Brand New Friend have put out a new track Mediocre At Best to coincide with their tour with Pretty Vicious which kicks off the same day. The band have also been confirmed to join Britrock heroes Feeder on two of their forthcoming Irish dates. The song is taken from their forthcoming debut album Seatbelts For Aeroplanes which is released on 27th April 2018 on Xtra Mile Recordings.
The four-piece, who hail from Castlerock in Northern Ireland released the first single Girl from the album last month and instantly received plays from Huw Stephens (who played it twice back to back!), Phil Taggatr and Annie Mac at Radio 1. It was also added to the Spotify ‘Rocked’ playlist and ‘Pure Pop Punk’ playlist.
Vocalist Taylor described the track as: ‘A fragile love song. It’s about facing up to the invisible battles in our heads and the importance of helping each-other through life, because it’s not easy. I wrote it for my girlfriend, to remind her that just by being here, she’s won every fight so far. It was written after a house party. I had one conversation with this girl & fell for her there and then. This song was my way of being able to talk to her after the party, because I wasn’t sure if I’d ever see her again…’
The band, who began as a duo with brother and sister Taylor and Lauren Johnson started off playing and writing when Taylor received his first guitar for doing well in his GSCE’s. After releasing an EP American Wives they hooked up with Aaron Milligan (bass) and Luke Harris (drums) and developed a fuller, punchier sound which transformed the gigs they had been playing to much more energetic affairs. Playing their first Irish tour in January 2017, they soon followed on with shows on the BBC Introducing Stage at Hull (during its City of Culture year), festivals and support slots with local bands. In the meantime BBC Radio Ulster and Radio 1 were taking note and giving support and the new year kicked off with a sold out show at the Duke of York in Belfast.
Tracklisting:
Mediocre At Best / Seatbelts For Aeroplanes / I Was An Astronaut / Milk Chews / Slow
Why Are You So Tired / Sleep On My Floor / I Hate It When You Have to Go / Girl / A + E
I Love You, Goodbye / The Blame / Cold
UK tour (with Pretty Vicious)
7 March MANCHESTER, Soup Kitchen
8 March EDINBURGH, Sneak Petes
9 March BARROW IN FURNESS, Underground Music Society (headline show)
10 March CARDIFF, Club Ifor Bach
12 March LEEDS, Lending Room
13 March BRISTOL, Louisina
14 March SOUTHAMPTON, Joiners
15 March LONDON, Borderline
With Feeder
21 March DUBLIN, Olympia
22 March BELFAST, Limelight
Irish tour (headline)
20 April OMAGH, Top of the Town
26 April DERRY, Sandino’s
27 April PORTRUSH, Kiwi’s
28 April BELFAST, Black Box – headline show