Folly (band)
Encyclopedia
Folly is a band from Sussex
, New Jersey
. Their music is a mix of hardcore
, metal
, punk
and ska
. The band's final lineup included Arben Colaku on bass, Geoff Towle on guitar, Anthony Wille on drums, Agim Colaku on guitar, and Jon Tummillo on vocals.
They chose the name Folly due to its implications that a "costly undertaking having an absurd or ruinous outcome" is in fact the complete metaphor of the band and its members. In their words, "Folly is exactly what we are, not just as a band of fools who play ridiculously entwined and exploited musical genres, but as people who are continually kicked while they are down, while stubbornly and resiliently grinning in the face of mainstream adversity."
Folly has released two albums, two extended plays, visited 48 states, and have played 43 of them. They have shared the stage with such acts as Dillinger Escape Plan, New Found Glory
, Chiodos
, Catch 22, Converge
, Senses Fail
, Dragonforce
, My Chemical Romance
, Unearth
, With Honor, Houston Calls
, Taking Back Sunday
, Atreyu
, The Starting Line
, Rick Astley
, and Bad Religion
to name a few.
Jon Tummillo joined at vocals in 1998, and Arben Colaku, Agim's brother, joined at bass a year later. With a somewhat solidified lineup, Folly was able to release their first decent effort, recorded at Nada Studio in Orange County, NY. Prior efforts at recording were merely basic representations for the band to express more of a DIY attitude, with demo tapes copied over on each of their stereos and handed out at shows. They began to get the word out, frequently playing the NJ and tri-state area, until they met up with Jesse and Alex Burton (formerly of President Lemon and currently in Paulson) who headed up their small NJ indie label New World Records.
Before they recorded their first EP for New World Records & Entertainment, When "For My Friends" was released at the beginning of the summer of 2001, they packed their lives into a rented van to tour with their friends Face First
(current members of Houston Calls), living on the road for a couple of weeks in a rented van. This was the first attempt to book their own tour, which for the most part entailed them playing for little to no one, at very odd venues, in equally as strange cities up and down the east coast. Regardless, this experience helped them gain insight to a life on the road, which they all subsequently yearned for.
The acquisition of Anthony Wille behind the drums was the final step into securing a stable lineup before Folly began to journey out of their regional area and see the rest of the country. In the early summer time of 2002, Folly met up with producer Sal Vilanueva and the team at Big Blue Meenie, where they had been a year prior to mix their EP. With the help of Sal, engineer Joe Pedulla, and Tim Gilles, Folly was able to record a three-song (unreleased) effort. The demo featured guest and backing vocals from members of Shai Hulud, who were in the studio at the time, labeling Folly as "Death Ska." A couple of tours ensued, and following an intense show presented by the Stevens Underground Music Awareness Committee (SUMAC) at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ with Converge, The Survivors, and A Life Once Lost, the band was approached by Fred Feldman, owner of Triple Crown Records.
The band's second full length, 'Resist Convenience', was released on March 10, 2006.
This follow-up featured the further encorporation of metal and hardcore, while still embracing elements of ska, indie rock, and melodic punk. Resist Convenience dealt with issues such as homogenization of culture (Brooks Was Here), posturing and "underground fashion" (Bonfire of the Manatees), and drug addiction (We Still Believe...) to name a few. Once again guided by Sal Villanueva and recorded and mixed at Big Blue Meenie, Resist Convenience features guest vocals from Tyler Guida of My Bitter End, Logan Laflotte of Paulson, and Eric Gunderson.
Folly has since reached 48 states, touring with such bands as Senses Fail, Moneen, The Beautiful Mistake, Paulson, We're All Broken, My Bitter End, Anterrabae, The Banner, Underminded, One Dead Three Wounded, The Break, Look What I Did, Drop Dead Gorgeous, The Human Abstract, The Forecast, The Static Age, and more... They have also shared the stage with such acts as Converge, Dillinger Escape Plan, Stretch Arm Strong, Catch 22, Big D and The Kids Table, Dragonforce, With Honor, and countless others. They have been part of such festivals as Hellfest (NJ, 2004), Skate and Surf Fest (NJ, 2003–2005), New England Hardcore and Metal Fest (MA, 2005–2006), and Saints and Sinners Fest (NJ, 2006).
Their last CD was released without any ties to the music industry. The seven song EP was a self released digital EP simply titled "These are the Names of the Places We Broke Down." The titles of the songs are from towns Folly has broken down in over the years. Interesting the last song, 'Sussex, New Jersey', their home town, is a combination of 'The Morning Song' and 'Please Don't Shoot the Piano Player', played entirely on piano. CD's can be purchased on their myspace page. The EP is also free on http://www.purevolume.com/folly
In April 2008, 3 sold out shows were played to celebrate the life and times of Folly with friends, family, and fans. The shows took place on April 11 at the Knights of Columbus in Wallingford, CT, April 12 at the School Of Rock in South Hackensack, NJ and April 13 at the Mainstage
in Pompton Lakes, NJ.
In 2007, drummer Anthony Wille joined a New Jersey-based punk band (now defunct), Captives, as their new guitarist. Jon Tummillo also provided guest vocals on the band's full-length album.
In 2008, singer Jon Tummillo provided guests vocals on Red Light Green Light's debut full-length album.
In addition Jon, Agim, Arben, and Anthony of Folly have started a punk rock cover band called Mix Tape. http://www.myspace.com/mixtapenj
In addition Jon, Agim, Arben, and Anthony of Folly and Chris "Beef" LeBeouf of The Banner have started Hoover Flags http://www.myspace.com/hooverflags
Jon Tummillo is now an english teacher at Union High School
in Union, New Jersey.
Sussex, New Jersey
Sussex is a borough in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 2,130.Sussex was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on October 14, 1891, as Deckertown, from portions of Wantage...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Their music is a mix of hardcore
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
, metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
, punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
. The band's final lineup included Arben Colaku on bass, Geoff Towle on guitar, Anthony Wille on drums, Agim Colaku on guitar, and Jon Tummillo on vocals.
They chose the name Folly due to its implications that a "costly undertaking having an absurd or ruinous outcome" is in fact the complete metaphor of the band and its members. In their words, "Folly is exactly what we are, not just as a band of fools who play ridiculously entwined and exploited musical genres, but as people who are continually kicked while they are down, while stubbornly and resiliently grinning in the face of mainstream adversity."
Folly has released two albums, two extended plays, visited 48 states, and have played 43 of them. They have shared the stage with such acts as Dillinger Escape Plan, New Found Glory
New Found Glory
New Found Glory is an American rock band from Coral Springs, Florida. Formed in the summer of 1997, founding members were lead vocalist Jordan Pundik, guitarists Chad Gilbert and Steve Klein, bassist Ian Grushka and drummer Joe Marino...
, Chiodos
Chiodos
Chiodos is an American post hardcore band from Davison, Michigan. Formed in 2001, the group was originally known as "The Chiodos Bros," the band's name was a tribute to filmmakers Stephen, Charles, and Edward Chiodo, responsible for the film Killer Klowns from Outer Space. Chiodos released their...
, Catch 22, Converge
Converge (band)
Converge is an American band from Salem, Massachusetts. Playing a blend of hardcore punk and metal since 1990, Converge has helped to define many of the elements of the metalcore genre.-Description:...
, Senses Fail
Senses Fail
Senses Fail is an American post-hardcore band from Ridgewood, New Jersey. Formed in 2002, the line up initially consisted of vocalist Buddy Nielsen, drummer Dan Trapp, guitarists Dave Miller and Garrett Zablocki and being completed by bassist Mike Glita. The band quickly issued their debut EP, From...
, Dragonforce
DragonForce
DragonForce are an English power metal band from London. Formed in 1999, the group is known for its long and fast guitar solos, fantasy-based lyrics, and electronic sounds in their music to add to their retro video game-influenced sound. Guitarists Herman Li and Sam Totman are the only two...
, My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...
, Unearth
Unearth
Unearth is an American metalcore band from Winthrop, Massachusetts. Formed in 1998, the group has released five studio albums. Their fourth record, The March was released on October 14, 2008 meeting with high positive reception by many...
, With Honor, Houston Calls
Houston Calls
Houston Calls was an American power pop/punk band, based in Rockaway, New Jersey. They formed in 2003 and were signed to Drive-Thru Records. On June 9, 2009 they announced their official breakup.-Formation :...
, Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday is a rock band from Long Island, NY, formed in 1999 by guitarist Eddie Reyes. Current members of the band are Adam Lazzara , John Nolan , Eddie Reyes , Shaun Cooper and Mark O'Connell ....
, Atreyu
Atreyu (band)
Atreyu is an American rock band from Orange County, California, formed in 1998. The band consists of vocalist/lyricist Alex Varkatzas, guitarists Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel, bassist Marc McKnight and drummer/vocalist Brandon Saller...
, The Starting Line
The Starting Line
The Starting Line is an American pop punk band based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that formed in 1999.- Formation and history :In 1999, the band that would become The Starting Line was initiated in Churchville, Pennsylvania via an e-mail from guitarist Matt Watts to vocalist/bassist Kenny Vasoli...
, Rick Astley
Rick Astley
Richard Paul "Rick" Astley is an English singer-songwriter, musician, and radio personality. He is known for his 1987 song, "Never Gonna Give You Up", which was a #1 hit single in 25 countries...
, and Bad Religion
Bad Religion
Bad Religion is a punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles in 1979. Their current line-up consists of Greg Graffin , Brett Gurewitz , Jay Bentley , Greg Hetson , Brian Baker and Brooks Wackerman . Gurewitz is also the founder of the label Epitaph Records, which has released almost all of the...
to name a few.
History
Folly was conceived at the early stages of their collective high school era, circa 1997. Despite frequent member changes early on, the persistence and heavy stress on friendship remained throughout all of the years; Agim and Geoff being the only two original members currently in the band. Former members include Josh Witt (drums), Billy Pouch (bass), Kurt Rohel (drums), Larry Braun (vocals), and Tony Perdisatt (vocals).Jon Tummillo joined at vocals in 1998, and Arben Colaku, Agim's brother, joined at bass a year later. With a somewhat solidified lineup, Folly was able to release their first decent effort, recorded at Nada Studio in Orange County, NY. Prior efforts at recording were merely basic representations for the band to express more of a DIY attitude, with demo tapes copied over on each of their stereos and handed out at shows. They began to get the word out, frequently playing the NJ and tri-state area, until they met up with Jesse and Alex Burton (formerly of President Lemon and currently in Paulson) who headed up their small NJ indie label New World Records.
Before they recorded their first EP for New World Records & Entertainment, When "For My Friends" was released at the beginning of the summer of 2001, they packed their lives into a rented van to tour with their friends Face First
Face First
Face First is the sixth album by jazz fusion band Tribal Tech. It was released in 1993.-Track listing:# "Face First" – 7:04# "Canine" – 6:24# "After Hours" – 7:23# "Revenge Stew" – 6:07# "Salt Lick" – 9:45# "Uh.....
(current members of Houston Calls), living on the road for a couple of weeks in a rented van. This was the first attempt to book their own tour, which for the most part entailed them playing for little to no one, at very odd venues, in equally as strange cities up and down the east coast. Regardless, this experience helped them gain insight to a life on the road, which they all subsequently yearned for.
The acquisition of Anthony Wille behind the drums was the final step into securing a stable lineup before Folly began to journey out of their regional area and see the rest of the country. In the early summer time of 2002, Folly met up with producer Sal Vilanueva and the team at Big Blue Meenie, where they had been a year prior to mix their EP. With the help of Sal, engineer Joe Pedulla, and Tim Gilles, Folly was able to record a three-song (unreleased) effort. The demo featured guest and backing vocals from members of Shai Hulud, who were in the studio at the time, labeling Folly as "Death Ska." A couple of tours ensued, and following an intense show presented by the Stevens Underground Music Awareness Committee (SUMAC) at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ with Converge, The Survivors, and A Life Once Lost, the band was approached by Fred Feldman, owner of Triple Crown Records.
Triple Crown Records era
Insanity Later was recorded in late 2003 at Big Blue Meenie under the production of Sal Villanueva (Taking Back Sunday, Thursday) released on April 6, 2004. The album detailed the transition from Folly's ska-pop-punk-influenced style to integrating a more hardcore-metal approach. The lyrics dealt with issues such as institutionalized education (Discussion is for the Pigs) and punk scene unification (Please Don't Shoot the Piano Player...) to name a couple. The release of the album proved to be a metaphor for the band's acceptance, most people simply didn't get it or understand it, while others seemed to appreciate and proudly endorse it. Insanity Later features guest vocals from Joey Southside of The Banner, Eric Gunderson of Killed By Memories, and Erin Farley. The album includes a montage music video for the unreleased song "Broken," edited by Robbie Tassaro.The band's second full length, 'Resist Convenience', was released on March 10, 2006.
This follow-up featured the further encorporation of metal and hardcore, while still embracing elements of ska, indie rock, and melodic punk. Resist Convenience dealt with issues such as homogenization of culture (Brooks Was Here), posturing and "underground fashion" (Bonfire of the Manatees), and drug addiction (We Still Believe...) to name a few. Once again guided by Sal Villanueva and recorded and mixed at Big Blue Meenie, Resist Convenience features guest vocals from Tyler Guida of My Bitter End, Logan Laflotte of Paulson, and Eric Gunderson.
Folly has since reached 48 states, touring with such bands as Senses Fail, Moneen, The Beautiful Mistake, Paulson, We're All Broken, My Bitter End, Anterrabae, The Banner, Underminded, One Dead Three Wounded, The Break, Look What I Did, Drop Dead Gorgeous, The Human Abstract, The Forecast, The Static Age, and more... They have also shared the stage with such acts as Converge, Dillinger Escape Plan, Stretch Arm Strong, Catch 22, Big D and The Kids Table, Dragonforce, With Honor, and countless others. They have been part of such festivals as Hellfest (NJ, 2004), Skate and Surf Fest (NJ, 2003–2005), New England Hardcore and Metal Fest (MA, 2005–2006), and Saints and Sinners Fest (NJ, 2006).
Their last CD was released without any ties to the music industry. The seven song EP was a self released digital EP simply titled "These are the Names of the Places We Broke Down." The titles of the songs are from towns Folly has broken down in over the years. Interesting the last song, 'Sussex, New Jersey', their home town, is a combination of 'The Morning Song' and 'Please Don't Shoot the Piano Player', played entirely on piano. CD's can be purchased on their myspace page. The EP is also free on http://www.purevolume.com/folly
Break-up
Folly announced their departure with a statement on their myspace page (myspace.com/follycore).In April 2008, 3 sold out shows were played to celebrate the life and times of Folly with friends, family, and fans. The shows took place on April 11 at the Knights of Columbus in Wallingford, CT, April 12 at the School Of Rock in South Hackensack, NJ and April 13 at the Mainstage
Mainstage
Main stage theatre is that which falls between studio theatre and large-scale events. It is usually performed in a proscenium theatre or on a thrust stage. Main stage is also used to describe the performance space with the largest audience capacity at a performing arts festival or other venues.-...
in Pompton Lakes, NJ.
In 2007, drummer Anthony Wille joined a New Jersey-based punk band (now defunct), Captives, as their new guitarist. Jon Tummillo also provided guest vocals on the band's full-length album.
In 2008, singer Jon Tummillo provided guests vocals on Red Light Green Light's debut full-length album.
In addition Jon, Agim, Arben, and Anthony of Folly have started a punk rock cover band called Mix Tape. http://www.myspace.com/mixtapenj
In addition Jon, Agim, Arben, and Anthony of Folly and Chris "Beef" LeBeouf of The Banner have started Hoover Flags http://www.myspace.com/hooverflags
Jon Tummillo is now an english teacher at Union High School
Union High School
Union High School may refer to:*Union High School , Modoc, Indiana*Union High School , La Porte City, Iowa*Union High School , Grand Rapids, Michigan*Union High School , Union, Missouri...
in Union, New Jersey.
Members
- Arben Colaku - bass
- Geoff Towle - guitar
- Anthony Wille - drums
- Agim Colaku - guitar
- Jon Tummillo - vocals
Discography
- '98 Demo (1998) ((OOPOut of printOut of print refers to an item, typically a book , but can include any print or visual media or sound recording, that is in the state of no longer being published....
)) - '99 Demo (1999) ((OOPOut of printOut of print refers to an item, typically a book , but can include any print or visual media or sound recording, that is in the state of no longer being published....
)) - For My Friends EP (2001, New World RecordsNew World RecordsNew World Records is a record label based in New York City specialising in American music. The label was established in 1975 through a Rockefeller Foundation grant to produce a 100 disc anthology covering 200 years of American music....
) ((OOPOut of printOut of print refers to an item, typically a book , but can include any print or visual media or sound recording, that is in the state of no longer being published....
)) - '02 Demo (2002) ((OOPOut of printOut of print refers to an item, typically a book , but can include any print or visual media or sound recording, that is in the state of no longer being published....
)) - Insanity LaterInsanity LaterInsanity Later is the first full length album from the band Folly, and was released on Triple Crown Records. The album included two songs from their 2002 demo: "Please Don't Shoot the Piano Player, He's Doing the Best He Can", and "The City Is Drowning"...
(2004, Triple Crown RecordsTriple Crown RecordsTriple Crown Records is a New York-based record label. It is home to Hit the Lights, The Receiving End of Sirens, The Dear Hunter, Moving Mountains, and As Tall as Lions, among others...
) - Resist ConvenienceResist ConvenienceResist Convenience is the second full length album from Folly. It was released on March 10, 2006, and follows on from their first release, Insanity Later. The songs "False Evidence Appearing Real" and "The Wake" have been featured on their MySpace page. The song "Broken" originally appeared on the...
(2006, Triple Crown RecordsTriple Crown RecordsTriple Crown Records is a New York-based record label. It is home to Hit the Lights, The Receiving End of Sirens, The Dear Hunter, Moving Mountains, and As Tall as Lions, among others...
) - These Are The Names of Places We Broke Down In: EP (2008, Digital Self-Release)