Almost Famous Friends

Almost Famous Friends are the best thing to come out of Texas since Willie Nelson’s picnic. Throwing back to mid ’00s pop punk/emo, the band work overtime in proving themselves to fans nostalgic for the good old days, and the hard to please fans of the Emo Revival.

The eight track epic, I’m Not Who I Want To Be, starts off with “All I Can Do”,a melodic masterpiece that sets the tone for the rest of the record, as the songs get progressively darker and more intricate (“Better Off.”, “Without You”, “Speechless”). The second track, “What I Lost” is a pop punk rager, and along with “Say It Twice” make up the bright spots in the album. There’s female accompaniment on “Keep Myself”, bringing a layer of softness that the album was lacking previously. The closer, “Passing Days”, brings the melancholy march to halt, a march that proves that Almost Famous Friends are going to be more than almost famous.

There’s a lot of bands in Texas, even without SXSW, but this is the one to look out for– especially if you liked Hawthorne Heights and Silverstein back in the day and want to listen to a more mature, updated version of that angst. (Amber Bettis) - New Noise Magazine

While most believe that “emo” is just a phase, I think it’s a lifestyle. While some of the trends may come and go (here’s looking at you scene hair), the vibes and meaning behind emotional alternative music are something that I feel like all people can relate to at multiple points in their lives, not just your awkward middle school days. When I first listened to Almost Famous Friends, they struck a chord in me that I hadn’t felt in a while, and that in itself is so refreshing. There’s just something so cathartic about listening to their music. With the release of “I’m Not Who I Want to Be” I sat down with Vocalist/Guitarist Tristan to talk about the resurgence of “emo,” as well as learn more about the inner workings of the new EP. - The LP Collective

Hailing from Austin, TX the foursome of Almost Famous Friends is set to conquer the pop-rock world.

If you’re into the old school era of the genre, this band needs to go on your music to-do list. Following the Tides Begin to Turn EP from last year, a full-length debut album I’m Not Who I Want to Be was released last month. The record gives an insight into the band’s lives.

As frontman Tristan Wilson says: “I’m Not Who I Want To Be” is a journey through loss and recovery that we hope our fans can identify with on a personal level. It’s about relationships and how we react to change and transitions in our lives. Everyone experiences loss throughout their life: family, friends, jobs, lovers, innocence. As an emotionally fueled group of artists, we want to tell stories that relate how people process that grief, denial, anger, and hope and eventually move forward. Many of our fans talk to us about how when they feel sadness it helps to know someone else has shared that experience and survived. This album is our gift to them.”

And what a nice gift it is! It’s quite the experience to know you’re not alone no matter how bad you think your situation is. This comforting feeling is what brings music in general to the next level. - Daily Discovery