Folly (band)

Folly is a band from Sussex, New Jersey. Their music is a mix of hardcore, metal, punk and ska. The band's final lineup included Arben Colaku on bass, Geoff Towle on guitar, Anthony Wille on drums, Agim Colaku on guitar, and Jon Tummillo on vocals.

They chose the name Folly due to its implications that a "costly undertaking having an absurd or ruinous outcome" is in fact the complete metaphor of the band and its members. In their words, "Folly is exactly what we are, not just as a band of fools who play ridiculously entwined and exploited musical genres, but as people who are continually kicked while they are down, while stubbornly and resiliently grinning in the face of mainstream adversity."

Folly has released two albums, two extended plays, visited 48 states, and have played 43 of them. Their broad musical palette and wide range of influences have allowed them to share the stage with such acts as Dillinger Escape Plan, New Found Glory, Chiodos, Catch 22, Converge, Senses Fail, Dragonforce, My Chemical Romance, Unearth, With Honor, Houston Calls, Taking Back Sunday, Atreyu, The Starting Line, and Bad Religion to name a few.

History

Folly was conceived at the early stages of their collective high school era, circa 1997. Despite frequent member changes early on, the persistence and heavy stress on friendship remained throughout all of the years; Agim and Geoff being the only two original members currently in the band. Former members include Josh Witt (drums), Billy Pouch (bass), Kurt Rohel (drums), Larry Braun (vocals), and Tony Perdisatt (vocals).

Jon Tummillo joined at vocals in 1998, and Arben Colaku, Agim's brother, joined at bass a year later. With a somewhat solidified lineup, Folly was able to release their first decent effort, recorded at Nada Studio in Orange County, NY. Prior efforts at recording were merely basic representations for the band to express more of a DIY attitude, with demo tapes copied over on each of their stereos and handed out at shows. They began to get the word out, frequently playing the NJ and tri-state area, until they met up with Jesse and Alex Burton (formerly of President Lemon and currently in Paulson) who headed up their small NJ indie label New World Records.

Before they recorded their first EP for New World Records & Entertainment, When "For My Friends" was released at the beginning of the summer of 2001, they packed their lives into a rented van to tour with their friends Face First (current members of Houston Calls), living on the road for a couple of weeks in a rented van. This was the first attempt to book their own tour, which for the most part entailed them playing for little to no one, at very odd venues, in equally as strange cities up and down the east coast. Regardless, this experience helped them gain insight to a life on the road, which they all subsequently yearned for.

The acquisition of Anthony Wille behind the drums was the final step into securing a stable lineup before Folly began to journey out of their regional area and see the rest of the country. In the early summer time of 2002, Folly met up with producer Sal Vilanueva and the team at Big Blue Meenie, where they had been a year prior to mix their EP. With the help of Sal, engineer Joe Pedulla, and Tim Gilles, Folly was able to record a three-song (unreleased) effort. The demo featured guest and backing vocals from members of Shai Hulud, who were in the studio at the time, labeling Folly as "Death Ska." A couple of tours ensued, and following an intense show presented by the Stevens Underground Music Awareness Committee (SUMAC) at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ with Converge, The Survivors, and A Life Once Lost, the band was approached by Fred Feldman, owner of Triple Crown Records.

Triple Crown Records era

Insanity Later was recorded in late 2003 at Big Blue Meenie under the production of Sal Villanueva (Taking Back Sunday, Thursday) released on April 6, 2004. The album detailed the transition from Folly's ska-pop-punk-influenced style to integrating a more hardcore-metal approach. The lyrics dealt with issues such as institutionalized education (Discussion is for the Pigs) and punk scene unification (Please Don't Shoot the Piano Player...) to name a couple. The release of the album proved to be a metaphor for the band's acceptance, most people simply didn't get it or understand it, while others seemed to appreciate and proudly endorse it. Insanity Later features guest vocals from Joey Southside of The Banner, Eric Gunderson of Killed By Memories, and Erin Farley. The album includes a montage music video for the unreleased song "Broken," edited by Robbie Tassaro.

The band's second full length, 'Resist Convenience', was released on March 10, 2006. This follow-up featured the further incorporation of metal and hardcore, while still embracing elements of ska, indie rock, and melodic punk. Resist Convenience dealt with issues such as homogenization of culture (Brooks Was Here), posturing and "underground fashion" (Bonfire of the Manatees), and drug addiction (We Still Believe...) to name a few. Once again guided by Sal Villanueva and recorded and mixed at Big Blue Meenie, Resist Convenience features guest vocals from Tyler Guida of My Bitter End, Logan Laflotte of Paulson, and Eric Gunderson.

Folly has since reached 48 states, touring with such bands as Senses Fail, Moneen, The Beautiful Mistake, Paulson, We're All Broken, My Bitter End, Anterrabae, The Banner, Underminded, One Dead Three Wounded, The Break, Look What I Did, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Blind Luck Music, The Human Abstract, The Forecast, The Static Age, and more... They have also shared the stage with such acts as Converge, Dillinger Escape Plan, Stretch Arm Strong, Catch 22, Big D and The Kids Table, Dragonforce, With Honor, and countless others. They have been part of such festivals as Hellfest (NJ, 2004), Skate and Surf Fest (NJ, 2003–2005), New England Hardcore and Metal Fest (MA, 2005–2006), and Saints and Sinners Fest (NJ, 2006).

Their last CD was released without any ties to the music industry. The seven song EP was a self-released digital EP simply titled "These are the Names of the Places We Broke Down." The titles of the songs are from towns Folly has broken down in over the years. Interesting the last song, 'Sussex, New Jersey', their home town, is a combination of 'The Morning Song' and 'Please Don't Shoot the Piano Player', played entirely on piano. CD's can be purchased on their Myspace page.^[1] The EP is also free on http://www.purevolume.com/folly

Break-up

Folly announced their departure with a statement on their Myspace page (myspace.com/follycore).

In April 2008, 3 sold out shows were played to celebrate the life and times of Folly with friends, family, and fans. The shows took place on April 11 at the Knights of Columbus in Wallingford, CT, April 12 at the School Of Rock in South Hackensack, NJ and April 13 at the Mainstage in Pompton Lakes, NJ.

In 2007, drummer Anthony Wille joined a New Jersey-based punk band (now defunct), Captives, as their new guitarist. Jon Tummillo also provided guest vocals on the band's full-length album.

In 2008, singer Jon Tummillo provided guests vocals on Red Light Green Light's debut full-length album.

In addition Jon, Agim, Arben, and Anthony of Folly have started a punk rock cover band called Mix Tape. http://www.myspace.com/mixtapenj

In addition Jon, Agim, Arben, and Anthony of Folly and Chris "Beef" LeBeouf of The Banner have started Hoover Flags http://www.myspace.com/hooverflags

In April 2011 Folly performed a series of shows at a few select venues to very small audiences of their most dedicated fans, over the span of a few days in various parts of New Jersey. These shows were well received by fans of the band and clips can be found easily on YouTube and other video streaming sites. Since then, as of April 2012 there has been no further word on a possible tour or new material being released.

Jon Tummillo is now an English teacher at Union High School in Union, New Jersey.

Members

• Arben Colaku - bass
• Geoff Towle - guitar
• Anthony Wille - drums
• Agim Colaku - guitar
• Jon Tummillo - vocals

Discography

• '98 Demo (1998) ((OOP))
• '99 Demo (1999) ((OOP))
• For My Friends EP (2001, New World Records) ((OOP))
• '02 Demo (2002) ((OOP))
• Insanity Later (2004, Triple Crown Records)
• Resist Convenience (2006, Triple Crown Records)
• These Are The Names of Places We Broke Down In: EP (2008, Digital Self-Release)

References

External links

• Folly