Today, The No Ones—Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey, Arne Kjelsrud Mathisen, and Frode Strømstad—celebrate the release of their new album, My Best Evil Friend! The group’s first full-length collection since 2020, My Best Evil Friend pays tribute to the artists that inspire them and populate their turntables, and channels Nick Lowe, Marvin Gaye, Jenny Lewis, Jesse Ed Davis, ? & The Mysterians, Plastic Ono Band, and Phil Ochs, among others.
Check out the official video for the track “KLIV,” directed by Scott McCaughey:
“KLIV was a Top 30 AM station in San Jose CA. That’s where it all began for me. Late nights and a clock radio, crazy sounds from another world – a world I would never leave.” – Scott McCaughey
The No Ones are comprised of Portland, Oregon contingent Scott McCaughey (lead and backing vocals, bass, keyboards, guitars) and Peter Buck (12-string, guitars, electric sitar, bass), and, from Oslo and Norway at large, Arne Kjelsrud Mathisen (drums, percussion, keyboards, backing vocals), and Frode Strømstad (lead and backing vocals, guitars).
The band enlisted guest vocal help from friends Debbi Peterson (The Bangles), Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie), Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub), as well as Victor Krummenacher (Camper Van Beethoven) on bass, and strings from Marin Stallemo Bakke.
My Best Evil Friend was recorded by Bård Ingebrigtsen at Amper Tone Studios in Oslo, Norway, Scott McCaughey at Dungeon of Horror in Portland, OR, Arne Kjelsrud Mathisen at Nygrenda Kev & Dur in Grimstad, Norway, and Erik Bekkeheien in Egersund, Norway.
Available in all formats, the First Edition double-LP features six exclusive tracks.
In support of the album, The No Ones will play their first U. S. shows in Portland, OR (June 16) and Seattle, WA (June 17), followed by a string of international tour dates in Norway and the UK:
June 16 – Mississippi Studios – Portland, OR*^
June 17 – Tractor Tavern – Seattle, WA*^
June 29-July 1 – Visefestival – Egersund, NO*^
July 2 – Last Train – Oslo, NO*^
July 4 – Clwb Ifor Bach – Cardiff, UK*
July 5 – Three Horseshoes – Knockholt, UK *
July 6 – The Garage – London, UK*
July 7 – Brudenell Social Club – Leeds, UK*
July 8 – Deaf Institute – Manchester, UK*
*with The Minus 5
^with Elf Power