The Front Bottoms are a New Jersey-based indie band with a sound often described as acoustic pop punk. Composed mainly of lead singer/guitarist Brian Sella and drummer Mathew Uychich, the duo’s songs are odes to young adulthood’s many slings and arrows. The band, which will be playing in New Orleans on Saturday, covers the spectrum, from heartache to recreational drug use to one’s own dark personal thoughts.
Though these may be heavy issues, The Front Bottoms deliver lyrics that seem to ease the load of depression and stress into catchy guitar strums and stiff, steady drumming.
The band’s latest album, “Talon Of The Hawk,” was released in May 2013 and has elevated The Front Bottoms into indie cult status with a mass of devoted fans across America.
The album’s success has allowed The Front Bottoms to embark on its first-ever headlining tour, the “Hot Chocolate Tour,” with punk rockers You Blew It! The Daily Reveille caught Sella for an interview before a show in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The Daily Reveille: How has touring with You Blew It! been?
Brian Sella: It’s been incredible so far. Those guys are awesome, and they’re a lot of fun to hang out with so it’s been going good. And they put on a good show.
TDR: If you could name one place so far on your “Hot Chocolate Tour” that’s been really great to play, which would it be?
BS: Probably Michigan. The first two shows were in Michigan. It was really cold, but the shows were incredible. We played in Grand Rapids and Pontiac.
TDR: How was your experience last time in New Orleans when you guys played in-store at Euclid Records?
BS: Yeah, we did. We played in-store on our last tour. It was super, super hot. Very sweaty, but it was good. We usually only get to spend like eight hours in New Orleans every time we pass through, so it’ll be nice to hang out for a little while.
TDR: How do you guys feel about playing a bigger venue at One Eye Jacks this time around?
BS: Yeah, that’s crazy. I mean, that doesn’t make any sense. We’ll see how it goes. Keep our fingers crossed. It was a lot of fun [at Euclid Records], for sure.
TDR: What have you personally been listening to on the tour, in your downtime, if you’ve had any at all?
BS: I’ve been listening to, honestly, probably a lot of pop punk music. Our tour manager, his name is Jerry, he loves pop punk, so he’ll play us a lot of pop punk music and a lot of hip-hop, but not ironically.
TDR: Do you personally have a favorite song that you wrote or play for the band?
BS: Yeah, probably “Twin Size Mattress.”
TDR: Could you name one specific place you draw song-writing inspiration from?
BS: Probably from my friends. The stories they tell usually work in a lot of these song ideas.
TDR: Are you already writing and planning for the next album or do you just want to relax after the tour finishes?
BS: Oh, definitely. The writing process is pretty constant so, like, we’re always writing new stuff and I got some ideas and everybody’s got some ideas, so it’s slowly but surely coming together.
The Front Bottoms will be appearing with You Blew It! at One Eyed Jacks in New Orleans on Saturday, Jan. 25. Doors open at 9 p.m. Tickets are available at the band’s website thefrontbottoms.com.