FTB is a ska/funk/rock band based out of the Bay Area in Northern California. In their seven years together FTB has cultivated a fun, original, yet familiar sound while also earning the respect of South Bay Promoters and Venues.
Generally regarded as a Ska-Funk band, newcomers are pleasantly shocked when FTB breaks into a Punk or Pop or Hip Hop number. Their onstage energy and antics repeatedly remind the crowd it's alright to have a good time.
The atmosphere of unity created at every show is no doubt what contributes to the exponential rise in popularity FTB continues to enjoy.
As much as the fans enjoy the show, the casual ensemble they portray onstage only vaguely resembles the highly motivated group of professionals their peers and co-workers would recognize. Behind the scenes FTB executes a seamless system rehearsed and perfected over eight years of performing live.
FTB is just about to release their second full length album in April of 2009
. For more info please visit funktheband.com
FTB was born on a cold winter day... yeah. No seriously. FTB came together in 2001, when San Jose was still awash with droves of metal bands. The Cactus Club had recently closed, & the rest of San Jose's venues were facing extinction as well. Metal was cannibalizing the scene, the term "Live Music" became synonymous with some guy screaming at you during a half hour of feedback. Needless to say concertgoers ran into the arms of what would be the next blow to the live music scene, DJ's.
Having spent 3 years as a ska/punk band it was in 2001; Josh, Doug & Drew resigned to the garage in Mtn. View where they would rethink their direction, Their ska/punk band had started as a joke, just somethin to do while they drank. Somewhere along the way, one by one the members of FTB realized their future was waiting in the music industry, whether writing it, recording it, performing it, or mixing it.
After watching Blue's Brothers 1000 times over, FTB crystallized their vision, and found their sound. Everything. If FTB was going to go on the road from town to town they better be able to play any genre of music. They better be able to fill 3 hours of time without playing more than a few covers. The first songs FTB wrote and performed were primarily funk, but FTB always closed shows with a rock ballad just for laughs. Naturally the bass grooves from the funk songs lent themselves to the hip-hop songs that followed. After those genres were locked the old ska itch came back and FTB developed a huge catalog of ska songs overladen with funk melodies and funk vocal arrangements. It was this era that birthed the song "Too Many Cheifs". Pop punk was the next genre on the list and FTB tackled it head on with little resistance, as exemplified in 'Where Did You Go". A standard punk-pop song with a casual nod to classical in the intro. FTB also resurrected a few old punk songs from their youth just in case people in other towns were still into that stuff.
Within a year FTB had over 4 hours of material to choose from. They had traded old equipment for a Dodge Ram Van. Ordered up Stickers, T-Shirt's and Albums. With all their ducks in a row FTB took off like a rocket and has never looked back. Touring up and down California several times a year, for the past 3 years. In this last year FTB has had the good fortune to open for major acts such as LYRICS BORN & MIKEY DREAD. Skateboard and BMX expos have become an ideal venue for this extremely versatile band. FTB released an album on June 10th by throwing a free concert in Downtown San Jose. It was the success of this show that established FTB as the "Big Deal" of the summer locally. The Album Release tour kicks off in early July, and as a testament to their continued growth FTB is expanding their circuit to include Nevada and Utah. Check out FTB at funktheband.com
FTB is constantly touring the west coast playing shows from Vegas to Portland several times a year. FTB is proud to have opened for very large acts. In 2007 FTB opened for FISHBONE & The Phenomenauts @ a PAC Session held at the Avalon Ballroom, FTB acted as main support for LYRICS BORN on 3 separate occasions @ The Caspar Inn. FTB has opened for MIKEY DREAD, not to mention touring and exploring the West coast alongside South Bay Ska legends MONKEY.
Influences
FTB is currently putting the finishing touches on a new album to be released in April 2009. This album is featuring a large number of San Jose's finest musicians from San Jose's finest bands, Mixed and Mastered by the best engineers in the South Bay
In 2006 we recorded our self titled album at Last Drop Studios in Campbell. After we added a few guest soloists we realized we had something we could really be proud of. We had it mastered at Freq. Mastering in Portland and held the Album Release June 10th in Downtown San Jose. These are a few of our favorite songs. Track 9 “Too many chiefs”
The instantly energizing “Too many chiefs” is one of FTB’s most popular songs to perform live. Trumpet and Saxophone create an immediate urgency in this Ska inspired anthem.
Track 2 “The show must go on”
Written shortly after FTB formed “The show must go on” is a prime example of FTB’s love for Funk. Inspired by the hardships every band endures, the lyrical content reminds the listener just how much work goes into the songs they hear on the radio as well as the performances they see in clubs and bars.
Track 8 “Where did you go”
Pop Punk at it’s finest. “Where did you go” explores the boundaries of Pop punk with Surf style guitar solos and Ska Saxaphone lines. Melodic piano parts throughout the arrangement somehow compliment and mock traditional Pop-Punk songs in the same breath.
What can we say about Drew that hasn't already been said about Tommy Chong. He likes to smog. I mean, he likes drinkin Bombay Sapphire too but not as much as he likes roastin fatty bowls. He likes eatin chicken wings, but not as much as he likes burnin blunts to dust. Drew plays Ibanez basses through Ampeg amplification. Drew works @ The Voodoo lounge as a Sound Engineer, when he's not puffin loadies. Drew has been playin Bass for over 10 years, when he's not ripping bongs.
What can we say about GMAC4 that hasn't been said about John Travolta in "Urban Cowboy". He's likes operating tractors when he's not drinkin Coors Light. He likes workin on Christmas tree farms when he's not chuggin Coors Light. GMAC plays on a Gretsch Renown kit. GMAC uses Dave Weckl sticks, when he's not beer bongin Coors Light. In addition to lookin like a young Martin Sheen GMAC has been playing drums over 10 years (when he's not poundin Coors Light of course).
Squeeze likes eating food, Period! This fucker will stuff his cheeks with 2 pounds of Jack in the box and still eat the rest of your fries. Squeeze likes watchin sitcoms like "Becker" when he's not eatin a large pizza to his Dome. Squeeze also like workin on his 62 Bug when he's not eating a whole bag of Doritos and a 2 liter of Cream Soda. Squeeze plays a Korg Karma or a Nord Electro 2 through Roland Amplification, when he's not reading porn on the shitter. Squeeze has probably been playin 6 years but who fuckin knows?
Aadith likes playin Guitar. He also likes wearing sandals when he's not riffing all up in your grill. He uses Carvin guitars and amplifiers...but it doesn't fuckin matter what kind of gear he's using when he bends space & time & fucks up your whole world with divine wankery!
Chuckie woods is a bad motherfucker! Chuck plays a mean Sax when he's not sawing logs like the dickens. Chuck gives music lessons when he's not waking me up from the next hotel room over with his snoring. Chuck also likes drinkin St. Pauli Girl when he's not imitating a choking horse at 3 am. Chuck does not like eatin meat. Judging by the way he plays I think he has about 106 years of experience.
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Hey what's up!? Just came by to say you rock and leave some love on your page...I have a show at Chaser's in Scottsdale, AZ this Friday July 17th...Check out the flyer on my page for more info.
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Thanks to All those Who Made our First Shakedown a Success! Join us July 2, 2009 for the Grand Opening of our Weekly Thursday Night! The SHAKEDOWN in the 562...Something Fresh This Way Comes.....
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