FTB

Music:

Member Since: 8/25/2004
Band Website: funktheband.com
Band Members:
FTB is a ska/funk/rock band based out of the Bay Area in Northern California. In their six years together FTB has cultivated a fun, original, yet familiar sound while also earning the respect of South Bay Promoters and Venues. FTB is proud to have opened for Large acts such as FISHBONE, LYRICS BORN, & MIKEY DREAD as well as exploring the West coast alongside South Bay Ska legends MONKEY. 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 poularity FTB continues to enjoy. As much as the fans enjoy the show, the casual ensemble they portray onstage only vaugely 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 currently touring the Western United States to promote their Debut selftitled album just released in June of 2006. 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 synonmous 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 crystalized 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 lended 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 overlayed with funk melodys 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 ressurected 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 Ca. 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 versitile band. FTB released their new album 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 made up of Drew Z. on Bass, Bong and Vox, George McKenzie IV on Drums and Hennesey, Josh W. on Keys and PBR, Alby Bangin on Guitar & Crying. Also featuring very special guest stars Rick "the animal" D. on Guitar & Wonder joints. Chuckie "This dude is just bad ass" Woods on Sax & St. Pauli Girl. Not to mention Nick " What a bitch" Maxim on Guitar & Dooting your Shnoo.

Influences:
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 cheifs” The instantly energizing “Too many cheifs” 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.

Type of Label: None