Acquaintances (Chicago — USA) announces new album to be released via File 13 on May 31 2019. Brooklyn Vegan to premiere the first single.

Acquaintances are finally back with their second album, 8 1⁄2 Lives, and right in time for File 13 Records’ 30th anniversary as the label’s 95th release.

Recorded in a practice space and a basement by Justin Sinkovich, then mastered by John Golden, this second album builds on the fluidity of five dudes who don’t necessarily occupy the same space all that often, and have made a lot of records you may have heard. They pieced their schedules and ideas together via Chicago, Philadelphia, and Portland, and made a pretty sick sounding noise rock record over the course of a year with lot of travel and shipping recording gear back and forth.

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Acquaintances was originally formed in 2012 with Chris Wilson (Ted Leo + Pharmacists, Titus Andronicus, Hammered Hulls, Open City, Hound) passing through on tour, and meeting up with longtime friend Justin Sinkovich (The Poison Arrows, Atombombpocketknife, Thumbnail) in Chicago. They agreed to start a band despite Chris living in Philly. They recruited local Chicagoans Jered Gummere (The Ponys, Bare Mutants, Richard Vain) and Steve Schmidt (Thumbnail, Chino Horde) to write songs, sing, and play guitar along with Justin doing the same. Three guys writing weird songs with Chris on drums… so yeah, they naturally recruited Patrick Morris (Don Caballero) who plays with Justin in The Poison Arrows,to play bass with Acquaintances as well.The first self-titled album was recorded by Justin in his basement, and was released in 2013. It was featured in Rolling Stone, Spinand other notable publications, but things came up in life, and they never played a show. BTW, the band name came while recording that first record, labeling files of songs in progress as “Acquaintances Track 01 No Vocals” etc. to share online while they were all over the place constructing the album.

Last year Justin and Jered wrote twelve songs and recorded them with Chris and Patrick for this new album. Steve had moved to Portland at this point, so they shipped recording gear out to him and he put his distinctive guitar sound on a majority of the album. This time around, Adam Reach (The Poison Arrows, Pink Avalanche) filled in on drums for some rehearsal and writing sessions, and played some percussion and keyboards here and there on the record.

8 1⁄2 Lives lives up to its title by exploring mortality, and where to go from here amidst increasingly complex existences. Acquaintances are confirming shows this time around, to figure it out face-to-face with each other, and with you.

Thanks to Julien Fernandez