"that's not my scene, that's not who I wanna be..."
We have all had them, fake friends that is. It is so common that there are a number of songs about them. Maybe the first I remember is Joan Jett and the Blackhearts way back in the eighties but I have a new favorite. Brisbane's The Nish have release "Fake Friends" and interestingly it pulls iconic sounds (or creates them) that feel to me to hearken back to the late 70's proto punk indie movement and the 80's too. There is something decidedly Brit in Liam David's vocal wail and strain. I am gravitating to his vocal aesthetic pushing a deep grittiness in his register that felt, in some way, like an amalgam of Joe Strummer (The Clash), Nick Heyward (Haircut 100) and even Graham McPherson (Madness) and Joe Jackson. That may sound crazy but within the gallop of "Fake Friends" with it's totally grabby lead guitar hook, drop dead heavy bass lines and free form drumming, I feel punk tones, even 80's mod affections and some undefinable mixture of two tone and broad jangle pop in it's bones. Evocative, raw, punchy stuff to adore.
-Robb Donker Curtius
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THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM - PRESS NOTES:
True to theNISH’s mission to respark audiences’ love of rock music, Fake Friends embodies the supersonic sound of an indie anthem from its very first jangly guitar riff. Fake Friends will ensure a bold debut for the Brisbane group, with Blur-like bounce, Strokes-esque guitar licks, and Oasis-style irreverence. “Fake Friends is a love letter to the music we grew up idolising. I believe listeners will be hooked, and come along with us once they hear our unique spin on things”, said Mancurian lead guitarist Elliot Wharton.
Fake Friends’ infectious positivity is emblematic of theNISH’s ‘can-do’ attitude and hustle. At a young age in his native South Africa, drummer Sheldon March put his very first drum kit together using pots and pans, whilst using a novelty pencil to go along with a drum stick he found in a bush. While he was still at school, frontman Liam David built a music publication from nothing, sneaking backstage to snare interviews and pretending to be an older Head Editor while on the phone to the world’s biggest record labels.
Although currently their crowning achievement Fake Friends is not the only highlight for theNISH boys. Liam David previously wrote the soundtrack for Glad Tomorrow, performed to a sold out Powerhouse crowd in Brisbane and received repeated play on ABC Radio National.
Fake Friends is the first of a three single launch, with two more NISH songs coming in November and February. theNISH are excited to bring Brisbane their enthralling live show in 2021.
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