The oft-maligned state of New Jersey is about to get something to brag about. Hailed by newspapers, important online sites, and magazines alike, indiepop two-piece THE FRONT BOTTOMS have signed to Hoboken’s seminal indie label Bar/None Records (The Feelies, Of Montreal, They Might Be Giants) and are gearing up for the release of their self-titled debut album later this Summer. In anticipation for its release, vocalist/guitaristBrian Sella and drummer Matt Uychich will be playing a handful of East Coast shows, including a supporting slot for Seattle buzzband He Is We (tour dates below). “We’re super-excited about Bar/None,” says Matt. “We love everyone who works in that office.” Adds Bar/None President Glenn Morrow, “We are attracted to Brian’s cinematic suburban lyrics and Modern Lover vocal delivery, while Matt brings a hard-driving, rhythmic indie rock drum style to the songs. The combination seems like something new. I mean, how do they pull off sounding anthemic with just drums and an acoustic guitar?”
With accolades piling on about their quirky yet fiercely addictive songs, their compelling and energetic live shows and their charmingly mundane yet cleverly hilarious lyrics, The Front Bottoms have been creating quite a stir on the East Coast, their supporting slots for Minus the Bear, Vanessa Carlton and Bamboozlenotwithstanding. Described rather accurately as “quirky, endearing and unapologetically unpolished duo” by The Bergen Record and “good peppy pop with smart lyrics and sticky melodies” by Oh My Rockness, they credit their undeniable creative fusion from their long-running friendship. “We both met in elementary school and have been best friends since,” says Matt. “Since we both always shared a liking for music we would jam together in high school, but when college came around we started formulating songs and we started to take it more seriously.”
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“Maps” video from Grip N’ Tie
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Set for release in late summer, The Front Bottoms is a collection of tracks that offer hyper-realistic and oddly endearing anecdotes and personal observances that elicit both chuckles and “did he just say that with his outside voice” reactions. Wielding a witty pen worthy of Cake and perhaps even David Sedaris, Brian’s musings range from schadenfreude (“one day you’ll be washing yourself with handsoap in a public bathroom” from “Maps”), to fond yet skewed memories of highschool (“a lot of the kids we graduated with are now homeless” from“Flashlight”) to fantastically vivid manifestations of teenage angst (“I have this dream that I’m hitting my dad with a baseball bat… and maybe halfway through it, it has more to do with me killing him than it ever did protecting myself” from “Father”). A nostalgic tribute to summer love, the first single “The Beers” perfectly encapsulizes the melding of intricate musicianship and lyrics about that “summer that I was taking steroids / Cuz you like a man with muscles, and I like you,” all delivered with Brian’s very distinctive vocals, reminiscent of Jonathan Richman or They Might Be Giants.
“We credit everything to good vibes, people we have been able to meet and always hustling,” says Matt about their building groundswell. “Everything is small steps, and after a while, they build up.”
The Front Bottoms is Brian Sella (vocals/guitars) and Matt Uychich (drums). Their debut album The Front Bottoms will be released late summer on Bar/None Records.
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THE FRONT BOTTOMS
tour dates |
| June 11 POP for Japan Benefit at The Studio at Webster Hall (New York, NY) June 16 Vintage Theater (Scranton, PA) June 18 Cupcake Festival 2011 (Rutherford, NJ) ** FREE SHOW ** June 25 Waynestock Music Festival 2011 (Oakland, NJ) June 30 Asbury Lanes with Bomb The Music Industry! and Cheap Girls (Asbury Park, NJ) July 8 Mexicali Live with He Is We (Teaneck, NJ) |
