Formation and EPs (2010–13) In the fall of 2010 bassist Kyle Fasel "wasn't happy" with the music he was working on and wished to start over. Fasel called lead guitarist Dave Knox and the pair soon started talking about the goals they wished to achieve. The band recorded its debut EP,
This Is Honesty, in the spring of 2011. Following the release of the EP, the band began playing shows around the Midwest. The group soon realized that it "didn't feel right [playing the songs they currently had]. [...] almost forc[ing] ourselves into [a] sound." Shortly afterwards, Schuck was replaced by Brian Blake. Reviewing the EP for
Rock Sound, Andy Biddulph noted that he would not be "surprised" if the band was "mixing it with the big boys in a year's time". In November, the group supported
the Wonder Years on their UK shows, including UK
Warped Tour.
'' Maybe This Place Is the Same and We're Just Changing ''(2013–15) Fearless signed the band in December 2013. The band were initially hesitant to sign to a label, but called Fearless "different. They made it feel more like a family." The group "still wanted full control of our band" while Fearless would help with marketing and distribution, according to Fasel. The band recorded their debut studio album in February with producer Seth Henderson. The band released their debut album, ''Maybe This Place Is the Same and We're Just Changing
, on July 22, 2014. The album sold over 10,300 copies, charting at number 24 on the Billboard'' 200. The band played on the
2014 Vans Warped Tour supporting the album's release, appearing on the Journey's Stage. They released an EP,
More Acoustic Songs, for
Record Store Day in April 2015, including an acoustic version of "Late Nights in My Car" featuring Kevin Jordan from
This Wild Life.
The Home Inside My Head (2015–2017) Throughout 2015, the band made several references to recording a new album on their Facebook and Twitter pages. Fearless Records announced that a new Real Friends record would be released in 2016, through a tweet on December 22, 2015. Real Friends finished recording the album on the road in February 2016. During their tour, the band played a new song entitled "Colder Quicker". On April 1, 2016, the band announced that the title of the new album was
The Home Inside My Head, along with the album's release date, cover art, and track listing, as well as a
music video for "Colder Quicker". The album was released on May 27, 2016.
Composure and departure of Dan Lambton (2017–2020) On November 16, 2017, the band released a single entitled "Get By". On June 18, 2018, during an RSVP Acoustic session, the band announced their next album,
Composure, was set for release on July 13, 2018. It was preceded two weeks prior by a single and accompanying music video entitled "From the Outside". The band released an EP called
Even More Acoustic Songs on digital platforms and on a limited 7" vinyl pressing. In early 2020, the band deleted their previous posts on social media, causing many to believe they had broken up. Lambton denied these rumors. On February 14, 2020, the band released a statement saying they have parted ways with Lambton. In the statement, they noted "This is not the end of Real Friends. We have simply turned the page to the next chapter."
Introduction of Cody Muraro and Torn In Two EP (2021-2023) One year and four months after Lambton's departure, the band announced Cody Muraro, formerly of Youth Fountain & Parting Ways, as their new vocalist. Pure Noise Records stated that the split with Lambton was amicable and a result of their "paths diverging." They also announced their deal with
Pure Noise Records and released two new singles, "Nervous Wreck" and "Storyteller"
, on June 21, 2021. They released the EP
Torn in Two in September 2021. The band released their next EP, ''There's Nothing Worse Than Too Late'', on February 24, 2023.
Blue Hour (2024-present) Following two co-headlining tours with Knuckle Puck in 2023, Real Friends entered the studio in January 2024. The band confirmed that they would be working on a fourth studio album, which will be their first with Muraro as vocalist. On June 28, 2024, Real Friends released the single "Waiting Room." Shortly after its release, they toured as a part of Sad Summer Festival, which started the following month. On August 7, 2024, the band released "Our Love Was Like A Sad Song" as a single. The single's release was accompanied by the announcement of their fourth studio album,
Blue Hour, which was released on October 11, 2024 on their own label, Midwest Trash. ==Style and influences==