Atom 9 of Conan Neutron and the Secret Friends’ “Protons and Electrons” split 7″ series is now streaming and available for order on Bandcamp. $8 for the 7″, plus shipping, $2 to buy digital, free to listen.
This one is interesting because, like the first one, it features Mr. Tony Ash on bass on both sides. Cheap Sleaze is the name of the band, and this is their first official release. A hell ass rock/punk band. The Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends song is “Cop Knock”, as always it’s Conan Neutron on vocals and guitar, Tony Ash on bass, and Dale Crover on drums, Toshi Kasai producing and engineering. This song also features an awesome guitar lead courtesy of Rick Valentin of Poster Children and Thoughts Detecting Machines. CS offers up a 1-2 punch of “Freeze Queen” and “Troll Trap” recorded at Electrical Audio.
Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends – “The Way of the Neutron” is a record with Conan Neutron/Tony Ash and Dale Crover Mini-anthems for overwhelming and far too interesting times, defiant fight songs for those counted out or not counted at all. Still here. Still operating. – First song/pre-order and Japan. http://neutronfriends.bandcamp.com . The Way of the Neutron – Mini-anthems for overwhelming and far too interesting times, defiant fight songs for those counted out or not counted at all. Still here. Still operating.
Spangle, and sass, small scale arena rock for smart alecks and malcontents. Big riffs, critical thinking, and big smart rock for freaks, nerds and weirdos. The latest work of the mighty Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends, Way of the Neutron (2025) is a mission statement of the most compelling order. Blending heavy riffs, huge hooks and harmony with relentless abandon. Telling the story of an ethos, a life of uncompromising music and the perseverance of the creative good fight in spite of overwhelming content and stimuli. It is not only the bands most accessible record, it stands alone as a case study for endurance. The very characteristic attitude is a part of Conan Neutron’s DNA. Talking about the first single off the upcoming long-play, Neutron states:
“Who Dares? Is a mission statement song. Most attributable to something a super villain would scream as a hero enters the room, this is a song about not just surviving but thriving often against insurmountable odds. One challenge at a time, one step at a time, one punch at time, one round at a time. Featuring a simple guitar hook and a relentless menacing main riff, it is a motivational soundtrack to dogged persistence. Who Dares? I’m the one who dares.”
The previous record is a split LP with the incredible LUNG called: Adult Prom on Learning Curve Records in 2023, This follows up 2022’s Dangerous Nomenclature. A three song concept ep and 2020’s Dark Passengers: their last dedicated full length release and 3rd full length album. After a relentless and creative 10 year run so far, with love from college radio, press and crowds alike. Neutron Friends show no sign of slowing down at all. Some people may be more familiar with the podcast, Conan Neutron’s Protonic Reversal , or the 4 Day Caterwaul music festival in Minneapolis but make no mistake about it. Neutron is a born rocker and very good at what he does and the Secret Friends in all iterations are a world class rock band. Available now to pre-order, and to stream in full in bandcamp by March 20th. You can now find your way… to the Way of the Neutron.
Conan Neutron is a guy, Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends is a band. It is a band with a revolving cast of live players. It is a band whose recordings featuring Dale Crover of the mighty Melvins on drums, Tony Ash of Coliseum on bass and the production skills of the iconoclastic and enigmatic Toshi Kasai. The Secret Friends bring forth a wiry and adventurous rock ‘n roll that is equal parts Cheap Trick, fugazi, Queens of the Stone Age, the Cars, and DEVO with perhaps Mean Streets era Van Halen mixed in. Big rock, big riffs, heavy, hooky, a little strange. You get it. This is big rock music that has all the bombast and energy of the classic arena rock bands, but with punk rock attitude. With a bench deeper than a baseball team Conan Neutron, a rock ‘n roll lifer has spent the last 25 years making records and touring making uncompromising, sometimes challenging and daring rock music to anybody that is interested.UPCOMING TOUR-DATES: March 7th – San Clemente, CA – No Joke Gallery March 8th – Los Angeles, CA – Redwood Bar
March 27th – Chicago, IL – Liar’s Club – w/Mr Phylzzz, Ghost Forest March 28th – Madison, WI – Mickey’s – w/Mr Phylzzz March 29th – Kenosha, WI – White Lilac – w/Mr Phylzzz, Dogsblood
March 30th – WILD ANTICS – X-Ray Arcade, Milwaukee, WI (w/Mr Phylzzz, Resurrectionists, Vile Bees, Chi Chi’s Restaurant, Powerwagon, Moon Rebels, Salvation, Primitive Broadcast Service) Japanese leg: April 1 – Nakano City, Tokyo – Moon Step April 2 – Shibuya, Tokyo – Cyclone April 3 – Shibuya, Tokyo – Ruby Room April 4 – Hachioji-shi, Tokyo – Hachioji RIPS April 5 – Fukuyama City, Hiroshima – 5 Cent April 6 – Nanamacho, Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City – Shizuoka live house Sogen April 8 – Amagasaki, Hyogo – Tora April 9 – Osaka – Hokage April 10 – Tokushima City, Ginza – Crowbar April 11 – Shibuya, Tokyo, Nishihara – Club Heavy Sick April 12 – Kawasaki, Tokyo – Live House YYYs
May 15 – Washington DC – Quarry House w/Club USA May 16 – Boston, MA- O’Briens w/Bedtimemagic, the Freqs, Sapling May 17 – Providence, RI – Fete Lounge w/Hammer Party, Ash and Bone May 18 – New York, NY – Gutter Bar w/EAT, Matte Black May 19 – Philadelphia, PA – Thunderbird Hall May 20 – Youngstown, OH – Westside Bowl w/Fashion Week, Wendy’s Ash May 21 – Detroit, MI – Lager House w/Warhorses, Lung May 22 – Chicago, IL – Liar’s Club w/ Lung, Naw, Salvation May 25 – Minneapolis, MN – Caterwaul, 331 Club May 27 – Sioux City, IA – Whiskey Dick’s w/Elephant Rifle, It Really Is May 28 – Rapid City, SD – The Diamond E Collective w/Elephant Rifle, Local Cryptics, Whitfield Rennin May 29 – Casper, WY – Oil City Beer Company w/Elephant Rifle May 30 – Missoula, MT – VFW Hall w/Elephant Rifle May 31 – Boise, ID – Neurolux w/Elephant Rifle June 1 – Reno, NV – Corrigan’s Lost Highway w/Elephant Rifle June 2 – Bend, OR – The Capitol w/Kronk Men, Non Ether, Vacancy Floor June 3 – Seattle, WA – Woodland Theater w/Negative Passengers, Elegant Pleasures June 4 – Portland, OR – Swan Dive w/Gaythiest, Club Deluxe June 5 – Oakland, CA – Stork Club w/HLLLYH, the Freak Accident June 6 – Palmdale, CA – Transplants Brewing Company w/Cosmic Kitten, Astral Jets, Knopf June 7 – San Diego, CA – Til Two Club w/Cosmic Kitten, Holy Tears June 8 – Los Angeles, CA – Slipper Clutch w/Cosmic Kitten, Tragic Radicals
All photos for Way of the Neutron by Ed Hunsinger PROMO MATERIALS:
Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter, Podcast Host, and more-Conan Neutron stops by to talk his new record; Conan Neutron and the Secret Friends: “The Way of the Neutron”, the process of working with Dale Crover of the Melvins on drums for all the records thus far, demoing -vs- going into the studio, working with Australian band DEAD, some his favorite guitarists, some of Conan’s previous guests that Jody’s fascinated with: Guy Picciotto of Fugazi (and a couple of good Fugazi stories), Trey Spruance of Mr Bungle/Secret Chiefs 3, and Ralph Spight of Victims Family- plus much more! Link for pre-order of “Way of the Neutron”:https://neutronfriends.bandcamp.com/album/the-way-of-the-neutronhttps://www.neutronfriends.com/ – Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends – Rock Band: NEUTRON FRIENDS GO JAPAN! April 1 – Nakano City, Tokyo – Moon Step April 2 – Shibuya, Tokyo – Cyclone April 3 – Shibuya, Tokyo – Ruby Room April 4 – Hachioji-shi, Tokyo – Hachioji RIPS April 5 – Fukuyama City, Hiroshima – 5 Cent April 6 – Nanamacho, Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City – Shizuoka live house Sogen April 8 – Amagasaki, Hyogo – Tora April 9 – Osaka – Hokage April 10 – Tokushima City, Ginza – Crowbar April 11 – Shibuya, Tokyo, Nishihara – Club Heavy Sick April 12 – Kawasaki, Tokyo – Live House YYYs
This record was written and mostly arranged between June 22nd and September 7th 2014 by Conan Neutron. Tracks were recorded at Sound of Sirens studio in Sun Valley, CA between September 11th-15th, 2014 by Toshi Kasai. Vocals for Fight Math were done at Antisleep audio, Oakland, CA by Mr. Eugene Robinson on October 8th, 2014. Those were tracked by Mr. Scott Evans. Mixing was done at Sound of Sirens between October 10th-15th. 2014 by Toshi Kasai.
Mastering was done at Golden Mastering between Jan 27th and Feb 3rd, 2015 by JJ Golden.
Dedicated to the memory of Clay Wofford. R.I.P. (1977-2014)
The Butch Cassidy to my Sundance Kid,
A best friend, a wild heart, an untamed beast and a cautionary tale.
You truly were the enemy of everyone, and this record… my friend, is for you.
Protons and Electrons: Atom 7 – Armies of the Mind / The God Eaters – Cluster Fuck Shit Show Atom 7 is now available to stream online and for advance purchase.
The God Eaters! The pride of Marquette, Michigan, hidden away in the upper peninsula. A powerful nervy band that aggressively follows their own compass and puts forth a righteous and uncompromising noise. Drummer Nick has filled in for neutronfriends many, many times, and guitar player Dylan has filled in on guitar as well.
Fiendishly creative and productive, they are band that I hope has a long and storied career.
Armies of the Mind is a song that’s basically two choruses. It gets in, does it’s thing, gets out. That’s the idea. Here’s what Jimmy of The Vega Bodegas and formerly of Future of the Left had to say about it. :
” I think this just became the greatest song of 2018 for me. Like Roky Erickson on a motorbike on fire & I’m hitching a ride with nothing but leather trousers on. Such a monster of a riff! “
PROMO MATERIALS: