THANK YOU FOR 2018 // WINTER DATES AHEAD

As the year draws to a close, we'd like to thank you for your support! For buying and streaming the BILL album, for attending our shows, for watching and sharing our videos, for writing about us, for letting us know you see and hear us. Thank you. We see and hear you, too.

We were honored to share the stage with so many terrific musicians this year; too many to list. We have a good deal of touring ahead in 2019 and look forward to meeting more great bands and listeners! We'll post February and March tour dates next month, but for now, we're doing some stuff close to home. We'll be live on the air with Jonathan Marx on Nashville's on WXNA own January 21st! We'll be talking about the BILL album, working with Steve Albini, why we made the record we did, and what's on the horizon for us. And we'll be playing the music of other bands and artists we admire. Be sure to tune in! Also, we're playing Media Rerun in Murfreesboro TN on February 9th. After that, we're on the road. Can't wait.

The links to everything we released this year are below. Thanks again for listening and watching. Happy new year to you.
We're on your side. Keep hope alive,

FC

BILL: BANDCAMP // ITUNES // AMAZON // SPOTIFY
"HORRIFY" VIDEO
"WOMEN TO THE FRONT" VIDEO
"SAW AND HEARD" LYRIC VIDEO
"YOUR FEAR IS SHOWING" VIDEO

Photo by Gregg Roth

"YOUR FEAR IS SHOWING" VIDEO OUT TODAY + NOV. TOUR DATES!

Hello, friends!

Thanks so much for all of the support around the release of the BILL album earlier this month! We played a terrific release party on October 16th in our home city of Nashville. Here's a great review of the record by Jen Dan for Rebel Noise. We appreciate all of you for listening!

To that end, please enjoy this new video for the opening track on the album, "YOUR FEAR IS SHOWING." The song gives shout-outs to some of horror's great characters while also addressing the very real fear that some of us may live with. We hope you enjoy it. 

From today through midnight October 31st, we will donate the entirety of proceeds from digital sales of our new album, BILL, to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline. We will also donate a percentage of all physical sales of the album on those dates. 

BILL: BANDCAMP // ITUNES // AMAZON // SPOTIFY

* * *

Also, we're heading out for some tour dates in just a few days! Please check to see if we're coming to your city; we'd LOVE to see you!

11.4 // Columbus OH // Cafe Bourbon St.
11.5 // Philadelphia PA // Kung Fu Necktie
11.6 // Allston MA // O’Brien’s Pub
11.8 // Chapel Hill NC // The Cave
11.9 // Cleveland OH // Maple Grove Tavern
11.15 // Indianapolis IN // Melody Inn

Happy Halloween!

We're on your side. Keep hope alive,

FC

THE BILL ALBUM IS OUT TODAY!

IT'S A HAPPY DAY OVER HERE!

The BILL album is now available everywhere you get your music!

BILL: BANDCAMP // ITUNES // AMAZON // SPOTIFY

The vinyl arrived this week and it's absolutely beautiful. 

There are several merch bundles available on the Bandcamp page!

Thanks to Steve Albini and everyone at Electrical Audio; thanks to Matthew Barnhart and the good folks at Chicago Mastering Service! Thanks to our team: Mark Vieira, Austin Griswold, and Aaron Gray! Thanks to Zach Barocas, Iris Robert, and Ric Simenson for the stunning imagery and artwork. We are incredibly grateful. And thanks to all who have listened and will listen. 

* * *

If you haven't yet, please watch the videos for "SAW AND HEARD," "WOMEN TO THE FRONT" and "HORRIFY"!

Our official album release show is on October 16th, here in Nashville. We're excited to be part of a crazy night of music with all kinds of people, and the whole event 100% benefits Best Buddies Tennessee! We'll even be donating a portion of our merch sales to the organization, including the BILL album! Additional Fall tour dates to be announced very shortly, so make sure you follow us on Bandsintown for those updates.

Thank you all so much. Thank you for your continued support. We hope you love the new music.

We're on your side. Keep hope alive,

FC

NEW SINGLE "SAW AND HEARD" OUT TODAY!

Our third single is here, friends!

We're thrilled to share "SAW AND HEARD" with you all! This was one of the first songs written for the BILL album, and many of you have heard us play it on the road over the last two years. It's near and dear to us; we hope you like it. The music was produced by Steve Albini and us. We made a lyric video for this one; watch it below.

SINGLE: BANDCAMP // SPOTIFY // YOUTUBE

On "SAW AND HEARD":
The moment at which we reclaim our personal traumas and difficult experiences is one in which we gain the power. Staring abuse and abusers in the eye and saying, “I see it now, and I see it so very clearly,” strips those forces of any power they once possessed. It’s never too late to take back what’s yours, dignity included.

* * *

The BILL album is now only two weeks away! You can still pre-order it on vinyl, CD, or as a download, if you haven't already. And please check out the recently released videos for "WOMEN TO THE FRONT" and "HORRIFY"!

ALBUM: BANDCAMP // ITUNES // AMAZON

Last, thanks to all who came out to the shows we did with ROYAL THUNDER! More Fall dates to come!

We're on your side. Keep hope alive,

FC

SAW AND HEARD
I’ve had cause to look back on the ins-and-outs of us
they tell me not to stare, they tell me not to stare
I’ve held all the guilt for who we were right in my gut
but maybe that’s not fair, maybe that’s not fair
tapes can still rewind
I keep them in my mind

saw and heard you say you’re not the same as everyone
saw and heard the things you did while we were “having fun”
it’s a brand new day
I think I’ll be okay

your new presentation makes you look so very well
I want to wish it so, I want to wish it so
but I’m not yet at that place, I’m sorting through the hell
so I can let it go, so I can let it go
these tapes preserved just fine
I played them all last night

saw and heard you say you’re not the same as everyone
saw and heard the things you did while we were “having fun”
it’s a brand new day
I think I’ll be okay

all those smiles
no accountability!
years and miles
where’s the accountability?
HEY!

saw and heard you say you’re not the same as everyone
saw and heard the things you did while we were “having fun”
it’s a brand new day
I think I’ll be okay
I’m sending this your way

NEW SINGLE + VIDEO "WOMEN TO THE FRONT" OUT TODAY!

The second single is here!

Please enjoy our new single and video, "WOMEN TO THE FRONT," now premiering on New Noise Magazine! The video was directed by Buick Audra, shot by Jerry Roe and Perry Bean! Noteworthy performances were contributed by Heather Donegan and Grant-Lee Phillips, among many others! Song written by Buick Audra; produced by Steve Albini and us. Cover photo by Zach Barocas; art and layout by Buick Audra and Ric Simenson.

SINGLE: BANDCAMP // SPOTIFY // YOUTUBE

Thanks to everyone who has already ordered the BILL album! We sold out of the vinyl + necktie bundles, but there are a few of the CD + necktie bundles left! And if you haven't seen our video for "HORRIFY," we encourage you to do so!

ALBUM: BANDCAMP // ITUNES // AMAZON

On "WOMEN TO THE FRONT":
What if, instead of competing with or steering clear of other women, we stood for and with each other? What kind of bold new frontier could we possibly create were we to abandon the trappings of old belief systems and get current? I am encouraged by recent movements of solidarity among women around the world. I crave more. Stand together. (Buick Audra)

We're on your side. Keep hope alive,

FC

WOMEN TO THE FRONT

it’s on my mind that I rarely get spoken to
communication is what I was made to do
but I want to be someone on your side
want to stand with you, eye to eye

I call for the heads now
women to the front, step up!
I call for the hearts now
women to the front, step up

why’s it so easy to separate from our kind?
the strength in numbers would benefit all our lives
and you want to be someone who is heard
I want you to get what you deserve

I call for the heads now
women to the front, step up!
I call for the hearts now
women to the front, step up

stand with me, beside me
I’m waiting, I’m waiting
stand with me, beside me
I’m waiting, I’m waiting!

I call for the heads now
women to the front, step up!
I call for the hearts now
women to the front, step up

NEW SINGLE + VIDEO "HORRIFY" OUT TODAY! // PRE-ORDER BILL ALBUM!

Two big announcements today!

First, the debut single from the BILL album is here! We're so happy to share "HORRIFY" with you all. Links to the song on different platforms below, as well as a link to our video for it, directed by Jerry Roe, shot by Jerry Roe and Perry Bean! Special thanks to Kat Jones, EJ Holmes Dawson, and Perry Bean for their incredible help. Song written by Buick Audra; produced by Steve Albini and us. Cover photo by Zach Barocas; art and layout by Buick Audra and Ric Simenson. If you're interested, the lyrics are at the very bottom of this post .

SINGLE: BANDCAMP // SPOTIFY //  YOUTUBE

Second, you can now pre-order the BILL album! We're offering it on vinyl, CD, and as a digital download, of course. There are even a handful of extra special bundles available, in which you can get a handmade skinny necktie made by Buick herself (she has a line of ties called B. Arson Neckwear) and a copy of the album on CD or vinyl. 

ALBUM: BANDCAMP // ITUNES // AMAZON

On "HORRIFY":
We destroy that which we love; it sometimes feels safer than the alternative. But tearing down another person or a relationship also tears down part of the self. It’s a temporary fix for a bigger problem. We’d be wise to look inward instead of at the faults of others, but where’s the fun in that? In short: friendship is hard.

We're on your side. Keep hope alive,

FC

"HORRIFY" by Friendship Commanders from BILL
℗ & © Trimming The Shield Records, 2018.

HORRIFY

I’ll show you orphans sleeping on pavement
I’ll show you hopeless human arrangements
I’ll show you lands with no leaders - but laws against reform
still, I’m a monster, or so you have stated

are you horrified?
tell me again
are you horrified?
tell me all about the different lie you’re living with this time

one epidemic gave birth unto another
the child who struggled to thrive became a mother
then all the factors collide to rob the childhood from the child
still, you insist that I’m the enemy, the other

give me a rag to wash the makeup off my face
take off my costume, let me stand here in my place
I’m just a person in need of basic decency and grace
still, you reject me! 
you say I’m not the same

are you horrified?
tell me again
are you horrified?
tell me all about the different life you’re living in this time
and this: are you are horrified?

if I were dying, you could love me
but I’m living, so you can’t
if I were dying, you could love me
but I’m living, so you can’t
if I were dying, you could love me
but I’m living, so you can’t
if I were dying, you could love me
but you can’t

are you horrified?
tell me again
are you horrified?
tell me all about the different ways you’re winning at this life
and this: are you horrified?
tell me again
are you horrified?

NEW ALBUM, BILL // 10.5.18

Friends!

We're thrilled to share the release date of our second album, BILL: October 5th, 2018. We made this record with Steve Albini at Electrical Audio in Chicago IL. We're so proud of it and so ready for you to hear it. The first single and video, "Horrify," releases on all digital platforms on August 17th! There will be more to come between then and the album's release, so please be sure to follow, like, and subscribe to us wherever you get your music! Links below.

As a body of work, BILL is about to trying to be a human and know other humans during inhumane times. Part of that is reckoning with one's self, part of that is either accepting those around us or letting them go. And yet another part of that is making sure that we're not just focusing on our own success and safety, but those of the community around us. It's time for tolerance and service and hope, not destroying one another and ourselves.

The stunning album cover photo was taken by Zach Barocas; we love it so much. The design was done by Buick Audra and Ric Simenson.

SPOTIFY // YOUTUBE // TWITTER // FACEBOOK // INSTAGRAM // BANDCAMP

We're also excited to tell you that we're doing some dates with ROYAL THUNDER next month! And most of the shows are in cities we've not yet played; we're very much looking forward to them. Dates below. Additional tour dates in support of the new album to come soon!

We're on your side. Keep hope alive,

FC

SHOWS

09/03/18 --- Columbia, SC - New Brookland Tavern
09/04/18 --- Nashville, TN - The End
09/05/18 --- Birmingham, AL - The Nick
09/07/18 --- St. Petersburg, FL - Fubar
09/08/18 --- Jacksonville, FL - Nighthawks

*All dates supporting ROYAL THUNDER

JUNE AND JULY TOUR DATES!

Hey there!

Mighty thanks and appreciation to all who came out to the Raise Your Voice shows last month! We had a terrific time - and we registered some people to vote. So, mission accomplished! We're grateful to the venues, promoters, organizations, bands, and friends who participated.

We're playing a handful of shows at the end of this month and beginning of July. Dates below. Announcements about the forthcoming album will be made next month; stay tuned! 

We wish you a happy beginning of Summer. We'll see you out there.

Yours in friendship and PMA,

FC

Photo by Ceth Carter

SHOWS

06/23/18 --- The P&H Cafe, Memphis TN
06/28/18 --- The Milestone, Charlotte NC
06/29/18 --- Guido's Speakeasy, Frederick MD
07/01/18 --- St. Vitus Bar, Brooklyn NY
07/02/18 --- The Pharmacy, Philadelphia PA

RAISE YOUR VOICE TOUR IN MAY + RED FANG SHOW!

Hello!
Happy almost Spring! We're dropping you a line to let you know about some upcoming live shows. We're heading back to Texas for our second year of Houston Punkfest at the end of April! Also, we're thrilled to announce that we're doing a hometown show with RED FANG on May 4th! Tickets are available now HERE. 

In addition to those shows, check out the RAISE YOUR VOICE tour! We've decided to travel to some of the states with the lowest voter turnout numbers in recent elections and offer voter registration options right at the shows. In states that have any kind of online voter registration, we'll have electronic registration stations. In states where you still have to fill out paperwork, we'll have that, too! We believe in everyone's right to have a say, and voting is part of that process. Plus, these shows will be rad hangs. Dates below, and more will be added to this list! Be sure to track us on Bandsintown for updates and additional events.

Last, we know we haven't told you when the new record will be out. Soon, friends. Soon.

Yours in friendship and PMA,
FC

UPCOMING SHOWS

• 04/28/18 --- Houston Punkfest, Houston TX

• 05/03/18 --- Crosstown Arts, Memphis TN

• 05/04/18 --- Exit/In, Nashville TN

• 05/06/18 --- Resonator, Norman OK

• 05/08/18 --- The Spruce Goose, Houston TX

• 05/10/18 --- Revolution Cafe, Bryan TX

• 05/11/18 --- Workers Revival Fest, Kansas City MO

• 05/12/18 --- Replay Lounge, Lawrence KS

• 05/13/18 --- Burlington Bar, Chicago IL

• 05/14/18 --- The Root Cellar, Bloomington IN

• 05/16/18 --- 123 Pleasant St., Morgantown WV

• 05/18/18 --- JJ's Bohemia, Chattanooga TN

• 05/19/18 --- Kavarna, Decatur GA

• 05/24/18 --- PG, Evansville IN

• 05/25/18 --- The Cure Lounge, Louisville KY

THANK YOU FOR 2017 // NEW ALBUM COMING IN 2018!

Hello hello!

We've made a new album; a second album! We spent six days in the studio with Steve Albini at the end of November and beginning of this month. The experience was positive, singular, life-affirming, and quite productive. Electrical Audio is outrageously cool and we feel fortunate to have made some art there. Steve made the process so enjoyable and easy and we don't know how we ever worked without him.

The album will be released next year and we look forward to sharing it with you! We're working on making that happen right now. In the meantime, here are some photos from our sessions, and there are more where these came from.

* * *

Earlier in the year, we released the JUNEBUG 7" and also had our song "Scuffle" included on the Resolution of Happiness compilation. If you haven't yet heard either of those bodies of work, check them out! They benefit the ACLU and Lambda Legal, respectively. We made videos for "Berlin" and "Scuffle," too. Fun projects all around. We also did a few tours within the U.S., all of which were fulfilling.

We'd like to thank you for making our 2017 such a purposeful year. To everyone who came out to the shows, bought music, watched the videos, shared the work with others, talked to us, hugged us, played shows with us, let us crash on your floors and couches, and simply just believed in the mission: we thank you.

May the new year bring us together again, and give us all opportunities to be of service to others.

Yours in friendship and PMA, 

FC