Live Free or Die Yon
The young and the restless? Well, that’s one way to describe these guys.
Tom Baumann (lead vocals), Paul Howells (guitar/vocals), Zach Miller (drums), Todd Schramke (bass) and Anthony Grasso (guitar) make up Free Yon, a hardcore punk band with a melodic, yet intense sound that’s more mature and developed than your mom.
Based out of Hightstown, New Jersey, Free Yon has only stayed in their area when doing concerts, performing in such foreign realms as New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. With a fan base and live show experience beyond just their hometown, they’ve performed in the past with bands like A Wilhelm Scream, Only Crime, KillRadio, and The Casting Out, to name a few.
Getting their beginnings as a rock cover band, they’ve played songs from many different bands and genres. Now, they’re doing exactly what their motto claims: “Fuck it. Play whatever sounds good.â€
So far, this intellectual method has worked in favor of Free Yon’s music. With upbeat rhythm, unique vocals and complex instrumentation, anyone would be reasonably dumb to call their music repetitive.
“Some songs are furiously hardcore, while others have a more upbeat feel to them,†Zach said. “Some even have strong metal or even hip-hop influence… We always make sure the listener has something to grab onto and get stuck in their head.â€
With lyrics focusing on what they consider “personal politics,†they try not to push their opinions on their audience, but instead, give them some words to think about.
As for live shows, don’t expect a band that’s calm, cool and collected.
“Our live show is full of energy,†Zach said. “We always play our songs just a little bit faster live to keep the momentum going. We’re also always changing the way we play already recorded songs.â€
When they’re not performing, Free Yon records their songs themselves in their rehearsal space, located in Hightstown, NJ. Guitarist Paul Howells and the rest of the band even run a DIY recording studio out of their basement called Green Carpet Studios. But despite their musical turmoil, they’re still normal guys with normal commitments, including jobs and… Oh yeah, school.
But don’t expect these minor details to distract them.
“After about two years of crafting our sound, we’ve found a more melodic, yet still thunderously hardcore sound with a perfect amount of technicality in each song,†Zach said. “We’re proud of every new song, and we want other people to enjoy it as much as we do.â€
Contacting Free Yon A.I.M : Freeyon29
Email :
[email protected]^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
We'll play ANY show, anywhere. No matter how small and shitty...the smaller and shittier the BETTER, actually..... but if you want us to sell an unreasonable amount of tickets just to play with "big" bands, chances are, we'll be "unavailable" that night.