Raucous be thy name… The Buddies bring a fiery brand of Rock N’ Roll kindred to the Punk sound with a heaping allowance of Rockabilly driven down the middle. What sonically appears, are the shake-me-sugar-squeeze of theStray Cats and the rich-realist wrangle of The Pogues. The listener is enshrouded in a good-time-roll that makes this writer want to peal these pudgy Irish fingers from the keys and place them firmly on a pint of Guinness. With a fervent elasticity the band’s debut LP, “F*** The Buddies”, abounds from one’s stereo with a jolt so invigorating, even a stick in the mud would get down. Even when the lyrics are uneasy, or the narrator seems dispossessed… Coley Kennedy’s vocal resoluteness combined with the bands ebullient temperament make for a comforting tone. The Buddies, utilizing their pop sensibility and chops to back it up, create an atmosphere that Rock bands long for. The band’s front man, Coley Kennedy, was kind enough to answer a few questions about their new LP,big city living, and Whiskey.
DO312 -Why did you change your name from Candy Apple & the Buddies to The Buddies? What is the origin of the name?
Coley Kennedy of The Buddies - Candy Apple was a name we were throwing around one night, because one of us (I think Justin [Collins, guitar]) was drinking a “candy apple” martini. He then became known as our candy apple buddy. Then, somehow the band became Candy Apple & The Buddies. After a while, we kind of got sick of having people ask us why we were called Candy Apple & The Buddies. Also, we, and our fans have always referred to the band simply as “The Buddies.” It just seemed to make more sense. Not that The Buddies is any less of a terrible name.
DO312 – What are the major differences and similarities between the scenes in Jackson/Nashville versus Chicago?
CKTB -Jackson is a very small town. It’s a nice town, and it’s where The Mouse [bassist Jeremy Barrett], guitarist Pete Javier and I grew up. But, there is not much of a live music scene there. So, the three of us are here, in The Windy City. Chicago is much bigger than Nashville (home to Justin, drummer Kim Collins and guitarist Scott Collins). Nashville, as everyone knows, is the “Music City,” and there are a lot of talented musicians there. There are also some great venues in Nashville, particularly East Nashville. I do, however, feel there is more of an indie music scene in Chicago, and people are more likely to come see a show in Chicago, even if they are unfamiliar with the bands on the bill.
DO312 -And can you talk a bit about your make-up? You are based here and Nashville?
CKTB – Yeah, as I said, Pete, The Mouse and I live in Chicago. We played together for many years in Welcome To Ashley. Justin, Kim and Scott are in Nashville. Their previous band, Pale Blue Dot, used to share bills in Chicago and Nashville with Welcome To Ashley. A few years ago we decided to join forces. Now we’re one big “happy” family. Kim drums, sings and plays the accordion. Justin sings and plays the guitar. Scott sings and plays the guitar and a banjo. Pete plays guitar. Jeremy (aka “The Mouse”) plays the bass guitar. I sing the songs.
DO312 -Your sound is distinctly front-porch-punk-stomp-alt-folk… At times it goes from Stray Cats jangles to Hold Steady rhythms to hints of Flogging Molly… Who are your influences and how is their music relevant in the creation of your songs?
CKTB -“Garbage-rock!” (As Justin once referred to our sound). The Mouse and I love old rockabilly music. We are also really into bands like The Smiths, Echo and The Bunny Men,and Jesus & Mary Chain (as is Pete). I think the front-porch/alt-folk/’60s/grunge-ier sounds The Buddies make are the result of Justin, Scott and Kim. The six of us all place a lot of importance on a really strong melody. We all share adoration for bands such as The Clash, The Faces, The Replacements, The Pogues, and The Stones. Throw all of our influences in a trash can, shake it up and dump it out … voila! The Buddies!
DO312 – How do you translate an ear-full of influence into a heart-filled song? Example?
CKTB – We have a wide range of influences. And for that reason, I think we create a vibe and a sound that belongs only to The Buddies. I fancy myself a good songwriter, but I’m a terrible musician. I write a lot of The Buddies songs on a mandolin, which I play poorly. When I bring a song to the table (many times a tape sent by mail), it’s my words and melody, sung over a strummed mandolin. I never have the slightest idea what the hell is gonna happen to the song from there. But I’m always confident that I’m gonna like it, and that it ain’t gonna sound like anything else that I’ve ever heard. There’s a song on our latest LP, “I Hope You Don’t Die Before Me.” It’s a slow song, equal parts happy and sad. The melody and most of the lyrics came to me while riding the city bus to work. Still on the bus, I called and sang it to Justin’s voicemail. He left me a message about an hour later saying, “Hey man, I got your message, I think it’s a great song; I already got the piano part worked out.” Kim’s accordion part on “Don’t Die,” which she pretty much recorded on the fly in the studio, was the icing on the cake.
DO312 -Can you explain the influence and such for a song like “Let’s Get Happy”as opposed to a song like “Marianne”?
CKTB -When writing a song, I’m really influenced by the moment. Things like the weather, the time of day, the day of the week, the sunshine, and the snow. Maybe I’m extra depressed, feeling optimistic or burdened by a sense of doom? Or maybe it’s a headline I read, or an old photograph. All these things make for good writing. But it’s never easy to write a good song. “Let’s Get Happy” is a simple song about my relationship with, and feelings toward, The Buddies. It’s one of the few autobiographical songs that I’ve written. I write a lot in the first person, but most of the songs are not about me. Sure, there’s a bit of myself, a bit of truth in all of my songs. For the most part, they’re just characters that I make up. I always have an image or images in my mind when I write a song; always a place and setting. Sometimes it’s a place I know; sometimes it’s a place I’ve never seen. When I wrote “Happy,” and whenever I listen to it, I always have the same picture in my mind: I’m sitting in Kim and Scott’s living room, in front of their fireplace and everybuddy in the band is in the room with me, playing guitars and drinking out of pewter beer steins.
DO312 -The song “Times Are Rough” is an anthem for the oppressed, burdened, and disengaged… Is this from personal experience or merely a reflection of generational change?
CKTB -Scott wrote “Times Are Rough”So you’ll have to ask him next time you see him. I’m sure if you buy him a beer or two… and maybe a couple shots of rye, and pay him a nice compliment, he’ll tell you all about it.
DO312 -I like the assertion “they’re a southern rock version of The Clash”, can you speak to that… How it is relevant? Do you agree and do you now feel pressured? Or is it merely nonsensical nomenclature that you have cast to the wayside? Explain.
CKTB – Being compared to the likes of The Clash is a great thing. How it’s relevant? Not sure. Do I agree? Too a degree. I don’t think it’s so much our songwriting that draws comparisons to The Clash, as much as it is our Clash-esque camaraderie, our stage presence, the gang vocals, and our fearlessness. In that sense, sure… I guess we got a little Clash in us… definitely more Clash than Class.
DO312 -A good chunk of your songs are drinking songs and your name is an illusion to good times… So I assume that you have some great stories to tell, can you give us a story pertaining to one of those songs on your debut LP?
CKTB -I really can’t think of any great stories off the top of my head; at least none of any interest to anyone who wasn’t there. However, I’d encourage people to come out to see us live. Then, you’re likely to leave with a good Buddies story of your own. We’re the greatest show on earth… Barnum & Buddies! But seriously, we do enjoy the black stuff and our whiskey. And even if the Buddies didn’t exist as a band, we’d still be doing the same shit together; drinking, fighting, singing, laughing, suffering, dancing, and fishing. Listen to “A Lifetime at Best.” It’s about as fine of a drinking song as your ever gonna hear. Nothing like a song that makes you want to drink, dance, and cry. To me, it’s damn near perfect.
DO312 -Whiskey or Bourbon? Explain.
CKTB -Bourbon shmourbon. Whiskey! Taste aside; I like the way “Whiskey” rolls off your tongue.
DO312 – Any touring plans or music video plans for the near future?
CKTB -Yep we are playing a show at The Bowery, NYC in January. And then shooting a video in Brooklyn for our song, “All The Beer Is Gone.”
DO312 -What are your favorite and least favorite things about Chicago?
CKTB -I’m not really much into the big city life. I live in Chicago because it’s a good place to play live music and there are some great bars and restaurants.
But aside from that, I’d much rather be settled down in a small town with friends and family.
A Melodious Journey: An interview with Coley Kennedy of The Buddies
By: John Matthew Simon
DO312 - Why did you change your name from Candy Apple & the Buddies to The Buddies? What is the origin of the name?
Coley Kennedy of The Buddies - Candy Apple was a name we were throwing around one night, because one of us (I think Justin [Collins, guitar]) was drinking a “candy apple” martini. He then became known as our candy apple buddy. Then, somehow the band became Candy Apple & The Buddies. After a while, we kind of got sick of having people ask us why we were called Candy Apple & The Buddies. Also, we, and our fans have always referred to the band simply as “The Buddies.” It just seemed to make more sense. Not that The Buddies is any less of a terrible name.
DO312 – What are the major differences and similarities between the scenes in Jackson/Nashville versus Chicago?
CKTB - Jackson is a very small town. It’s a nice town, and it’s where The Mouse [bassist Jeremy Barrett], guitarist Pete Javier and I grew up. But, there is not much of a live music scene there. So, the three of us are here, in The Windy City. Chicago is much bigger than Nashville (home to Justin, drummer Kim Collins and guitarist Scott Collins). Nashville, as everyone knows, is the “Music City,” and there are a lot of talented musicians there. There are also some great venues in Nashville, particularly East Nashville. I do, however, feel there is more of an indie music scene in Chicago, and people are more likely to come see a show in Chicago, even if they are unfamiliar with the bands on the bill.
DO312 - And can you talk a bit about your make-up? You are based here and Nashville?
CKTB – Yeah, as I said, Pete, The Mouse and I live in Chicago. We played together for many years in Welcome To Ashley. Justin, Kim and Scott are in Nashville. Their previous band, Pale Blue Dot, used to share bills in Chicago and Nashville with Welcome To Ashley. A few years ago we decided to join forces. Now we’re one big “happy” family. Kim drums, sings and plays the accordion. Justin sings and plays the guitar. Scott sings and plays the guitar and a banjo. Pete plays guitar. Jeremy (aka “The Mouse”) plays the bass guitar. I sing the songs.
DO312 - Your sound is distinctly front-porch-punk-stomp-alt-folk… At times it goes from Stray Cats jangles to Hold Steady rhythms to hints of Flogging Molly… Who are your influences and how is their music relevant in the creation of your songs?
CKTB - “Garbage-rock!” (As Justin once referred to our sound). The Mouse and I love old rockabilly music. We are also really into bands like The Smiths, Echo and The Bunny Men, and Jesus & Mary Chain (as is Pete). I think the front-porch/alt-folk/’60s/grunge-ier sounds The Buddies make are the result of Justin, Scott and Kim. The six of us all place a lot of importance on a really strong melody. We all share adoration for bands such as The Clash, The Faces, The Replacements, The Pogues, and The Stones. Throw all of our influences in a trash can, shake it up and dump it out … voila! The Buddies!
DO312 – How do you translate an ear-full of influence into a heart-filled song? Example?
CKTB – We have a wide range of influences. And for that reason, I think we create a vibe and a sound that belongs only to The Buddies. I fancy myself a good songwriter, but I’m a terrible musician. I write a lot of The Buddies songs on a mandolin, which I play poorly. When I bring a song to the table (many times a tape sent by mail), it’s my words and melody, sung over a strummed mandolin. I never have the slightest idea what the hell is gonna happen to the song from there. But I’m always confident that I’m gonna like it, and that it ain’t gonna sound like anything else that I’ve ever heard. There’s a song on our latest LP, “I Hope You Don’t Die Before Me.” It’s a slow song, equal parts happy and sad. The melody and most of the lyrics came to me while riding the city bus to work. Still on the bus, I called and sang it to Justin’s voicemail. He left me a message about an hour later saying, “Hey man, I got your message, I think it’s a great song; I already got the piano part worked out.” Kim’s accordion part on “Don’t Die,” which she pretty much recorded on the fly in the studio, was the icing on the cake.
DO312 - Can you explain the influence and such for a song like “Let’s Get Happy” as opposed to a song like “Marianne”?
CKTB - When writing a song, I’m really influenced by the moment. Things like the weather, the time of day, the day of the week, the sunshine, and the snow. Maybe I’m extra depressed, feeling optimistic or burdened by a sense of doom? Or maybe it’s a headline I read, or an old photograph. All these things make for good writing. But it’s never easy to write a good song. “Let’s Get Happy” is a simple song about my relationship with, and feelings toward, The Buddies. It’s one of the few autobiographical songs that I’ve written. I write a lot in the first person, but most of the songs are not about me. Sure, there’s a bit of myself, a bit of truth in all of my songs. For the most part, they’re just characters that I make up. I always have an image or images in my mind when I write a song; always a place and setting. Sometimes it’s a place I know; sometimes it’s a place I’ve never seen. When I wrote “Happy,” and whenever I listen to it, I always have the same picture in my mind: I’m sitting in Kim and Scott’s living room, in front of their fireplace and everybuddy in the band is in the room with me, playing guitars and drinking out of pewter beer steins.
DO312 - The song “Times Are Rough” is an anthem for the oppressed, burdened, and disengaged… Is this from personal experience or merely a reflection of generational change?
CKTB - Scott wrote “Times Are Rough” So you’ll have to ask him next time you see him. I’m sure if you buy him a beer or two… and maybe a couple shots of rye, and pay him a nice compliment, he’ll tell you all about it.
DO312 - I like the assertion “they’re a southern rock version of The Clash”, can you speak to that… How it is relevant? Do you agree and do you now feel pressured? Or is it merely nonsensical nomenclature that you have cast to the wayside? Explain.
CKTB – Being compared to the likes of The Clash is a great thing. How it’s relevant? Not sure. Do I agree? Too a degree. I don’t think it’s so much our songwriting that draws comparisons to The Clash, as much as it is our Clash-esque camaraderie, our stage presence, the gang vocals, and our fearlessness. In that sense, sure… I guess we got a little Clash in us… definitely more Clash than Class.
DO312 - A good chunk of your songs are drinking songs and your name is an illusion to good times… So I assume that you have some great stories to tell, can you give us a story pertaining to one of those songs on your debut LP?
CKTB - I really can’t think of any great stories off the top of my head; at least none of any interest to anyone who wasn’t there. However, I’d encourage people to come out to see us live. Then, you’re likely to leave with a good Buddies story of your own. We’re the greatest show on earth… Barnum & Buddies! But seriously, we do enjoy the black stuff and our whiskey. And even if the Buddies didn’t exist as a band, we’d still be doing the same shit together; drinking, fighting, singing, laughing, suffering, dancing, and fishing. Listen to “A Lifetime at Best.” It’s about as fine of a drinking song as your ever gonna hear. Nothing like a song that makes you want to drink, dance, and cry. To me, it’s damn near perfect.
DO312 - Whiskey or Bourbon? Explain.
CKTB - Bourbon shmourbon. Whiskey! Taste aside; I like the way “Whiskey” rolls off your tongue.
DO312 – Any touring plans or music video plans for the near future?
CKTB - Yep we are playing a show at The Bowery, NYC in January. And then shooting a video in Brooklyn for our song, “All The Beer Is Gone.”
DO312 - What are your favorite and least favorite things about Chicago?
CKTB - I’m not really much into the big city life. I live in Chicago because it’s a good place to play live music and there are some great bars and restaurants.
But aside from that, I’d much rather be settled down in a small town with friends and family.
The Buddies play at Empty Bottle with The Dirty Pigeons, The Canoes, and Ed Jurken next Thursday, Dec. 22. The show is Free w/ RVSP… All you have to do is email rsvp@emptybottle.com.
Click here for more info!!!
The Buddies – “99 Bottles/Colours”
The Dirty Pigeons -