Bret Easton Ellis Novel – Netherfriends (Free Download)
Brainchild of Chicago’s Shawn Rosenblatt, Netherfriends is an epically quirky experimental pop band. Originally a solo act, it evolved into a multi-membered group when Shawn realized that his songs were too in-depth to be performed live by himself. Netherfriends’ songs are indeed layered with all sorts of great instrumental elements like synths, melodica, glokenspiel, among many others.
Barry and Sherry is their 2010 release under indie label Emergency Umbrella. They can be likened to a mid-fi, less dancey Animal Collective, with an even more experimental texture. “Steal This Hook (By, Abbie Hoffman)” and “Lead You Through The Misty Fog of Milwaukee Ave” really exemplify the psychedelic nature of their music with dreamlike melodies and ambient sounds.
Harmonious group sing-a-longs also play a key role in many of their songs of past and present, where listeners alike are compelled to join in during live performances. Overall, Netherfriends exudes a carefree “we don’t give a damn” attitude that makes them approachable. They make music for the love of the game, and if you happen to enjoy it too, even better!
No matter where you live, you’ll probably have the chance to catch a nearby show from Netherfriends in support of their “50 songs in 50 states” project, in which they plan to play a show and write and record a song in each US state. We wish them luck with that!
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Photo couresty of Elise Tanner
