Folly

Folly are a New Jersey hardcore punk band from Sussex County, United States. Active from 1997 to 2008, they form in high school and build a local following through regular shows in New Jersey and the wider tri-state area before touring more widely across the United States.

Line-up

The final line-up includes Jon Tummillo on vocals, Agim Colaku and Geoff Towle on guitar, Arben Colaku on bass, and Anthony Wille on drums. Agim and Geoff are the only original members to remain with the band through its later years. Earlier members include Josh Witt, Billy Pouch, Kurt Rohel, Larry Braun and Tony Perdisatt.

Style

Their sound combines hardcore, metal, punk and ska, and later releases bring in a stronger metalcore and hardcore emphasis. The band is also associated with skacore, ska and punk. Their work often shifts between ska-influenced punk passages and heavier material.

Recording and releases

Folly begin with a series of demos, including the '98 Demo, '99 Demo and '02 Demo, alongside DIY tapes circulated at shows. Their first EP, For My Friends, appears on New World Records in 2001 after they connect with Jesse and Alex Burton of New World Records. They later release Insanity Later on Triple Crown Records, followed by Resist Convenience on the same label.

Insanity Later is recorded in 2003 at Big Blue Meenie with Sal Villanueva producing. It includes guest vocals from Joey Southside of The Banner, Eric Gunderson of Killed By Memories and Erin Farley, and features a montage video for the unreleased song “Broken.” The album reflects a move from ska-pop-punk towards a more hardcore-metal direction and includes songs dealing with institutionalised education and punk scene unity.

Resist Convenience is also recorded and mixed at Big Blue Meenie with Sal Villanueva, and includes guest vocals from Tyler Guida of My Bitter End, Logan Laflotte of Paulson and Eric Gunderson. Its themes include cultural homogenisation, underground fashion and drug addiction.

Their final release is the digital self-release These Are the Names of Places We Broke Down In, a seven-song EP made available without label support. Its songs are named after places where the band has broken down on tour, and the closing track, “Sussex, New Jersey,” is based on earlier material and performed entirely on piano.

Name and approach

The band takes its name from the word “folly,” which they connect to the idea of a costly undertaking with an absurd or ruinous outcome. They use this meaning as a reflection of their own experiences as a band and as individuals, especially in relation to money, touring and the difficulties of maintaining a group over time.

Touring and live appearances

Folly tour extensively, reaching 48 states and sharing bills with acts including Senses Fail, Moneen, The Beautiful Mistake, Paulson, My Bitter End, Anterrabae, The Banner, Underminded, One Dead Three Wounded, The Break, Look What I Did, Drop Dead Gorgeous, The Human Abstract, The Forecast and The Static Age. They also play alongside Converge, Dillinger Escape Plan, Stretch Arm Strong, Catch 22, Big D and The Kids Table, Dragonforce and With Honor.

The band appears at Hellfest in New Jersey in 2004, Skate and Surf Fest in New Jersey from 2003 to 2005, New England Hardcore and Metal Fest in Massachusetts in 2005 and 2006, and Saints and Sinners Fest in New Jersey in 2006. In April 2008, they play three farewell shows in Connecticut and New Jersey.