The Front Bottoms: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

When I first saw The Front Bottoms, I was stunned, as 350-plus singing/shouting clubgoers repeating compassionate verse after complicated verse back at singer Brian Sella. And then it happened again at a hot sweaty club in Philadelphia, and later in D.C., and then again in Baltimore. The community that's formed around these songs, total strangers purging deep emotions in a public space. It's a beautiful phenomena, a testament to the passion and compassion that this band radiates. A testament to the nerve that's gets pinged with lines cried out, 'I wanna be stronger than your dad was for your mom' or the phrase in one of this years best songs 'Twin Sized Mattress' "

I wanna contribute to the chaos

I don't wanna watch and then complain

'Cause I am through finding blame

That is the decision that I have made

And when you hear the music...uncomplicated but pretty memorable, you realize that the talent in this band isn't about instrument craft and years of playing scales...this is about the shortest distance from emotion, sometimes complex and storied emotion, from band to audience. At the Tiny Desk in the bright of day and with office lights on, it was a tough to get the call and response that happens in a darkened late night room, but it's not hard to look at the faces in this band, especially the sweet smile of Brian, to understand this band. Their new record Talon of the Hawk is certainly on my year end list for all these reasons. It's all about heart and soul, something frequently avoided and hard to convey. --BOB BOILEN

Set List

"Au Revoir (Adios)"
"Swear To God The Devil Made Me Do It"
"The Feud"
"Twin Size Mattress"

Credits

Producers: Bob Boilen, Denise DeBelius; Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait; Videographers: Parker Miles Blohm, Denise DeBelius, Erica Yoon

[nammynammy]

The lead singer has that type of voice you either love or hate. I personally love it. His voice sounds like he's almost about to yell/scream his lyrics but instead ends up with a very unique sound.

[glitterflyy]

hey NPR!!! Can you bring them back?? They’ve grown SO much since this vid, and their repertoire has too!!

[xsharktankx]

This band is so incredible because it perfectly fits for any kind of mood. You can be crying, drunk alone at home and throw it on, but also when you're happy, it somewhat reminds you of like summer memories at the lake even if the lyrics have nothing to do with summer memories at the lake. It's perfect road tripping music because it's a great mix between lively enough to pump you up, but mellow enough to keep you chill and somber

[cookiebandit]

My friend Shaun showed me this band just a little before he disappeared. I haven't heard from him in something like 2 years, none of our friend group has. He was a great dude. A punk with a heart that kept him engaged with making the world better. A really good friend.
I still love this band, and I still think of him when I hear it. I hope he's out there somewhere, and I hope he's okay.

[ohdiss]

twin size mattress is such a complete and emotional song

[AP-cxcq]

Jesus this is so good. Every couple of weeks or so on some random Friday after a long day at work and home and after the wife and kids have finally gone to bed, I'll have a few beers stay up late and surf around YouTube, and for some reason I always find myself back here. It's 3 a.m. my kids will be up in about three hours raring to go and yet here I am again watching this through for the hundredth time. I love this!

[salma-amlas]

"There's someone out there just like me probably keeping to themselves"
is a lyric I love remembering exists, and someone sat down and wrote

[erinerinbobearin]

Hate how much this band still has a tug on my heart. I listen to them and immediately get brought back to the boy who had my heart many summers in a row.

[hcraig]

u gotta admit, there's something so hauntingly beautiful about twin size mattress

[noahproctor]

Discovering this band is one of the best things I’ve ever done

[Sixpennysage]

Iv never realized how powerful Brian Sella's voice really is until now. As in he is really loud and full naturally

[NinaNdsk]

Brian sella just makes me feel something ive never felt before and I dont know about you but his "lame four chord songs" are pretty powerful

[mikerr]

Years latter, I still come back and fall in love with this all over again.

[djspeacialk]

When you think he's crying but he's actually sweating

[johnbryden]

When I was 13, my sister showed this band to me when she would drive me around back in 2014. In 2015 I started a band and we pretty much strictly played tfb covers. This was the soundtrack to my high school years through new friends, new experiences, new love. I’ve seen them live every time they came to Cleveland. I’m 20 now, and these songs mean just as much to me it’s crazy. I don’t know what I have to say really, maybe just thanks.

[kylew.sarvey]

As I read through these comments I realized that we all love the front bottoms, ajj, modern baseball and neutral milk hotel, you people are awesome

[sarah-zpse]

them laughing at toms ooh la la is everything

[Kaylaaisbeast]

This band helped me cope with my sister being murdered by her boyfriend, three years ago tomorrow, so for that I owe them my deepest gratitude. Some songs, or certain lines, just tug at your heartstrings. Makes me feel a little less alone and able to go on a little bit better with my life. One step at a time, sometimes a couple steps back in between, but just keep pushing.

[stanleysoultaire]

I think people tend to forget that music doesn't always have to sound "perfect" or "expertly crafted". Sometimes it's just the message each song is trying to convey. Everyone sends their message differently.

[Couldnotexplain]

My sophomore year in college is when Talon came out. I lived in a dorm that only had twin sized mattresses. I’m 6’4”. Hard to describe how hard the song twin size mattress hit me back then. That song will forever hold such a precious nostalgic place in my heart.