nail on the head, describing it as “Punchy drums, crunchy guitars, distorted bass and keys.” Overall the indie punk group embodied all that was promised. Good performance energy, musical talent, and jeans that were just a little too tight. The set was cohesive, vocal harmonies were right on pitch and the use of the MIDI keyboard was supreme. As far as Thursday festivities go, Transit Bar has it down pat. It was great to see some punk-oriented bands on the Canberra scene! Between the performances by Assassins 88, The Fighting League and Super Best Friends there was never an opportunity for the evening to be dull."
(SMASHLEY - FasterLouder.com.au)
"This is a spiky, in-your-face debut from Canberra outfit Super Best Friends. As punk goes, it well and truly delivers, with frenetically-paced three minute gems backed with blistering drums and guitars... After listening to this sparkler a few times, you get the feeling that Super Best Friends would 'go off' live. With such a chaotic, immediate sound, how could they not? It's quite a heavy sound with a strong focus on drumming, but Super Best Friends also utilise some rather unexpected techniques, which keep the music fresh and interesting... The standout track would be Red Stars and Dollar Signs, a scorching number with a great structure that chronicles political upheaval from the Russian Revolution to the Berlin Wall. Like most punk albums, this one benefits from repeated listening. But what's not to like about these wee fellows, except that, of course, they're from Canberra? But that's all in a day's work, or in this case, a night on the tiles. Give them a hug. And hope they don't smash your face in."
(Renee Tibbs - Beat Magazine)
“I’m digging that quite a bit at the moment. They’re a young band
out of Canberra, three dudes going by the name of Super Best Friends...”.
(Stu Harvey, host of Triple J's 'SHORT.FAST.LOUD' on 'Ready Aim Fire!')
"‘The Monkey Is The Man’ opens the CD by SBF, guaranteeing them a favourable review from this humble writer. They are a band from Canberra (yeah, I know!), who can’t decide whether they want to be a thoughtful, hard edged indie band or some kind of heavy punk thing, but I’ll let it slide, and not just because of the whole monkey thing. The spazzy synth on the title track earns them another brownie point, and the fact that they clearly don’t give a shit about fitting in with a scene earns them even more."
(Chris Yates from 'Time Off', Queensland Street Press on 'Ready Aim Fire!' )
"Join the firing squad, lock and load.
The latest record from the Brah’s finest quirk punks, Super Best Friends, fuses fastballs of intense melody with reserved adventure. Bleeding guitar tones and locked-in rhythms create sinister undertones through tracks Ready Aim Fire!, The Idiots and the capitalist/communist love in Red Stars & Dollar Signs... Each song is deftly crafted and replicates the energy of a SBF live show. Short, dense verses tease then trail out in anticipation of an anthemed chorus or an engaging variation - both satisfying the listeners desire. The trio aren’t afraid to chuck the old trombone in the mix, the Korg keyboard gets a run as do some youngsters who channel their inner ‘Sgt Peppers’ in the verses of Everything’s’ Fine. SBF have come into its own with this release."
(Luke Robert from Canberra's Litres Of Ink blog)
"And just when you think you've had your dose of cool for the night, Super Best Friends saunter onto the postage stamp (sized stage) and start tuning up. Their Ready Aim Fire! EP came out earlier this year and it was pretty damn good. Their indie-punk sound is perfectly suited for the Blue Tile crowd, and the 'Friends serve it up on a shovel of static and loud guitar licks. Opening song The Monkey is the Man sets the tone for their set: this band are tight, tight, tight. The dense and frenetic drums are perfectly in sync with the crashing yet sweet guitars and all three lads have a bit of a sing. The set list contains most of the EP and a couple of newbies, but there are no real duds, and the crowd is DIGGING IT. They surge up the front for a bit of a mosh (in Blue Tile you could have eight people there and still mosh). Some songs are particular killer: newbie Friday is a kick arse three-minute cache of punk guitar and the epic Red Stars & Dollar Signs features blistering drumming and lyrical nous. They play with tempos, going from crazy-fast to lullaby in seconds, which keeps the crowd on their toes. It's a satisfying set, but as rad as Blue Tile is, I'd like to see them again on a bigger stage, where they can leap around without worrying about electrocuting themselves."
Renee Tibbs - Beat Magazine - Blue Tile Lounge (Vic) Nov '09
"To get the blood pumping Super Best Friends were next to take the stage. Also from Canberra these unbelievably entertaining and energetic boys sent the crowd into a dancing flurry with their funky form of indie punk rock. Playing songs off their new EP Ready Aim Fire, these fun loving lads almost looked as though they were having more fun than the lively crowd. It’s rare to find a young band of this style of music doing it so well but hands down they were the stand out for the night. Their EP is now available from all good music stores and if you’re a fan of anything Les Claypool has been associated with, you’ll adore all that these boys have to offer."
(FasterLouder - Hell City Glamours support '09)
"The biggest highlight of the evening were the up and coming Super Best Friends... The energy from these guys was contagious... A fantastic live experience."
(FasterLouder - Megafauna Festival '09)
"Alright here’s a highlight for you - Super Best Friends... What a treat! They were incredible. No one could look away... The sheer energy and passion they put into the set made this band absolutely captivating. Did I mention the music itself? Dynamic and playful at times, brutal and tight at others. Here’s a tip - go see Super Best Friends." (www.loadedog.com)
“They are one of the most unpretentious, energetic and entertaining acts that I have seen live in a very long time. That's just the stage show. Their songs are tight, intelligent and original with rhythms that go off. Creative backbeats and a nice mix of stylised punk and rock make these guys a definite highlight...”
(BMA Magazine)