The Super Friendz
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The Super Friendz are a band from Halifax, Nova Scotia, active between 1994 and 1997, reforming in 2003. Contemporaries of Sloan, their early work was on Sloan's Murderecords label.
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[edit] Origins
The Super Friendz were formed in 1994 by three King's College students. Matt Murphy, who had earlier played guitar with Black Pool; bassist Charles Austin, briefly a part of Al Tuck; and guitarist Drew Yamada formed the core of the band. At first the band had no permanent drummer: at various times during their early years Chris Murphy (no relation to Matt) of Sloan, Cliff Gibb of Thrush Hermit, and Dave Marsh filled the role.
In 1994, The Super Friendz released a single on Chris Murphy's label, Murderecords, and later toured Canada with Sloan.
[edit] Early years
The Super Friendz' first album, Mock Up, Scale Down (1995, Murderecords), drew great critical praise, if not necessarily commercial success. Recorded in producer Brenndan McGuire's house with Dave Marsh on drums, Mock Up blended retro-pop with Canadian rock influences.
The following year, the band released Play the Game, Not Games, a 10-inch single, also on Murderecords. The songs on Play the Game--especially the contributions of Austin and Yamada--were significantly more experimental than on the album, and prefigured both the band's future work and its creative tension.
Mock Up, Scale Down was released in the United States in 1997 on March Records under the title Sticktoitiveness (which earlier had been the title of an independent tape made by the band). A few of the songs from Play the Game also appeared on the U.S. release.
[edit] Later On & The Break-up
Continuing to tour, the band pulled together their last studio album before the break-up in Slide Show. Featuring Lonnie James on drums, this album is often considered the band's strongest effort.
Despite the strong reviews, the Super Friendz were struggling to continue. In the final reckoning, the band were done in by the same creative forces that made their music successful. Around September of 1997 it was made official - the boys amicably went their separate ways.
[edit] Back Together Again
In late December of 2002, SFZ came back together for a special holiday reunion. This was enough to spark the creativity back up. The band then continued on to start recording their return effort, Love Energy, released Summer 2003. A small tour followed in September.
Currently (January 2006), The Super Friendz are set to re-enter the studio to record their as of yet unnamed follow-up to 2003's Love Energy. While at the moment it is unsure whether the LP will be finished on time, a rare performance is planned for March 11th in their hometown of Halifax with longtime friend Mike O'Neill's new two-piece, The Self Conscious.
[edit] Discography
- By Request (199?)
- Sticktoitiveness (cassette only) (1994)
- Mock Up, Scale Down (1995)
- Play the Game, Not Games (10" vinyl) (1996)
- Slide Show (1996)
- Sticktoitiveness (March Records' U.S. compilation CD of Mock Up and Play the Game; different from the original Sticktoitiveness) (1997)
- Love Energy (2003)
- Sticktoitiveness (remastered, CD) (2006)
[edit] Music videos
Videos were made for the singles Karateman, Up and Running, and Rescue Us From Boredom.
