Free Throw‘s punk rock straight from Tennessee is headed to our nation’s capital this week at Union Stage. The band is comprised of Cory Castro, Jake Hughes, Lawrence Warner, Justin Castro, and Kevin Garcia.
Free Throw. Photo by Nick Karp.
I had the chance to chat with the band’s drummer, Kevin Garcia, ahead of Free Throw’s show this week. We discussed their Nashville roots and their most recent album.
Although Nashville may be known for their country music scene, their local punk and emo scene was the one that fostered the growth of Free Throw. The band had the opportunity to open for and network with touring bands that eventually turned into friends as well as tour mates, according to Garcia.
After the release of their debut, Those Days Are Gone, the band devoted time to touring and solidifying their sound. As a result, Garcia explains that their live show is much louder and more aggressive than it had been in the past, a sound that then translated into Bear Your Mind. A new fan favorite from Bear Your Mind, “Randy, I Am The Liquor,” brings a strong, energetic crowd reaction.
Free Throw is on tour supporting their sophomore album, Bear Your Mind, released last year. It’s received rave reviews from music listeners across the country, with more fans singing along at shows with the passing of each tour. The band is known for their candid, relatable lyrics regarding mental health. The title of the album also plays on this idea as Bear Your Mind refers to having to carry the weight and burden of your own struggles.
The trials and tribulations that come with creating music and touring around the world have brought undreamed-of milestones for the band. Garcia cites the band’s final show of their first headlining European tour in London as this turning point: A sold-out crowd on the other side of the world singing the songs into which the band has poured their hearts was one such mind-blowing moment.
The band also just dropped their new EP Missing Pieces this week, which features stripped-down versions of four songs off Bear Your Mind as well as a cover of Chance The Rapper’s “Same Drugs.”
This run with Knuckle Puck, Boston Manor, Hot Mulligan, and Jetty Bones allows Free Throw to share their music with new fans in new venues and cities around the country. As 2018 rolls on, Free Throw is planning some time off to start writing a new record and then rounding out the year with another tour.
Don’t miss Free Throw at Union Stage tomorrow, Friday March 23. Tickets are available for purchase here.