My great friend Lee and I have a really bad habit of wanting to go to shows in places that are impossible to get to without a car. 50 minutes by subway system, 40 minutes by bus, 30 minute walk to see a band play for 40 minutes, we’ve done it all. Our trip into outer limits DC/Virginia to see New Jersey natives The Front Bottoms was another adventure in our journals, and I can not stress enough how worth it the excursion was.

I must admit, I am a little spoiled. I go to an unhealthy amount of punk shows a year, and because of that I have become used to what some describe as “punk-time,” meaning shows never get started on time and when they actually do get started it takes forever in between sets. Because I’ve accepted this concept, I was late to the show. So for the opening band, I’m sorry I missed your set, I really do like supporting local acts and the up and comers. So for my tardiness, I apologize. Yet I’m really glad that I did not miss direct support Mansions. Mansions is the brain-child of Christopher Browder of Seattle Washington. I had the unique pleasure of seeing him play with a full band behind him. While I must say that I’m normally not one to delve into the indie rock scene, Mansions kept me highly entertained as he sang with his heart on his sleeve and generally not caring what people thought about his lyrics (this is a good thing just to clarify). Mansions three piece band really filled out his songs, but I must say after checking out his music afterwards I definitely preferred him with just an acoustic guitar, I’d love to see him that way as well to compare.

After a relatively quick ten minute change (just as a quick sidenote, Jammin Java in Vienna, VA is a really cool venue. If you have the chance check it out, they have a cool set up there), the Front Bottoms took to the stage. The Front Bottoms are not the kind of band you can pigeon hold into one genre. This two-piece band consists of Brian Sella on guitars and vocals and Mathew Uychich on drums and backing vocals. Their sound I think can be so eloquently described as “two-dudes-who-love-loud-music-but-at-the-same-time-love-acoustic-songs-and-couldn’t-decide-which-direction-to-go-so-they-just-did-both.” The Front Bottoms released their debut self-titled LP on Bar/None Records in September, and while I could write a review about how awesome this release is, I will not because where they really shine is their live show. With lights adorning the drum set and a singer who had no shoes on, the band came out firing. I was really taken aback with the amount of energy the band produced, making me dance (which proved to be difficult to do as I took pictures) and scream their lyrics back at the duo. Mathew killed it on the drums, doing intricate crosses with his drum sticks that at times seemed unnecessary but regardless were very entertaining to watch and kept the energy levels high. The room wasn’t filled to capacity by any means, but I feel like this intimate setting made the set even better as the band could connect with each person. I was loved the way Brian connected with each person by looking at everyone singing the lyrics as if he were singing the songs to them. Sure this is a classic rock technique, but you could see the earnestness and happiness in his and Mathew’s faces. You could really tell that that the Front Bottoms love what they do, and the way they smiled throughout the set was infectious and honestly made me fall in love with them even more.

The Front Bottoms are still relatively new to the music scene. This is a gift to you as a musicgoers. Why? Because you still can have the pleasure of seeing this band in small intimate venues, house shows and hole in the wall places that allow you to really connect with this band. Pick up their newest self-titled record now and run to their nearest show because soon they will be playing sold out mid-sized venues and while I don’t think they will lose that energy or intimacy, there is no substitute for seeing a truly magnificent band in small settings.

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Tyler Osborne

Live in DC, grew up in PA. I specialize in writing, filming and taking pictures about punk, pop-punk, and hardcore music, and I also have a huge background in film as well. When not on the site, i'm running my own internet radio show, ToZ's Edge Radio (www.facebook.com/tozedgeradio). I also love stage diving and goldfish.

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