Band of the Week: The Frst
Each week here at High Road, we choose one band or artist that we’re not working with, but we think you should check out anyway!
NAME? The Frst
LISTEN TO their single “Rules” in the number one spot of our “Flannel & PBR” Spotify playlist.
WHAT DO THEY SOUND LIKE? They’re like Spoon meets Weezer with a pinch of Nirvana.
TROLL THEM ON Facebook // Instagram // Twitter
“‘Rules’ was the song that brought The Frst together as a band,” says frontman Mikei Gray. “It started with us musically mixing Doo Wop and Punk, and lyrically alluding to our time on the road, while retaining some sarcastic under tones about Rock & Roll culture. In the music video, the cops chase us all the way to a house party that they end up joining…That was also somewhat inspired by a true story [laughs].“
MORE ABOUT THE FRST:
After a decade spent as a decorated live rock guitarist, sharing stages with artists spanning the width and breadth of the music industry, such as Portugal. The Man, Sublime with Rome, and even The Village People, singer-guitarist Mikei Gray had something different in mind when he started The Frst, in 2017. “Freedom and fun were the goals with this project, so as a mission statement there is no I in The Frst.”
Anthemic protest against distracted driving “Another One” was named “The Best Road Rage Song Since The Offspring” by Alan Cross, while “Seven Eleven” reached # 2 on Soundcloud’s USA Rock Chart in July 2019, earning The Frst a Twitter shoutout from Blink 182’s Travis Barker. In August 2019, “Rules” marked The Frst’s 3rd single to debut atop Soundcloud’s USA Rock Chart, while receiving regular rotation on Idobi Radio, and even a gracious “Loving this track!” from Good Charlotte’s Joel Madden.
Soaring melodies and driving rock & roll are on display throughout, evidence that The Frst’s experience with some of the industry’s top names has bred an eclectic range of influences, nods to hard rock, pop and hip-hop all shining through.
Gray and his ever rotating cast of accompanying Nashville music heroes (including Andrew Leahey, Nathan Cogan (Taking Back Sunday), Jeff Hutchins (Insane Clown Posse) and Justin Smith) spent much of 2017 touring the entire East coast of the US, from Key West, FL to Niagara Falls, NY.
With James Paul Wisner (Paramore, Dashboard Confessional) and Andy Van Dette (The Beastie Boys, David Bowie) behind the controls, The Frst’s anthemic and urgent rock tunes come to life, brimming with heart and urgency.
If you’d like to have your band featured, please email a link to your single on Spotify to jesea@highroadpubliciy.com