With Friends Like These

"With Friends Like These is Matt Shaw, Tyler Coffey, Brian Pake from Spook the Horse, and drummer Justin Cronk from Vendetta Red. They make real deal, volume enhanced rock. Cronk is super tight, and the three-tiered vocals of Shaw, Coffey, and Pake spread the stage and the room with an intensely toned caterwaul. Veiled in their strain, the words search then find, “We made it home to our beds / We’re dead and gone for good.” The band holes up in their Fremont bunker studio called Toy Box to record. They’re constantly laying down new material and building their sound. Two guitars bound, Fugazi born, and carving out land mass. With Friends Like These making music like this, you hear no space wasted." - The Stranger

"More than once, With Friends Like These have been compared to both Jawbox and Jawbreaker. And those aren't names you just throw around—those are two of my favorite bands of all time. While singer Matthew Shaw does not have the same deep, memorable voice as the unrivaled J. Robbins, musically, the comparisons to the long-defunct trios are not far off. Some songs on their new album, Dead and Gone, are huge blasts of purposefully rough-around-the-edges rock; others are toned down and focused on effected guitar and melodies reminiscent of the early years of emo, when the tag didn't come with eyeliner and suicide pacts." - The Stranger

"melodic-yet-intense post-punk that’s reminiscent of Jawbreaker, Jawbox, and Braid (i.e., the good emo). I caught one of the trio’s first gigs, an opening set at the Crocodile several months back; they were exceptionally tight, powerful, and anthemic, heavy with angular chord work and bulging neck veins." - Seattle Weekly

I have a new local band to tell you about that I’m currently digging. Actually I already mentioned Seattle’s With Friends Like These in a brief show preview last week. A relative unknown at the moment and because the only other press coverage they’ve received in the city belongs to a couple very brief touches by The Stranger, I’m going to go ahead and take credit for bringing this fledgling rock tour-de-force to your attention.

Recently signed to local indie label Sound vs. Silence which also boasts Shawn Smith as part of their current roster, With Friends Like These have released a fine debut record entitled “Dead and Gone” that is a must hear for fans of bands like Against Me!

The record is choked full of hard driving post-punk tunes, the kind you scream with in your car while fighting traffic on your commute not to mention the kind you raise your drink to and sing along with live in concert. Last Wednesday at The Croc, with a supporting cast of other local up and comers Palmer Electric Company, Ships (featuring ex-members of The Lashes and The Divorce), and Patrol, With Friends Like These captured every bit of the emotion contained in the angst-filled anthems included on their debut.

With Friends Like These new albumI’m not going to lie and say that the place was packed for their record release party, it was far from a full house, but ex-City Light member Matt Shaw on guitar and vocals, Ex-Spook the Horse members Tyler Coffey on guitar and backing vocals, Brian Pake on bass, and ex-Vendetta Red guitar player turned heavy hitter Justin Cronk on drums persevered though the pre-Thanksgiving lull and proved that they should be added to everyone’s local bands to check out in 2010 list.

Shout out loud choruses and abrasive tendencies ala sure influences like Fugazi and Jawbreaker kept the songs high above the emo Mendoza line. Stand out tracks off “Dead and Gone” like ‘The Ones We Used to Love’, ‘Run and Hide’ and my favorite ‘Clean Brake’ were even more powerful live; while Shaw unleashed his emotive vocal strain front and center, Coffey was the ying to Shaw’s yang on backing vocals and stage presence; energetic and charismatic. Impressive lead foot Justin Cronk added some powerful kick drum along with Brian Pake’s sturdy bass lines elevated the hard driving post-punk gems to another level all together.

I'm going to go out on a limb and make a prediction. With Friends Like These will make an impact on our fine local music scene in 2010. You heard it here first. - LPM Voice

Seattle’s With Friends Like These are celebrating the release of their new record "Dead & Gone" this evening at the Crocodile. A new discovery for me, I have been enjoying there infectious, melodic, sometimes abrasive indie punk sound. They have been compared to the likes of Jawbox and hold Jawbreaker and Fugazi as major influences. I have a gut feeling that tonight will be filled with hard driving guitar hooks, and intense anthemic rock.

With Friends Like These has recently signed to one time Salt Lake City label now based in Seattle-- Sound vs. Silence. SVSS has built up a solid roster of artists which includes Brad singer Shawn Smith. Come down to the Croc tonight and support a great local band as well as a great local indie label. Tickets available at the Door for $10. Also on the bill: Patrol, Palmer Electric, & Ships - Seattle Rock Guy

With a sound somewhere in between Against Me!, Cursive and Jawbreaker, Seattle four-piece With Friends Like These exude energy and passion for their craft. Lead by singer/guitarist Matt Shaw, with Tyler Coffey on similar duties, Brian Pake on bass and Justin Cronk (Vendetta Red) on drums, With Friends Like These both timidly and defiantly take on the folk-punk style. - last.fm