Formed in Montreal’s tight-knit punk and indie ecosystem, The Fake Friends grew out of shared apartments, shared stages, and the cross-pollination that happens when half your friends are already in multiple other projects. Frontman Matthew Savage leads the six-piece lineup: guitarists Felix Crawford-Legault and Luca Santilli, bassist Michael Kamps, keyboardist Bradley Cooper-Graham, and drummer Michael Tomizzi. Their roots stretch from hardcore to power-pop and back again, a range that shows up in the sound. High-energy, melodic, a little jagged, always moving forward.

Bombastic and intimate, sarcastic but vulnerable; Montreal’s Fake Friends lives on the edge of duality. Fuelled by the manic charisma of frontman Matthew Savage, the six-piece post-punk outfit is an engine that runs on making tunes and ripping gigs with a sincere bravado that is downright infectious to witness.

Introduce yourself… (Where are you from, what band do you play in etc..)

MS: My name is Matthew Savage and I sing in a band called (The) Fake Friends from Montreal. But more importantly, the west island.

Why do you play music?

MS: It is a spiritual compulsion. I have been playing music in some capacity for as long as I can remember. I blame G-d.

What was a major influence on you as an Artist/Band? What’s a favourite book or film?

MS: The Bruins winning the stanley cup in 2011. My Favourite book is The Great Divorce by CS Lewis and my favourite movie is probably The Tree of Life (This is England, Midsommar) but I could not in good conscience say they have any impact on this band.

Do you prefer the recording process or performing live? What would be a dream collaboration?

MS: Honestly, it’s a really tough decision. At this point I think I enjoy the recording process and seeing everything come together but the best feeling in the world is ripping a gig where everyone is there for the right reasons. I think my dream collaboration would be with Eric Nally from Foxy Shazam or Glen Danzig. Both people are geniuses and absolute freaks and I would have a very different experience with either of them. Actually, Danzig would probably punch me out because I would keep taking his picture. I choose Danzig.

Describe a favourite album.

MS: Silent Alarm by Bloc Party. It’s moody, it's catchy, it’s fun, it’s introspective. Silent Alarm has got it all. Top two tracks are Helicopter and This Modern Love. There might not be a band that's influenced me more.

What's your favourite local haunt?

MS: Honey Martins, Monkland Taverne, Turbo Haus, Bruno’s, Saint Sacrement. Good chance you can find one of us at one of the above.

What's your strangest experience while performing live? If I were pursuing anything other than music it would be… .

MS: Having a couple actively break up in front of me while we were playing. You think you’re gonna upstage me? Please! If you want attention, start your own band and sing poorly like the rest of us.

I'm pursuing a lot of things, concurrently. Most of them I would not write down for the internet….

What are some of your favourite aspects of being a musician in (your city here)?

MS: If social media has taught me anything is that the majority are essentially living the same life at a slightly adjusted sequence. Like most things, the experience is dictated by the influences and people that are surrounding it. It’s important to remain grounded in the fact that we should be operating in kindness. We are really lucky to have some great friends that are also pursuing music across genres (Crosscheck, vvomb, Bruiserweight, Haus Band, Birds of Prrrey, chop sue me, raindog). Tomizzi himself is in 3 other bands (Antenna 93, Mulch, DAISY).

If you weren’t playing music in Montréal where would you be ?

MS: I need to be near the ocean, I want to move to Newfoundland. I will become a friend of the puffins.

Any sage advice for young musicians?

MS: If you’re only trying to impress yourself, you only have yourself to let down.

Montreal’s The Fake Friends launch their new album “ Let’s Not Overthink This” via Stomp Records on February 13th!

Pleased To Meet Me: Fake Friends