Her Next Friend: Press

But where's the local DC Metro Area angle, Uncle Terrible? Goddamn, but you are some picky bastards. How about this twangy guitar version by Her Next Friend, a Virginia trio? Oh, and in case you were wondering, in British law "next friend" is the phrase used for a person who represents in an action another person who is under disability or unable to maintain a suit on their own behalf. It's that kind of fucked-uppedness that endears a band to my heart before i listen to the first note. Well done, kids.

Seven Nation Army (cover)-Her Next Friend

So the end of another What's Wrong With The Mainstream monthly playlist and what a corker to end it. I thought there was no way a band could do this song any justice but somehow Her Next Friend have managed to do that. I've been keeping my fingers crossed all month that the CD would arrive in time for me to share this track with you. Thanks to the nameless person (as in they didn't put their name on their emails) at Antipoison Records who got in touch and managed to get me this in time.

Last month the cover got dropped from the playlist as I had too many tracks, well that certainly wouldn't have happened if this song had been available.

Oh and wait there's more! Next month I will have something special for you from Her Next Friend to celebrate 3WTM's birthday. Until then check out their web site where you can listen to more of their tracks www.hernextfriend.com/music.html. Don't forget to check out the rest of this month's playlist if you've come from Hype Machine...

So I've been bad lately with the "We Got You Covered" segments. I try to do them every Saturday, but that hasn't exactly been happening. So, as a treat there's a whole lot of covers in this post of an amazing song: The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army!"

There's no question about it, nothing can beat "The Original," but there are a lot of good covers out there, but here are a couple that I really like:

"Seven Nation Army" by Alice Russell (HIGHLY Recommended)
"Seven Nation Army" by Hard-Fi
"Seven Nation Army (live)" by The Flaming Lips
"Seven Nation Army" by Oak Ridge Boys
"Seven Nation Army" by Her Next Friend

I also really love this cover that Kelly Clarkson did. Girl got soul!

Her Next Friend, the Virginia power trio band best known for its dedicated stance against the number pi, has released its next EP - New #2.

To the ear of this reviewer, the band is gressing. There are hints of early Who, some Lou Reed, and a bit of Nirvana lingering around on these tracks, but there is also something new emerging!?! Will it grow, or will it be aborted? What will it be when it matures? Why do they hate circles?

‘New #2’ proves to be a mix of several genres
Northern Virginia’s power trio known as Her Next Friend plays garage band punk with a rock n’ roll feel

Despite slightly predictable melodies and familiar vocals, Her Next Friend succeeds in creating a quirky, offbeat album, New #2.

Based in Northern Virginia, Her Next Friend describes itself as “Classic American Garage Alternative Rock” — naturally. Their second record includes six original songs and a cover of the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army,” all of which have an upbeat, almost punk-rock feel.

The second track on the album, “Reeling For Me,” sounds vaguely like Neal, the rockstar character in “Uptown Girls” who sings “Egyptian Cotton.” In fact, the entire album reeks of past and present bands — and their lead singers. At times, you can hear the voice of Adam Duritz from the Counting Crows, and in “Mexican Poker,” the lead singer throws in an effected British accent.

In addition to crafting their odd sound, the guys of the band — three full-time members, to be exact — don’t take themselves too seriously. Their Web site, for example, details the exact meaning of the band name. In case you’re curious, it is a British term used for a person who actively represents someone who is disabled or unable to represent himself (or herself) in a suit against him. The band continues with more definitions and eventually gets into introductions of each member. Actually, almost every member — Jon Burton, on guitar and vocals, “doesn’t want anyone to know anything else about him” except his influences, which includes William Shatner.

Her Next Friend’s music is infectious, if not slightly erratic. The album’s twists and turns make the sound of each song different and entertaining. Although, if you don’t want to “play it loud,” as the message on the coverlet from Antipoison Records Co-founder Jon Paulette suggests, it makes a great CD for background music.

Her Next Friend will be performing at Main Street Bar & Grill within the next few weeks, so keep your ears peeled.

Her Next Friend - New #2 EP (Antipoison)
This one’s easy. A band from Virginia puts out an EP. I listen to it, decide early on that it falls securely in the “good-but-not-great” category, link to a few mp3s and let the reader decide for himself.
But I also feel it necessary to mention, Her Next Friend draws from a lot of very different influences, which makes for an interesting listen.
There’s some hard rock/alternative, a little punk, some Lou Reed/Tom Waits influenced talk-singing, and a bluesy, acoustic cover of the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army.”
So, download a couple songs, see what you think, and check out Her Next Friend’s website for more info.

Coming at me from my backyard in Northern Virginia, Her Next Friend percolate indie rock with pop-punk noodlings and garage rock raunchiness. They cover the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” and do it justice. There’s certainly elements of alternative rock that makes us all miss the ‘90’s and become all nostalgic and whatnot. Good tunes that would rock any small pub nicely.
- J-Sin

Her Next Friend - New #2

I don't really have much to say about this band, they don't suck exactly, but they're not that brilliant either: they're just a bit boring really. Think the mildy depressed Dandy Warhols. Sort of. They do have a very good acoustic folk version of 7 Nation Army, which is nice. His voice covers the whole vocal spectrum from an even more depressed Morrisey to a slightly happier Morrisey. That's pretty much it.

4/10

"New #2"

2006 Antipoison Records
Score: 4 (of 10)


New #2 is latest release by the northern Virginia rock band Her Next Friend. The EP, which includes six original songs as well as a cover of The White Stripe’s “Seven Nation Army,” is the follow-up to their self-titled debut EP


The music that Her Next Friend plays is a jangly-guitared alterna-garage rock. The songs are fairly well played, and “Reeling For Me” has a decent melody, but for the most part they are simple, a bit repetitive and not very interesting.


The vocals are fairly poorly performed, with a flat, dull sound that tries a bit to be punk, but doesn’t quite make it. The lyrics are incredibly simple and not very well written, such as on “Hustling Guy,” which features lines like “Roomed alone with a window of hope/ His crib was dope/ Surrounded by spies” and “It was all she wrote/ And he shaved off his goat.”


Overall: An EP that sounds like neighborhood bar band stuff.

New #2
Her Next Friend
STANDOUT TRACK: No. 3, “Hustling Guy,” a song built around a single Piedmont blues guitar riff and the occasional rock bridge. Over this spare foundation, vocalist/guitarist John Burton describes a man on the make: “He lives on a yacht/Being someone he’s not/And cursing his lot/Roomed alone with a window of hope/His crib was dope.”
MUSICAL MOTIVATION: Burton moved to Los Angeles in 1998 hoping to form a band and get a record deal, but the grind of making industry connections—and making rent—eventually crushed his dreams. After three years of the hustle, he called it quits, shipping two guitars and a banjo to his home in Fauquier County.
Burton took breaks between packing boxes to scrawl sarcastic couplets in his notebook about the guys who do make it in the industry: the networkers, the smooth talkers. Though many people inspired the song, one former bandmate particularly fit the mold. “He was really talented, but music didn’t mean anything to him. It was just a disposable commodity,” says Burton, 37. “He did have a nice pad.”
THE LAW WON Burton now works as a government tax attorney, a job that gives him plenty of time for music. “I learned I personally was better off doing something on my own terms than working for someone at a record company,” he says. However, the songwriter sometimes hides his white-collar status: “I’ve gotten in the habit of not mentioning that to other musicians and people that I talk about music with.” Burton’s hustling bandmate never made it in the industry, either. He now sells software to insurance companies, says Burton.

Her Next Friend – “Her Next Friend”
By Marcus Pan
All of this electro this and techno that and who knows what's being created by a person and what is being sampled and tracked by some inhuman computer somewhere with an 8 year old pushing the buttons on a track mixer, hmm? Well...here's a treat for those of you that long for the good old fashioned days. Solid, guitar rock with introspective lyrics and a bit of stoner style but not so much that you need to be tripping to like it. It's barbecue season here in Joisey, kiddies – it's time to blast the riffs!

Enter Her Next Friend from norther Virginia. Cranking up the blues, garaging the punk and simply smacking the modern mainstream with fervor, the 8 year old electro kiddies can't touch good old fashioned blues laced rock 'n roll baby. Lead by John Whitfield Burton, previously a U.S. Army officer (thanks man!), this five song self-titled EP is energy filled and raw.

With the Reed-like vocals of Cats in the Garage to the baritone croonings of Days Worth Living For, Burton may not be the best singer I've ever heard but he doesn't have to be. His guitar speaks for him well enough with fast paced, catchy riffs perfect for air guitaring to monster solos in virtually every track. Power ballad Handwritten Message infuses shades of Bruce Springstein without the beer-drinking glory days cliches.

I really dig Her Next Friend. It's a good summer soundtrack arriving just in time. Pure rock 'n roll – none of the additives. I'd like to see more of his work. I'd also like to hear him and, say, Mike Comfort(1) get together. They'll remind the whole world what rock 'n roll is about if that were to happen.

If your musical taste consist of good old rock & roll music with some classic punk rock roots, then this group is for you. This cd is raw & original and is saturated with enough guitar rhythm and lyrical melody to satisfy any Neil Young or Sex Pistols fan anywhere. A true garage rock band destined for something great. Their sound may not be for everybody though, especially those who consider themselves to be the "elite hipsters" on emo/indie bands, who often cannot distinguish between musical talent and the sound of their own voice. So, if your looking for that one cd to really jam out to and sing along with, you found it. Long live rock and roll !!!

I've got to say that Rain Days is now one of my all time favourite songs. This entire disk is fantastic. Her Next Friend is its own genre of music!

HER NEXT FRIEND
Her Next Friend
Antipoison
John Whitfield Burton wrote all five songs and sings and plays guitar. He is accompanied by Joe Parsons on drums and background vocals, Kevin Neimond on bass guitar, and Shannon on backing vocals on the final track. The album was recorded at Actiondale Studios in Annandale, Virginia, but sans liner notes I would’ve thought this was a British band. It’s very poppy and quite well accomplished.

With a list of influences as diverse as Captain Beefheart and Eric Avery, Virginia based power trio Her Next Friend dodges rock stereotypes like a cat burglar dodges police. And since the band couldn’t quite settle on one particular style of music the band just decided to cram it all in their debut five song EP.

At times sounding like the Velvets gone power pop or The Pastels on speed Her Next Friend is quirky enough to keep things moving along without getting stuck in a puddle of dull. The band’s songs are catchy and have enough, "Woo hoo’s," melodies, and harmonies to supply the Beach Boys.

In addition to that, John Burton’s deep baritone vocals are endearing while darkly intriguing. At times they sound a little out of tune which lends itself to the Pastels comparison and whether intentional or not, they’re kind of cool like that.

The five songs on Her Next Friend are good rockers in all sorts of transitional phases. You name it they’ve got it covered. ”Cat’s in the Garage,” is a classic power pop that’s as sticky and sweet as molasses, "Isolde," is a bluesy distorted rocker that has elements of the VU written all over it. “Days Worth Living For,” could really almost be a rocked out Pastels song. It sounds slightly out of tune yet it is honest enough and catchy enough to be a cool pop tune. “Rain Days,” is a darkly intriguing, deeply sung tune, about what seems to be a serial killer. It’s perfect for the Velvet Undeground touched blues ballad. Really the only letdown on the EP is “Handwritten Message.” It gets bogged down in the stereotypical lyrical clichés and loses steam about half way in.

Her Next Friend is an EP chock full of pop, rock, blues, chills, thrills, baritone voices, harmonies, and even a bit of the kitchen sink. It’s an entertaining and dark pop record that for a first effort holds a lot of promise. Here’s hoping that a full length is in the works.

This is a raw, edgy and throughly enjoyable CD. Burton's lyrics are soulful and inspring. I highly recommend that you buy this CD.

Hey dudes wuz up! I got one of these at the rehearsal space and i absolutely love it! great work! true rock'n'roll CATS IN THE GARAGE IS MY FAVORITE SONG! PEACE!

Hard Rock

VA- 5 track EP- rate: 4/8

This band reminds me of acdc, except angus swapped spots with eddie from van halen and the singer merged with danzig. haha. That sums it up pretty good. Production yet again, is awsome. But this generation of hard rock has come and passed. The older, bar going crowd would love them. Her next friend also has a country feel to their songs, lyrics are great, completely unexpected, borderline demented, but not completely there. I would never buy the album though, and its still not metal, but its tolerable.

Sounds like: Unobtrusive background music for a laid-back date.
B-

The debut of northern Virginian John Whitfield Burton's new rock band Her Next Friend is fun, in a non-threatening kind of way. The self-titled EP's five tracks sound like they'd go great with a date and a beer when the band plays Georgetown's Grog and Tankard on May 7, but the CD itself is nothing extraordinary. It's the kind of music you enjoy while it's coming out of the speakers, but largely forget about once it stops.

Although the album as a whole is a bit boring, none of the songs are terrible, and two are actually pretty decent. High-energy opener "Cats in the Garage" is a cross between British and American mid-'90s sensibilities, sounding like Graham Coxon jamming with Semisonic. The last song, "Rain Days," is the most interesting of the set: a haunting four and half minute journey of finger-picked acoustic and electric solos.

Although it's difficult to recommend buying the CD, one really can't go wrong checking out Her Next Friend live this May. The band probably isn't going to blow you away, but they could make you smile.

Northern Virginia modern rock band, Her Next Best Friend, will not befriend any one’s music collection. The band offers nothing new in an industry that is constantly looking for cutting-edge artists.
The band’s sound has a hint of classic folk, euro rock with bluesy and pop melodies similar to the Spin Doctors and Gin Blossoms. Sadly, this is not the 1990s and there is a reason why those groups are no longer popular.
At best, the album is excessive college rock. At worst, it is unfinished and amateurish. The songs on the album try to be raw and meaningful, the hallmark of indie music, but the end product is a combination of hollowed guitar, out-of-tune vocals and uninspired lyrics. In “Days Worth Living For” lead singer and songwriter John Whitfield Burton sings, “Horoscopes suggest that she’s a Taurus/Certified inside as a freakasaurus.”
Sometimes, for example in “Handwritten Message” and “Days Worth Living For,” Burton was off key. While Burton and bassist Kevin Neimond were skilled and powerful, the guitar solos in “Rain Days” and “Cats in the Garage” were out of place and a bit too long.
At times, it seemed as though Burton was trying to showcase his skills instead of adding to the quality of the record. By far, the best track was “Rain Days.” It had a sophisticated sound the other tracks lacked but fell short of being a hit.
Lacking a professional sound, Her Next Best Friend is at best a few steps above a sensitive garage band. Hopefully Her Next Friend will have better luck next time.