The Super Friendz

The Super Friendz are a Canadian indie rock band from Halifax, Nova Scotia.<ref>"Hopped on Pop: The Super Friendz stands apart from Halifax's alternative scene -- with a sense of humor and no angst". Halifax Daily News, July 21, 1995.</ref> They were initially active between 1994 and 1997, before reforming in 2002, with sporadic activity since then.

Contemporaries of Sloan, their early work was on Sloan's Murderecords label.<ref>"Despite lack of full-time drummer, Halifax trio doesn't miss a beat". Ottawa Citizen, December 7, 1995.</ref>

Career

The Super Friendz were formed in 1994 by three King's College students Charles Austin (vocals and bass), Matt Murphy (vocals and guitar), Drew Yamada (vocals and guitar). Until 1996, the band had no permanent drummer, at various times Chris Murphy (no relation to Matt) of Sloan, Cliff Gibb of Thrush Hermit, and Dave Marsh filled the role until Lonnie James was chosen as a permanent member.<ref>"Super Friendz : Halifax band has the sound of the '90s". Waterloo Region Record, December 5, 1995.</ref>

In 1994, The Super Friendz released the cassette Sticktoitiveness independently, and the single "By Request" on Murderecords, and later toured Canada with Sloan.<ref name="thesuperfriendz.bandcamp.com">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=havenot>Michael Barclay, Ian A.D. Jack and Jason Schneider, (2011) Have Not Been the Same: The Can-Rock Renaissance 1985-1995. (10th anniversary ed.) ECW Press. Template:ISBN. pp. 486-488.</ref>

The band's first album, Mock Up, Scale Down was released on Murderecords on July 14, 1995.<ref>"RECORDINGS POP: Mock Up, Scale Down, The Super Friendz". The Globe and Mail, July 29, 1995.</ref> The singles "10 lbs.", "Karate Man" and "Rescue Us from Boredom" were released from the album,<ref>"Super Friendz rises from Halifax pop pack: Melodious trio caps big year with Rivoli show". Toronto Star, December 7, 1995.</ref> which was a Juno Award nominee for Alternative Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 1996.<ref>"Juno nominees reflect success of female singers: Shania Twain leads with seven nominations, followed by Alanis Morissette with six, Susan Aglukark with five and Celine Dion with four". The Globe and Mail, February 1, 1996.</ref>

In 1996, the band contributed the song "Blue Tattoo" to the compilation album A Tribute to Hard Core Logo,.<ref>"VARIOUS ARTISTS: A Tribute to Hard Core Logo". Windsor Star, November 28, 1996.</ref> On July 23, 1996, the band released the EP Play the Game, Not Games on Murderecords. The songs on Play the Game—especially the contributions of Austin and Yamada—were significantly more experimental than on the album.

The band's second album, Slide Show, was released on February 25, 1997.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>"Sophisticated effort from Super Friendz". Halifax Daily News, March 14, 1997.</ref> Critical response to the album was highly favorable, although some identified signs of creative tension in the album's diverse array of styles.<ref>"THE SUPER FRIENDZ / Slide Show".Hamilton Spectator, March 11, 1997.</ref>

On May 23, 1997, a compilation album of sorts was released for the United States market on March Records. It was titled, confusingly, Sticktoitiveness, but rather than the 1994 cassette, it contained new mixes of most songs on Mock Up, Scale Down and five from "Play The Game, Not Games."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

By August 1997, the band had broken up.<ref>"Local: Super Friendz act cancelled at festival". Kingston Whig-Standard, August 19, 1997.</ref>

Post-breakup

Matt Murphy later re-emerged with a new band called The Flashing Lights.<ref name=havenot/> He has also played with the bands City Field and Cookie Duster, and starred in the film The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico.<ref name=havenot/> In 2015, he formed a new band, TUNS, with Chris Murphy and Mike O'Neill.

Austin and Yamada launched the project Neuseiland with Joel Plaskett, then of Thrush Hermit.<ref name=havenot/> Austin is now a recording engineer and producer in Halifax, and has contributed to albums by Buck 65, Matt Mays, Joel Plaskett, Garrett Mason and many others. Yamada later toured with O'Neill and others, before leaving the music industry full-time to pursue post-secondary education. James went on to release two critically acclaimed solo records on Teenage USA, as well as recording and touring as a drummer in Royal City.

Reunion (2002-present)

In late December 2002, the Super Friendz came back together for a special holiday reunion.<ref name=havenot/> The band recorded a reunion album, Love Energy, which was released June 30, 2003 on Outside Music.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=havenot/> A small tour followed that September. Dave Marsh has been the band's drummer from the 2002 reunion to present.

In early 2006, a fourth studio album was self-produced, with the working title of Mick Mojo McKinzey Skunk but it has yet to be released. Song titles included "Altamont," "Every Year," "Home Again," "Shannon Park," "Local Heroes," and "Majesty of Rock."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Between the years of 2012 to 2014, the band has performed at such music festivals as the 2012 Halifax Pop Explosion, North by Northeast 2013, and Hillside Music Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The original cassette Sticktoitiveness was remastered and released as a CD in March 2006.<ref name="thesuperfriendz.bandcamp.com"/> Mock Up, Scale Down was reissued on Murderecords on vinyl as a 2×LP in 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Discography

• Sticktoitiveness (1994)
• Mock Up, Scale Down (1995)
• Play the Game not Games E.P. (1996)
• Slide Show (1997)
• LoveEnergy (2003)

External links

• The Super Friendz