Blue Smiley (stylized as “blue smiley”) was a rock band that formed in the early 2010s alongside other major Philly acts such as Alex G (whom members of the band were close friends with and occasionally collaborated with) and TAGABOW. Although blue smiley would never obtain the same success and recognition other concurrent acts would come to achieve, the band earned a cult following for their unique style of rock – a blend of the soundscapes of post-rock and shoegaze with the melodic dissonance of noise pop, the unsteady and suddenly-changing rhythms of math rock, and the brevity of punk rock – best showcased on their debut album ok.

Though the makings of blue smiley date back to 2009 when founding members Brian Nowell (vocals and guitar) and John Slavin (bass) met, the band would officially come to fruition in 2013. After recording three EPs and cycling drummers, the band eventually settled on John Slavin’s childhood friend Matt McGraw as their final drummer, going on to release debut album ok in 2015. ok was followed by the aptly-named return in 2016, featuring Mike Corso on bass post Slavin’s departure to Texas.

During the making of their third album, Brian Nowell would suffer a tragic and untimely death in 2017 from a fentanyl overdose, forcing the band to abruptly halt operations. Despite remaining effectively defunct, the band’s legacy still remains stronger than ever, and their influence on the Philadelphia scene cannot be understated.