Concert Review: The Front Bottoms (Ritz Raleigh)

BY CHRIS HOCKER

The Front Bottoms brought their You Are Who You Hang Out With tour to a sold-out Ritz in Raleigh on November 7th. Trio Slothrust served as the night's opening act.



Slothrust kicked off the night with a heavy set filled with Leah Wellbaum's explosive guitar. The highlight of their set was a cover of Ginuwine's "Pony."



The Front Bottoms took the stage to the strains of Jimmy Buffet's "Margaritaville." After stating that they like to enter to old songs, they immediately launched into "Emotional." If you want to know how huge The Front Bottoms are, listen to 1,400 fans scream along to the rapid-fire lyrics of "Emotional" as if their lives depended upon it. It's amazing.



The Front Bottoms consist of singer/guitarist Brian Sella and drummer Mat Uychich. Rounding out the band last night was a bassist, keyboardist, and an additional guitarist. They all sounded great. Including opener "Emotional," the band performed five tracks from You Are Who You Hang Out With, which was released earlier this year. The band also played much older songs like "Flashlight" and encore "Twin Size Mattress."



The Front Bottoms have two NY dates remaining before setting off for a December tour of the UK. If you're able to check them out, do so!

CHRIS HOCKER, Editor
Strange Carolinas started as a hobby for Chris Hocker who often dragged his family to offbeat detours on family vacations. Hocker decided to start photographing and writing about these roadside attractions and in June 2014, launched Strange Carolinas with a story on Myrtle Beach's KISS Coffeehouse. In addition to chronicling over 400 attractions across the Carolinas, Strange Carolinas has also become an impressive music blog.