"We learned an awful lot about ourselves during this process and these songs are a reflection of those lessons," guitarist-vocalist Neil Berthier tells Billboard. While recording the album, studio engineer Rick Naiser died from a bone marrow disorder called myelofibrosis, just two weeks after first calling in sick. Losing their friend, around the holidays no less, demanded a massive creative about-face. "In what started out as, 'Let's make a record that sounds like Nimrod by Green Day,' we ended up making How To Treat The Ones You Love. Now we're all happier and ready to tour forever."
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Two members also quit the band during the recording process (they formed as college freshmen and recently graduated), though a new lineup has solidified for those tour dates (info below). The new lineup features bassist Alex Skalany and drummer Michael Saladis along with Berthier and fellow songwriter-guitarist Matthew Seferian.
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The new LP (available for pre-order here) is Donovan Wolfington's first for Topshelf Records, after releasing the Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark EP through the San Diego-based indie last year. They self-released their first album, Stop Breathing, in 2013.
Here are their upcoming tour dates:
Aug. 19 - Portland, OR - Anarres w/ Sioux Falls, Alien Boy
Aug. 20 - San Jose, CA - San Jose Rock Shop
Aug. 21 - Cotati, CA - Highway Tattoo w/ Brown Bags
Aug. 22 - Oakland, CA - One Fam w/ Crush
Aug. 24 - Orange County, CA - Programme w/ Casual Friday
Aug. 25 - Riverside, CA - Sinbad's Hookah Lounge w/ Karoshi Boy, Young Jesus
Aug. 26 - San Diego, CA - Treehouse
Aug. 27 - El Centro, CA - Cafe101
Aug. 28 - Los Angeles, CA - Ham and Eggs Tavern w/ Young Jesus (21+)
Aug. 29 - Mesa, AZ - 51 West
Aug. 30 - Albuquerque, NM - Blaze Place
Sept. 1 - Denton, TX - Gatsby's Mansion w/ Mimisiku
Sept. 2 - Austin, TX - Holy Mountain
Sept. 3 - Houston, TX - The Summit
