Hailing from Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, USA is a totally awesome band by the name of The Front Bottoms. This band originally started with the main two dudes Brian Sella (Vocals/Guitar) & Mat Uychich (Drums) and eventually started branching out with more members as time went by. I actually have seen more of the recent stuff from this band which is definitely a lot more well-produced and totally legit - however - I actually find this specific line-up to be the BEST I have seen from the band thus far.
One thing I really like about these guys is their genuine manner. It’s something that must be said about musicians: typically guys & ladies can be governed by their egos (which typically become revealed to be as fragile as one could imagine). I honestly don’t get that vibe off of this band (at least I’ve never met them so I could only go with what I’m seein’ so far), and I’ve checked out some interviews here and there from them and I’ve definitely appreciated their down-to-earth outlook and overall approach to their music.
It seems like these guys know how to have fun - and that sincerity correlates into their music. Granted, there’s plenty of songs they have that are a bit along the moody & poetic side - but never going all-the-way to one side of a story. Their sound definitely has an evolution when listening from one album to the other (which I always enjoy from any style of artist). Without question the folky-punk sensibilities mixed with the pop-tacular songwriting is a refreshing combination. There are times when there will be very elegant use of keys and some very subtle use of fanfare with a tasteful use of Trumpet. I think it’s fascinating to listen between TFB’s live stuff and their studio stuff (which is pretty damn popular at this point). By now their sound has grown so far since the days of their cheap demos (made on their own).
Between Sella’s remarkably honest song-writing & clear-as-a-diamond vocals and Uychich’s energetically talented drumming with the rest of the band’s unrelenting musicianship - The Front Bottoms deliver a uniquely poetic and catchy sound that brings a good vibe.
Another thing I really enjoy about this band is their authenticity and friendly demeanor. Their name apparently had come from a film with Sir Ben Kingsley, I think like a comedy? And in the film Kingsley plays a character that uses the quirky term which allegedly the lead singer, Brian, had found really funny and amusing. Sella stated once in an interview over-seas, in regards to the overall reception of the band’s name in comparison from North America to Europe while being on tour... Sella simply states, “I like the name because it seems like if you don’t like the name and you can’t get past the name - then you don’t listen to the music, but if you can get past the name: Fan for Life. Hopefully.” Which is a hilarious sentiment I find to be true. Happy Listening!