Just Friends (commonly known as Bay Area Party Ppl) is an American

alternative rock Alternative rock (also known as alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative) is a category of rock music that evolved from the independent music underground of the 1970s. Alternative rock acts achieved mainstream success in the 1990s w ...

band founded in

Dublin, California Dublin is a suburban city of the East Bay in California, United States. It is located within the Amador Valley of Alameda County, California, Alameda County's Tri-Valley region. It is located along the north side of Interstate 580 (California), ...

, in 2013. Their style incorporates elements of

punk Punk or punks may refer to: Genres, subculture, and related aspects * Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres * Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...

power pop Power pop (also typeset as powerpop) is a subgenre of rock music and form of pop rock based on the early music of bands such as the Who, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Byrds. It typically incorporates melodic hooks, vocal harmonies, ...

emo Emo () is a genre of rock music characterized by emotional, often confessional lyrics. It emerged as a style of hardcore punk and from the Washington, D.C., hardcore scene, where it was known as emotional hardcore or emocore. The bands ...

funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African-Americans in the ...

hip-hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hi ...

, and

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

, blending these genres to create a unique, high-energy sound. They are currently based in the East Bay and signed to

Pure Noise Records Pure Noise Records is an American punk rock record label based in Nashville, Tennessee. It was founded by Jake Round in 2009 while he was an editor at '' AMP''; the previous fall, friends of his in the band No Bragging Rights told him they were ...

with whom they have released 4 studio albums.

History

Formation

The band formed in early 2013 by Sam Kless in his parents' garage in Dublin, California. Enlisting help from his former high school marching band and jazz band classmates Just Friends began as a

punk rock Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...

band, but quickly evolved, incorporating elements of

, R&B,

, and

. While punk remains a core part of their identity, their sound is best described as a fusion of funky, high-energy

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...

, and beyond. Coming from diverse musical backgrounds, the band thrives on exploring different styles and pushing genre boundaries.

''Rock to the Rhythm (2015-2016)''

In 2015 the band released its first studio album, Rock to the Rhythm through Open Door Records. Their writing at the time was largely influenced by

pop punk Pop-punk (also punk-pop, alternatively spelled without the hyphen) is a rock music fusion genre that combines elements of punk rock with power pop or pop music, pop. It is defined by its fast-paced, energetic tempos, and emphasis on classic pop s ...

and

bands like

Jeff Rosenstock Jeffrey Ernest Rosenstock (born September 7, 1982) is an American musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter from Long Island, New York. He is known for his former bands Bomb the Music Industry! and The Arrogant Sons of Bitches, as wel ...

and

Joyce Manor Joyce Manor is an American punk rock band formed in Torrance, California, in 2008. The band's current lineup consists of singer-songwriter and guitarist Barry Johnson, guitarist Chase Knobbe, and bassist/backing vocalist Matt Ebert. The band's m ...

. The album showcased their raw, DIY energy, capturing the spirit of early punk and setting the foundation for the band's evolving sound. During this period, the band toured extensively across the U.S., including several DIY tours, and released a split with

Prince Daddy & The Hyena Prince Daddy & the Hyena is an American punk rock band from Albany, New York, formed in 2014. They have released three full-length albums and four extended plays. History Formation and early years Prince Daddy and the Hyena was formed in 2014 w ...

in 2016. This marked the beginning of Just Friends' journey as an eclectic, genre-blending band.

''Nothing but Love (2017-2019)''

Nothing but Love marked a pivotal moment in Just Friends' evolution, both musically and as a band. In 2017, the band welcomed Brond as their new vocalist, whose dynamic vocal presence and energy brought a fresh, exciting layer to the band's sound. The addition of Brond played a key role in the creation of Nothing but Love, which was released in 2018 through

Counter Intuitive Records Counter Intuitive Records is an American independent record label based in Boston, Massachusetts, known for working with bands such as Oso Oso, Mom Jeans, Origami Angel, and Prince Daddy & The Hyena. The label has also handled distribution for ...

. The album was a significant departure from their earlier punk rock influences, blending genres like

indie rock Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand in the early to mid-1980s. Although the term was originally used to describe rock music released through independent reco ...

, R&B,

, and more. Nothing but Love received critical acclaim for its diverse and genre-blending sound, with many highlighting the chemistry between Brond and the rest of the band. The band embarked on extensive tours across the U.S., U.K., and Europe, and in early 2019, they signed with

and re-released the album. Nothing but Love was supported by major tours, including sharing the stage with

Mayday Parade Mayday Parade is an American rock band formed in Tallahassee, Florida, in 2005, as the result of a merger between two local Tallahassee bands, Kid Named Chicago and Defining Moment. Their debut EP '' Tales Told by Dead Friends'' was released i ...

State Champs State Champs is an American pop-punk band from Albany, New York, formed in 2010. They are currently signed to Pure Noise Records and have released three EPs and five full-length albums. Their 2013 debut album ''The Finer Things (State Champs al ...

, and

The Wonder Years ''The Wonder Years'' is an American coming-of-age comedy television series created by Neal Marlens and Carol Black. It ran on ABC from January 31, 1988, until May 12, 1993. The series premiered immediately after ABC's coverage of Super Bowl X ...

on the first Sad Summer Fest. The album solidified Just Friends as one of the most exciting and unpredictable bands in the indie and punk scenes.

''Hella (2020–2022)''

Following the success of Nothing but Love, Just Friends began working on their next full-length album, Hella, their debut release on

. Originally slated for release in 2020, the album faced multiple delays due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

. To maintain momentum and build excitement for the record, the band released a three-part EP series, JF Crew Vol. 1-3, throughout the pandemic. These releases showcased their evolving sound, leaning further into alternative hip-hop, indie rock, and '90s-inspired influences. When Hella was finally released, it highlighted the band's continued genre-blending approach and featured several high-profile collaborations, including tracks with

Hobo Johnson Frank Lopes Jr. (born December 22, 1994), known professionally as Hobo Johnson, is an American vocalist and frontman of the band Hobo Johnson & the LoveMakers. Hobo Johnson also delivers lyrics in the form of rap and spoken word to create his r ...

and

Lil B Brandon Christopher McCartney (born August 17, 1989), known professionally as Lil B and Lil B The BasedGod, is an American rapper. He began his career as a member of the Berkeley, California-based hip hop group the Pack in 2005, who signed wi ...

. To celebrate the album, Just Friends embarked on The Love Letter Tour in March 2022, selling out multiple dates. Later that year, they hit the road again, joining

Mom Jeans Mom jeans is an informal term for High-rise_(fashion), high-waisted women's jeans that were first fashionable in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In the late 1990s and 2000s they were mainly worn by adult American women and considered "old" by ...

and

Free Throw In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points by shooting from behind the free-throw line (informally known as the foul line or the charity stripe), a line situated at the end of the restricted area. Free throws ...

for a nationwide tour in the fall of 2022.

''Gusher (2023–Present)''

After the release of Hella, Just Friends continued to push their sound forward, embracing an even more eclectic mix of influences. In 2023, the band entered their Gusher era, marked by a bold, high-energy fusion of rock, funk, and hip-hop. The era saw Just Friends refining their signature blend of infectious hooks, explosive horn sections, and dynamic vocal performances. With the release of Gusher, the band doubled down on their vibrant, party-like atmosphere while exploring new sonic textures and themes. The album showcased Just Friends at their most adventurous yet, balancing their punk rock roots with genre-blurring experimentation. Accompanied by an electrifying live show, the Gusher era solidified the band's reputation for creating an inclusive, high-energy experience both on and off the stage. In April 2024, Just Friends hit the road with

Hot Mulligan Hot Mulligan is an American emo band from Lansing, Michigan Lansing () is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Michigan. The most populous city in Ingham County, Michigan, Ingham County, parts of th ...

, bringing their high-energy live show to a new audience. Later that year, in the fall of 2024, the band toured with

Microwave Microwave is a form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than other radio waves but longer than infrared waves. Its wavelength ranges from about one meter to one millimeter, corresponding to frequency, frequencies between 300&n ...

and reunited with longtime friends

for a run of dates, marking a special moment in their history as they shared the stage once again.

Band Members

Current members * Sam Kless - vocals, guitar, percussion (2013–Present) * Brianda "Brond" Goyos Leon - vocals (2017–Present) * Brandon Downum - guitar, vocals (2013–Present) * Matt Yankovich - guitar (2014–Present) * Avi Dey - trumpet, percussion (2013–Present) * Ben Donlon - drums (2013–Present) Touring & Contributing members * Luke Clingerman - bass (2024–present) * Kent Soliday - bass (2013–2016, 2018; contributing musician on recordings since 2013) * Eric Butler – trombone, vocals, percussion (2014–2020, 2025) * Cody Furin – guitar (2024; music video director since 2021) * Bart Starr - bass (2017–2019) * Kory Gregory - bass (2016) Past members * Chris Palowitch - trombone, keyboards (2013–2024) * Kevin Prochnow - bass (2013, 2019–2024)

Discography

Studio albums

* ''Rock to the Rhythm'' (2015) * ''Nothing but Love'' (2018) * ''Hella'' (2022) * ''Gusher'' (2023)

EPs and singles

* ''Nothing but Love Promo Tape'' (2017) * ''Fever - single'' (2019) *JF Crew, Volume 2 (2021)

References

{{Authority control American funk rock musical groups Pop-rap groups Musical groups from the San Francisco Bay Area Musical groups established in 2013 2013 establishments in California