‘Spring
Sting’
Holiday Friends usher in
the season with new EP
M
Most bands begin recording themselves
at home before graduating to proper stu-
dios. Holiday Friends did the opposite.
After the release of 2014’s “Major Mag-
ic,” the upbeat, unabashedly poppy Astoria
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a string of singles, and Holiday Friends de-
camped to a studio in Portland.
“We got a really good sounding record-
ing and just sat on it forever,” says guitar-
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crazy.”
Fagerland started recording on his laptop
Submitted photo
and phone. Despite the pin-hole-sized mi- Astoria indie band Holiday Friends will perform at the Astoria Armory on Thursday, March 31 in honor of their sophomore EP, “SpringSting,” which was released March 16.
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the results — enough to send them to Kevin WKRVHFRYHUV%UXFH6SULQJVWHHQ¶V³7RXJK process, Holiday Friends are anxious to get
5RELQVRQ D 3RUWODQGEDVHG PXVLFLDQ ZKR er Than The Rest.” Also included along- onstage.
produced and mixed “Major Magic.”
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“I just feel like it’s been such a long, ar-
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DQG DGGHG KLV HQJLQHHULQJ ÀRXULVKHV ³+H HDFK WZLQNOLQJ VSDFLRXV EULJKW DQG VRDU just starting to feel more natural. It’s easier
PL[HG LW DQG LW ZDV OLNH QLJKW DQG GD\´ ing, glide smoothly into Holiday Friends’ to feel like a part of our lives.”
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“I feel like there’s a point, regardless of
When the band concurred, Holiday Friends’
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DSSURDFKVKLIWHGDFFRUGLQJO\7KH\ZRXOG a 17-date, West Coast tour that includes ,¶P FRQ¿GHQW LQ VLQJOH VKRZV EHLQJ VXF
record themselves.
multiple appearances at cessful,” says Jon.
In an Astoria hilltop
the Treefort Music Fest
But it’s about more than generating fans.
basement they amassed
in Boise, Idaho. Holiday
“It just sounds like fun,” says Jon. “I’m
more professional equip-
)ULHQGV ZLOO SOD\ WKH $V never going to convince myself to spend
ment and techniques. The
toria Armory on March WKUHHRUIRXUZHHNVGULYLQJDURXQGWKHVWDWHV
Submitted photo
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31. It’s a date they have and stopping at clubs if I’m not in a band.”
In concert
brother Jon Fagerland
circled.
Once they return, it’s back to the base- Holiday Friends’ sophomore EP “SpringSting” is an album full of
‘80s pop-rock throwback sounds.
— the band’s jack-of-
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with Los Angeles indie-pop band
all-trades utility player.
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There, Holiday Friends
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8 p.m. Thursday, March 31
recored the majority of the
friends are here ... It feels
Astoria Armory
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like the majority of our
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fans are in Portland. But
1636 Exchange St., Astoria
ery bit as crisp, sparkling
this is our home.”
21+ after 10 p.m.
and robust as the profes-
“There is an incredible
holidayfriendsmusic.com
sionally recorded “Major
sense of community in this
Magic.”
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other places,” says bassist
(3ZDVDGLUHFWUHVXOWRIDQREVHVVLRQZLWK Zack O’Connor.
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songs that sound like the ’80s, and that’s EHDIDQDIULHQG´6FRWWDGGV
VISUAL ARTS • LITERATURE • THEATER • MUSIC & MORE
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A year-and-half since releasing “Major
7KH³6SULQJ6WLQJ´WLWOHSOD\VRQRQHRI Magic” and reinventing their recording
Story by ANDREW TONRY
Hear Holiday
Friends
the arts
March 24, 2016 | coastweekend.com | 9