PREMIERE: Glory Days - “Because Friends Are All We Have“

Written by Jesse James Smith

As the weather grows colder and the nice fall colors fade, the blend of Midwest Emo and Pop Punk always just hits different. I don’t know if it’s just me, but there are certain genres and sounds that just pair with different seasons. Well emerging out of the suburbs of Chicago comes a band that is delivering a winter banger titled “Because Friends Are All We Have”. The band formed in 2016 with a musical vision of the nostalgic Pop Punk sound (hence the name). With inspiration coming from The Starting Line, Yellowcard, and Green Day, the band has been grinding in their local scene ever since. With a release earlier this year titled “Clocks”, The guys wanted to squeeze one more in before the year ends! 

‘Because Friends Are All We Have’ has a very polished and traditional sound. The guitar tone sits upfront in the mix which makes it very very clear to hear, which is a good thing because the guitar tone is textbook Emo / Pop Punk. Having that single coil twang mixed with driving drums and heartfelt vocals is 80% of the battle and they have it! The chorus really nails the nostalgic sound perfectly. It’s catchy and easy to listen to. It reminds me of a Boys Like Girls chorus that is big and on the pop-y side of Pop Punk. You also get a taste of that bright and upbeat flavor with the twinkly guitar solo towards the end. 

This song is perfect for your winter car ride playlist. It captures the vibe and energy perfectly and is a fun listen. It really is an art to sing about heartfelt topics while it being fun to listen to. One thing is for sure, you can tell these guys live the songs they write and because of that, I love this song. Glory Days are going into 2026 full steam ahead.