Filthy Friends

Filthy Friends came together as a potent Northwest alternative rock supergroup anchored by Sleater-Kinney vocalist and guitarist Corin Tucker alongside R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck. The lineup also includes Kurt Bloch from the Fastbacks, Scott McCaughey of the Minus 5, and former King Crimson drummer Bill Rieflin, both of whom had previously performed with the later touring version of R.E.M. Their sound channels Tucker’s intense energy and social awareness along with Buck’s gift for rich pop melodies, while drawing additional depth from blues and indie rock sources that shape a distinct identity.

The project began modestly as a covers outfit that played occasional low-profile gigs in Portland starting in 2012. Momentum built after the group delivered a David Bowie set at Buck’s Todos Santos Music Festival in early 2016. That October the five musicians reconvened to cut “Despierta” for Dave Eggers’ 30 Days, 30 Songs protest collection aimed at Donald Trump. Additional tracks followed, prompting a complete album. After signing with Kill Rock Stars they issued the April 2017 single “Any Kind of Crowd” backed by a version of Roxy Music’s “Editions of You,” then released “The Arrival” in June. Their debut full-length, Invitation, arrived that August.

A planned tour supporting the record was scrapped after McCaughey suffered a stroke that required three weeks of hospitalization. Rieflin’s demanding calendar also forced his departure. McCaughey nevertheless recovered with surprising speed and resumed activity by mid-2018; the band recruited Linda Pitmon, longtime drummer for Steve Wynn & the Miracle 3 and a collaborator with both Buck and McCaughey in the Baseball Project, to take over on drums. Filthy Friends returned to the studio in August 2018 to begin their follow-up, which emerged as Emerald Valley in May 2019.