Inside Pulse Concert Series Profile: Full Out Freak

Inside Pulse presents the first ever InsidePulse Concert Series Event on Tuesday October 12th. If you’re in the greater New York City area, Inside Pulse is happy to bring the first of what should be a continuing series of indie rock shows in Manhattan. Teaming up with Alecon Entertainment, the pulse is co-promoting a night of rock at the Continental in NYC!


Full Out Freak

Full Bio

Fusing energetic, edgy modern rock with the song-based, power pop sensibilities of Cheap Trick, Foo Fighters and Butch Walker, New Jersey pop/rock quartet, Full Out Freak is a band about which no assumptions should be made. The quartet’s curious name actually came from lyrics in one of guitarist Will’s early songs. ‘We dug those lyrics,’ says Full Out Freak singer Joey, and thought the F.O.F. initials were catchy and attention grabbing. As far as giving people the wrong impression of what we’re about prior to hearing us, we actually liked the irony of the name implying something heavy when our sound is so energetic and melodic. Plus, we’re all ‘Freaks’ in our own way, because we like to go against the grain.’

What makes Full Out Freak different from other melodic, modern rock bands is a palpable chemistry evident in the band members’ dynamic interrelation, which carries over into every aspect of the music, on stage and off. ‘When the four of us got together, we knew early on that we had some very serious, undeniable chemistry,’ says Eric. ‘We felt it from our early rehearsals, and it’s spilled into the studio where we continue to gel in our musical collaboration.’ Sharing a broad range of influences from The Beatles, Aerosmith and Led Zeppelin to The Black Crows, Jane’s Addiction and Lenny Kravitz, the music of Full Out Freak features blended vocal harmonies, punchy, memorable choruses, muscular guitar riffs, super tight instrumental interplay and universally appealing lyrical messages.

A band and crowd favorite, the playful ‘Loser Anyway’ features bright guitar hooks and soaring Beatle-esque harmonies. The song’s title also has a dual meaning. Joey explains, ‘Loser Anyway’ is also ‘Lose Her Anyway.’ We’ve all had a friend who keeps going back to a girl who’s taking him for a ride. That song was written for someone we know who was in that situation.’ On ‘What It’s Worth,’ Full Out Freak show a flair for penning poignant relationship-based songs that recalls hit makers like Matchbox Twenty and 3 Doors Down. The band also proves it’s unafraid of ripping guitar solos and cascading group harmonies on ‘I’ll Be Damned,’ a relentlessly melodic tune recalling Cheap Trick at the top of its game. These songs and many more are featured on the group’s first full-length CD, to be released in the summer of 2004. Pending a distribution deal, the as-yet untitled disc will be available via the band’s website and at live shows.

With www.fulloutfreak.com getting hits from all over the US (and as far away globally as Germany and Japan), Full Out Freak is building a devoted fan base beyond the tri-state area. ‘We’ve gotten the coolest feedback through our website,’ says Eric. ‘We get these amazing emails from kids who’ve seen our website or heard one of our songs on a local radio program, and they want to know more about the band. Since we write from the heart about real experiences, I think our lyrics and the messages behind our songs really resonate with people. You can’t ask for more than that.’ Full Out Freak’s music is currently featured on a large number of both college and major broadcast radio stations, including local outlets WRAT 95.9 (NJ) and NYC’s Z100. The high profile NYC rock station, Q104.3 recently included Full Out Freak as part of its Sunday evening program Out Of The Box, which showcases the music of promising unsigned bands.

Full Out Freak’s explosive live performances regularly grace the stages of popular NYC/ NJ venues like The Stone Pony, Arlene’s Grocery, Sin-e, Tribeca Rock Club, Continental and Maxwell’s in Hoboken. We are now being asked to open up for national acts ‘Our shows have been packed,’ says Eric. ‘I think people keep coming back — and bringing their friends — because we’re having a blast up there and it’s contagious. Rock fans appreciate a band that can really go beyond a recorded performance and pull off something extra at every show.’

As Joey, Will, Eric and Joe move forward with Full Out Freak, they’ll continue writing and performing the music they love, while polishing their live show and building their fan base one convert at a time. ‘Music is the central focus of our lives, ‘says Will. ‘What we want most is to make a living doing what we know we were put here to do.’

MP3 Download

I’ll Be Damned

Jonathan Widro is the owner and founder of Inside Pulse. Over a decade ago he burst onto the scene with a pro-WCW reporting style that earned him the nickname WCWidro. Check him out on Twitter for mostly inane non sequiturs