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    Full-color sleeve and black vinyl record of the BILL album by Friendship Commanders! Includes a digital download of the album!

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  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 7 Friendship Commanders releases available on Bandcamp and save 15%.

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  • BILL Vinyl Record + Cover Design T-Shirt
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

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  • BILL Vinyl Record + BILL Necktie
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    One copy of the BILL album by Friendship Commanders on vinyl and a hand cut and sewn cotton necktie made by B. Arson Neckwear. The tie is the same fabric and design that B. wears in the FC videos for "HORRIFY" and "WOMEN TO THE FRONT."

    The BILL necktie is cotton with a silk lining. 59" long (standard) and 2" wide at the bottom. Requests for length changes can be made to: b.arsonneckwear@gmail.com.

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  • BILL CD + BILL Necktie
    Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    One copy of the BILL album by Friendship Commanders on CD and a hand cut and sewn cotton necktie made by B. Arson Neckwear. The tie is the same fabric and design that B. wears in the FC videos for "HORRIFY" and "WOMEN TO THE FRONT."

    The BILL necktie is cotton with a silk lining. 59" long (standard) and 2" wide at the bottom. Requests for length changes can be made to: b.arsonneckwear@gmail.com.

    Includes unlimited streaming of BILL via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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1.
YOUR FEAR IS SHOWING so, the hand comes up from loosened dirt tries to pull me down, I wake up hurt I can’t handle anymore requests to be friendly and wish you the best it was awful and I’m glad you’re dead it’s over! get back to where you lay to rest! you’re the shark in every dark water you’re the clown, the beast, the nightwalker I can’t manage one more episode where I’m sucked into the TV’s glow it was hellish, you’re the worst of ghosts it’s over! get back to all your resting bones! it’s only as bad as I believe it is it’s only as bad as I believe it is it’s only as bad as I believe it is walking in flames I compel you far away from me! I can’t coexist with spirits past my heart knows what lives behind your mask you are everything I feared, at last it’s over! give me peace, it’s all I ask! I can’t coexist with spirits past my heart knows what lives behind your mask you are everything I feared, at last it’s over! give me peace, it’s all I ask!
2.
Horrify 02:13 video
HORRIFY I’ll show you orphans sleeping on pavement I’ll show you hopeless human arrangements I’ll show you lands with no leaders - but laws against reform still, I’m a monster, or so you have stated are you horrified? tell me again are you horrified? tell me all about the different lie you’re living with this time one epidemic gave birth unto another the child who struggled to thrive became a mother then all the factors collide to rob the childhood from the child still, you insist that I’m the enemy, the other give me a rag to wash the makeup off my face take off my costume, let me stand here in my place I’m just a person in need of basic decency and grace still, you reject me! you say I’m not the same are you horrified? tell me again are you horrified? tell me all about the different life you’re living in this time and this: are you are horrified? if I were dying, you could love me but I’m living, so you can’t if I were dying, you could love me but I’m living, so you can’t if I were dying, you could love me but I’m living, so you can’t if I were dying, you could love me but you can’t are you horrified? tell me again are you horrified? tell me all about the different ways you’re winning at this life and this: are you horrified? tell me again are you horrified?
3.
WOMEN TO THE FRONT it’s on my mind that I rarely get spoken to communication is what I was made to do but I want to be someone on your side want to stand with you, eye to eye I call for the heads now women to the front, step up! I call for the hearts now women to the front, step up why’s it so easy to separate from our kind? the strength in numbers would benefit all our lives and you want to be someone who is heard I want you to get what you deserve I call for the heads now women to the front, step up! I call for the hearts now women to the front, step up stand with me, beside me I’m waiting, I’m waiting stand with me, beside me I’m waiting, I’m waiting! I call for the heads now women to the front, step up! I call for the hearts now women to the front, step up
4.
SAW AND HEARD I’ve had cause to look back on the ins and outs of us they tell me not to stare, they tell me not stare I’ve held all the guilt for who we were right in my gut maybe that’s not fair, maybe that’s not fair tapes can still rewind I keep them in my mind saw and heard you say you’re not the same as everyone saw and heard the things you did while we were “having fun” it’s a brand new day I think I’ll be okay your new presentation makes you look so very well I want to wish it so, I want to wish it so but I’m not yet at that place, I’m sorting through the hell so I can let it go, so I can let it go these tapes preserved just fine I played them all last night saw and heard you say you’re not the same as everyone saw and heard the things you did while we were “having fun” it’s a brand new day I think I’ll be okay all those smiles no accountability! years and miles where’s the accountability? HEY! saw and heard you say you’re not the same as everyone saw and heard the things you did while we were “having fun” it’s a brand new day I think I’ll be okay I’m sending this your way
5.
Outlive You 02:25
OUTLIVE YOU now you’re walking down your street your best friend lives around the corner from your place and I’m always so far away sometimes I think I’m spared your grizzly day to day but I hear it in your voice and I see it in your face I don’t wanna know but I wanna know yeah, I forgive you but I don’t wanna outlive you I don’t wanna outlive you it’s just for today just for today just for today now you take your medicine the one that half this fucking nation is prescribed and I’m supposed to feel alright about the fact that you’re not just about to die but I think of you back then I can make myself insane when I wonder how - I wonder when I don’t wanna know but I wanna know yeah, I forgive you but I don’t wanna outlive you I don’t wanna outlive you man, please be okay please be okay please be okay time used to be on our side now I think it only helps us lie I don’t wanna know I don’t wanna know hey, I don’t wanna know but I wanna know yeah, I forgive you but I don’t wanna outlive you I don’t wanna outlive you please be okay! and I don’t wanna know but I wanna know yeah, I forgive you but I don’t wanna outlive you I don’t wanna outlive you it’s just for today just for today just for today
6.
IN THE AFTERTHOUGHTS if there’s any way out of this . . . I don’t know how these things work I’m just tired I see fire; I’m already burned it comes in waves I see you and I hope for a better past waves I see me, still the hopeful iconoclast icy cold in the afterthoughts it’s icy cold in the afterthoughts if you’d ever been dropped like this you’d be suffering all your days no, I’m fine I see water; I’ll be okay it comes in waves I see you and I hate who I used to be waves I still live in this body; yeah, I’m still me! icy cold in the afterthoughts it’s icy cold in the afterthoughts it comes in waves! it comes in waves I see you and lose sight of who I’ve become waves I see me and remember where guts come from icy cold in the afterthoughts it’s icy cold in the afterthoughts
7.
Charade 02:36
CHARADE are you receiving? they’re calling out your name got them believing? go sell your pious claim tell me all about the right way (anyway) tell me all about deceiving, deceiving if I stand here, grounded I don’t exist to you you look confounded go sell your stolen truth tell me all about the smiling (smile away) tell me all about deceiving, deceiving did I ever know you? I don’t think that I did your face looks familiar, but nothing else here fits maybe we connected maybe you’re all show your face looks familiar, like someone I used to know return to sender message received, I guess I’ll see you ‘round some I’ll pass on being blessed tell me all about my purpose (fade away) tell me all about deceiving, deceiving did I ever know you? I don’t think that I did your face looks familiar, but nothing else here fits maybe we connected maybe you’re all show your face looks familiar, like someone I used to know did I ever know you? I don’t think that I did
8.
Eulogy Envy 02:11
EULOGY ENVY I hate submitting to befitting bouts of grief I hate admitting that our friendship met defeat I saw a eulogy for someone and it said: “Everyone liked him, he was everybody’s friend” so, I’m cleaning it up I’m cleaning it up but even if I started now the story’d be: I’m flawed, and how yeah, even if I got it right . . . when I see palm trees lined against a purple sky I feel as though I might be more than getting by something about the coastal air helps me forget I’m still the living who’s in envy of the dead so, I’m tying it up I’m cleaning it up but even if I started now the story’d be: it all fell down yeah, even if I got it right . . . saw we know all the same folks again saw the world didn’t explode or end saw the textbook tale you’re living in saw the traces of my former skin yeah, even if I started now the story’d be: I’m still the clown yeah, even if I got it right you’d still remember the last time I’ll always be the lost that’s the price my freedom cost
9.
WHAT YOU RAVAGE shots fired, but who will you cling to? I’m tired, but still my wall’s painted blue you get what you get in this lifetime we live without reservation we give, but still expectation wins you get what you get, don’t you waste my time what you ravage, you rake in what you ravage, you rake in what you ravage, you rake in what you ravage, you rake in what you ravage, you rake in there’s gotta be something worth living for the only way out of this mess is to die, they say but I’m not giving up yet though, I will let you walk away tonight we tried, and how can they blame us? but we fight and nothing remains of love you get what you get when you risk it all what you ravage, you rake in what you ravage, you rake in what you ravage, you rake in what you ravage, you rake in what you ravage, you rake in there’s gotta be something worth living for it’s goodnight to the old hometown it’s goodnight to the kids and clowns it’s goodnight to the way it was it’s goodnight and goodbye to us what you ravage, you rake in what you ravage, you rake in what you ravage, you rake in what you ravage, you rake in what you ravage, you rake in there’s gotta be something worth living for there’s gotta be something worth living for
10.
The Choice 02:11
THE CHOICE I almost let my judgment of your ways inform how I respond, how I behave but, who am I to accept the role of enemy? I choose to be kind; I can afford to offer empathy I know I say some things you hate to hear I know I give new voices to your fears but can you be a friend? can you be friend? if you feel minimized, then show your strength if you under-heard, then voice your say but so can I be a person with a point of view who I am is not about you being less of you I know I wear my feelings on my sleeve I know I’m bold about what I believe but can you be a friend? can you be a friend? in certain governments, the house can divide based on the issues; not ego, not pride in certain faiths, there are parallel lines outlining dogma; not gossip, not sides in all our families, we learned to survive we did our best with what we knew at the time this isn’t family, nor law, nor divine this is a friendship; can you be mine? I know I say some thing you hate to hear! I know I give new voices to your fears but can you be a friend? can you be a friend? can you be my friend? can you be a friend? can you be a friend?
11.
RESOLUTION OF THE WANTS I have not descended here, I have not arrived because I once was not as clear, because I was a child I wanted you to know me, wanted you to show me but you won’t; you don’t sometimes the truth can’t be unknown I know from history that I’ll get what I need not what what I wanted when this all started I know it’s up to me to take what I believe and mend the parted, broken-hearted you see, it wasn’t about you it was about the bigger picture, the whole view fearful bigots shoot their guns at all who care to love privileged abusers wear their masks and flash their shiny gums and I wanted you to show up, wanted you to grow up but you don’t; you won’t and here’s the truth’s own bloody show I know from history that I’ll get what I need not what what I wanted when this all started I know it’s up to me to take what I believe and mend the parted, broken-hearted you see, it wasn’t about you it was about the bigger picture, the whole view maybe it’s a right of age maybe it’s a growing stage maybe it’s a brand new page maybe it’s as yet unwritten, stolen - truthage! I know from history that I’ll get what I need not what what I wanted when this all started I know it’s up to me to take what I believe and mend the parted, broken-hearted you see, it wasn’t about you it was about the bigger picture, the whole view and here’s the truth I’ve come to know this is the day I let you go
12.
Of The We 02:25
OF THE WE spare me the compliment for somebody else, you malcontent I don’t care what you meant you’re already behind me, message sent if you’re for one of us, you’re for none of us this is different; can’t you see? if you call for us, call for all of us this is the nature of the we indivisible, not for you to cleave folks like you and your narratives bask in your limitations, the gift that gives I don’t care what your pedigree is you’re already outside now, it is what it is if you’re for one of us, you’re for none of us this is different; can’t you see? if you call for us, call for all of us this is the nature of the we indivisible, not for you to cleave all the insightful flim and flam is just you trying to maintain the upper hand but there is no up here, there is no down just peers and just equals, sorry you can’t hang out if you’re for one of us, you’re for none of us this is different; can’t you see? if you call for us, call for all of us this is the nature of the we indivisible, not for you to cleave be for all of us call for all of us
13.
DESPERATELY SEEKING saints need not apply we are all flawed please don’t deny shame has no place here some have atoned we all live with fear as the horizon of heroes fills up with holes I am reminded to only speak of what I know if you have something to offer, something to show I’m listening, I’m looking, I see you we come and we go care about yourself don’t worry about me care about someone else stand for what you believe fuck what they say it’s all that we leave as the sun rises on sadnesses all of us face I am encourage by others; we live, we embrace if you have something to tell me, I want to know I’m listening, I’m looking, I hear you we come and we go serve someone other than you

credits

released October 5, 2018

TTS057

Produced by Steve Albini and Friendship Commanders
Recorded by Steve Albini at Electrical Audio, Chicago IL
Mixed by Jerry Roe at Fort Knockout, Nashville TN
Mastered by Matthew Barnhart at Chicago Mastering Service, Chicago IL

All songs by B. Arson
(Buick Audra Music / BMI)

B. Arson - guitar and vocals
Jerry Roe - drums, bass, and harmony vocals

Front cover photo by Zach Barocas
Back cover photo by Iris Robert
Graphic design and layout by Buick Audra and Ric Simenson

FC would like to thank Steve Albini, Matthew Barnhart, Zach Barocas, Iris Robert, Ric Simenson, Mark Vieira, Dave Johnson, John Capito, Electrical Audio, Chicago Mastering Service, Chicago Diner, fluffy coffee, and Rocky y Tommy.

Jerry Roe would like to thank Johnny Craviotto and Craviotto Drums, Fork’s Drum Closet, Chris Brewer, Joe Testa, Nathaniel Mela, and Scott Garrison.

B. Arson would like to thank Tom Spaulding and D’Addario, MESA, the family, the women, and Lois.

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Friendship Commanders Nashville, Tennessee

Melodic heavy music from Nashville TN. The new album, MASS, is a concept record about memory, language, and the State of Massachusetts. The album was co-produced, engineered, and mixed by Kurt Ballou at his Salem, MA studio, GodCity. It was released on 9/29/23: order now!

Buick Audra // Guitar and vocals
Jerry Roe // Drums and harmony vocals
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