The Big Friendly Corporation Next show: September 28, 8 p.m., Josephine Skaught Hairdressing, 1025 S. First Street #165. thebigfriendlycorporation.com.
After five years in The Big Friendly Corporation, Timothy Styles recently announced he’d be leaving to focus on family and his other project, Skorchamenza. On Saturday, BFC gave its pal a proper sendoff at the Dillinger in Boulder City, playing to a full patio for nearly an hour. All in all, though, the night seemed less about Styles’ departure than the remaining band’s enduring existence as a local staple.
The perfect union of ’90s indie rock and decade-defying pop cheer, the group launched into its set behind Melissa Marth’s ’80s-inspired synth and “Lord” Jeff Ford’s effortless guitar riffs. On “The Joy of Serving Others for a Living” (a song about singer Ryan Marth’s teenage gig flipping burgers), BFC reminded us how the band has maintained their sunny, satirical spark throughout a handful of lineup changes, a testament to the group’s love of music.
During “Nobody Loves Me but My Android” and “Bad Taste,” Styles took over on vocals, but his bittersweet moment didn’t come until the final song: a heartfelt solo performance of Ty Segall’s “Goodbye Bread.” Though Saturday’s show marked the end of one era, Styles says he’ll have more time to work on Skorchamenza—with plans for an album and a possible new band name in 2014. And The Big Friendly Corporation will return to its roots as a foursome, with Ford reprising his original role of bassist.
