Interview with Real Friends

This is Pop Punk Promotions with a special interview with Real Friends, Real friends is a pop punk band from Chicago Illinois. Make sure to grab their music here! 

http://www.realfriends.bandcamp.com/

Interview by: Branden Whitehead

TIPPP- How long has real friends been a band and where are you guys from?

 Real Friends- We have been a band for about two and a half years and we're from the south suburbs of Chicago.

TIPPP- What was the inspiration for the band to start?

 Real Friends- We all came from different bands and just wanted something that was fun to do that we could take seriously, but not too serious.

TIPPP- How was the crowd response from warped?

 Real Friends- It was awesome. Way better than we had hoped. We played the west coast dates, which was great because we haven't been able to hit those areas as much as we'd like

TIPPP- Did you prefer playing warped or the opportunity to headline a tour?

 Real Friends- Both are a lot of fun, but I would say warped tour. There aren't any boundaries, any kind of band can play and any band that plays has the potential to play to all sorts of different kids that normally wouldn't see them. To me that's fucking awesome.

TIPPP- What was the response like for your new EP “Put yourself back together”?

 Real Friends- It's awesome. We are very lucky to have people that continue to support what we do. It means a lot to be establishing this relationship with our fanbase, we've been given a lot of great opportunities because of them.

TIPPP- What song as a group do you pride yourselves the most for writing?

 Real Friends- Personally, I think that the softer songs we do usually stand out more. We have one called Hebron and another called I've Given Up on You that are a lot different than what we normally write. I like that we're able to make songs like that.

TIPPP- In the past year you guys have made a ton of progress as a band, did you ever expect it to get this big so fast?

 Real Friends- The fact that anybody gives a shit about our music in the first place is awesome. None of us saw any of this coming, it's a very humbling experience

TIPPP- Any hints we can expect in the coming year, tours, new music, etc.?

 Real Friends- We just started writing for a full length and we will be announcing a fall tour soon. We also have a UK tour lined up in November with The Wonder Years and Neck Deep. Really excited for that.

TIPPP- What’s the bands favorite thing to do on off days?

 Real Friends- Depending on where we are we'll drive somewhere and meet up with other bands on the tour or we'll get coffee and people watch at a mall.

TIPPP- What's the best and worse show you have ever played?

 Real Friends- One of the best shows we've ever played was at a bowling alley in our area for the release of Put Yourself Back Together, great crowd and a night we definitely will never forget. As for the worst show, I don't even know. We played in Grand Rapids about two years ago at a place called Mixtape. Nobody showed up and I wasn't necessarily on top of my game at that show. Luckily whenever we play in Grand Rapids now it's a great time. I love Michigan.

TIPPP- Favorite place that you guys have visited on tour?

 Real Friends- I love Cambridge and Philly. San Francisco and San Diego are awesome too, same with Michigan.

TIPPP- What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you guys on tour?

 Real Friends- The last time we played in Philly we were throwing dice behind the venue and some random homeless person showed up and asked to get in on the game and ended up winning about three to four games in a row and took all of our money.

TIPPP- What were your musical inspirations when the band first started?

 Real Friends- When the band started we had more of a pop rock influence in the music. We were listening to a lot of bands like You Me and Everyone We Know and Hellogoodbye.

TIPPP- How did all the members come together to start the band?

 Real Friends- We all used to play in other local bands and became friends so we thought we'd get together. Our old drummer quit after our first EP so we had Brian and Eric come play with us.

TIPPP- What are your favorite current bands?

 Real Friends- I've been listening to The Starting Line nonstop, but other than that I'm a huge fan of both Citizen's Youth and TWIABP's Whenever, If Ever. Our friends in Knuckle Puck also just finished recording a new EP that is killer.

TIPPP- What would each of you be doing if you were not in real friends today?

 Real Friends- We would all just be working our old shitty jobs and probably going to school, nothing too crazy.

TIPPP- Do you have any advice for small bands that are trying to “make it”?

 Real Friends- Work hard. Don't expect to make money. If you want something, you will have to make sacrifices for it. Nothing is ever handed to you.

TIPPP- Was it hard getting to the point in your career that you are now?

 Real Friends- I think so. We all worked shit jobs to pay for merch, recording, etc. and spent countless hours in Kyle's basement piecing together each song to make sure we give it our all.

TIPPP- What is your favorite fast food to eat while on the road?

 Real Friends-Taco Bell and Waffle House

TIPPP- What are 5 small local bands that you think should earn more recognition?

       Real Friends- Knuckle Puck, Droughts, Glaciers, She's alive, Ship captain crew