Just this last August The Front Bottoms released their new album, You Are Who You Hang Out With. They’ve now wrapped up their tour promoting the album with back to back nights at New York City’s Terminal 5. It’s always fitting to see The Front Bottoms finish a tour close to home. The band synonymous with Asbury Park, New Jersey is just a drive over the Hudson river and down the Garden State Parkway away from home. I know this because I do the same drive home every time from a New York show.
Performing on select dates of the tour were Vundabar and Slothrust. Slothrust had the pleasure of performing both New York shows.
The Front Bottoms continue to be one of my favorite bands to see live. The last time being at the Adjacent Festival in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Since I wasn’t taking photos then, I had the opportunity to enjoy their set differently than I normally do. I wasn’t in “work mode” thus did not have a camera to worry about. This time however I would not be going into the pit to have fun. After shooting the first three songs from the photo pit I would enviously watch the New York crowd have fun from the comfort of the balcony. It was a Friday night and fans brought their energy out.
Some unique moments during the show was when the band’s crew let loose a giant beach ball for the crowd to have fun with. At times the beach ball would reach the balcony level, allowing for someone to grab on to it shortly. Other times TFB’s stage crew could be seen sprinting out on stage to stop the ball from hitting any of the gear. In a situation where something can easily go wrong, they risk managing it perfectly.
The new album features a track titled, “Batman”. So of course you know that some fans couldn’t resist the opportunity to dress up as Batman at the shows. While a few fans in the crowd stood out to frontman Brian Sella, there was one Batman staring menacingly from the balcony that really caught his attention. The man on the balcony who saw Brian Sella handing money to the best dressed Batmen wanted his cut too.The Front Bottoms played a healthy mix of songs from the new record while also giving fans plenty of the classics. Their single, Punching Bag has been one of my favorite tracks from the new album so far. The song serves as a reminder that we need to be able to expel that rage and negativity we all carry sometimes. I love the lines that carry out throughout the song, “Why don’t you put your boxing gloves on And punch your punching bag? Get some of this rage out you have deep inside of you. You feel better, that’s the point.”. You can watch the music video for the song here.
Setlist: Emotional / West Virginia / Flashlight / Swear to God the Devil Made Me Do It / Punching Bag / Be Nice to Me / Wolfman / Vacation Town / leaf pile / The Beers / Ginger / Outlook / Joanie / Batman / Maps / The Plan (Fuck Jobs) / Peach / Paris / Au Revoir (Adios) / Skeleton / Lonely Eyes / Twin Size Mattress
Slothrust
Slothrust is an alternative rock band hailing from Boston, Massachusetts. The Group consist of members Leah Wellbaum (guitar/ vocals), Will Gorin (drums), and touring member Scott Andrews (bass). Formed in 2010, the band mixes garage, grunge, and hard rock together.
