Nashville emo band Free Throw have announced their fifth album, Lessons That We Swear to Keep, due October 13 via Wax Bodega (pre-order). “This album reflects someone in the growing stages of adulthood and coming to terms with the experience of life,” vocalist Cory Castro says. “While I understand that sounds vague and generic, it’s the only way to describe these songs. It’s a diary of my experiences over the past few years. I tried my best to take my own situations and make them as ‘self-insertable’ as I could, but this record is outright a very personal one.”
The album is also their first with drummer Zach Hall since their 2014 debut LP Those Days Are Gone, and it features guest vocals by Tades Sanville of Hot Mulligan on opening track “A Part Is Better Than Zero.” The first single is the anthemic, hard-charging emo-punk of “Spacer’s Choice,” and here’s what Cory says about that one:
“Spacer’s Choice” is one of those songs that seems really fun melodically with a really dark meaning. The song is about how the issues I’ve touched on over the years aren’t just “solvable” problems. They tend to persist and rear their ugly head all of the time. Being in a band that has lasted over a decade and that has developed a pretty large catalog of music, I find myself writing about the same things a lot because they are my real issues. This has led to criticism in the past, which is fine, it doesn’t bother me. This song is kind of my response to that and served as a fun and “ meta ” scenario to express that feeling. I know I write about a lot of the same issues, but hey, those problems don’t just go away. Lyrics and music are my outlet.
Listen and watch the Michael Herrick-directed video below.
Free Throw are gearing up to play Riot Fest, and this fall they’ll do a tour with Prince Daddy & the Hyena and Charmer that also includes support from Saturdays At Your Place on the first leg and Blvck Hippie on the second. The run with SAYP hits NYC on November 4 at Le Poisson Rouge. All dates are listed below.
Tracklist
1.A Part is Better Than Zero (featuring Tades Sanville of Hot Mulligan)
2. Spacer’s Choice
3. Replacing Leene’s Bell
4. The Museum of Orphaned Concepts
5. So Yeah, So
6. Thanks For Asking
7. Into the Wind Stream
8. Joy Ephemeral
9. Cinnabar Island
10. Tips For Safe Travels
11. What Comes Around Is All Around
Free Throw — 2023 Tour Dates
September 17 – Chicago, IL – Riot Fest
September 19 – Cincinnati, Oh – Legends Bar & Venue
September 20 – Louisville, KY – Headliners Music Hall
September 21 – Birmingham, AL – Furnace Fest Pre-Party
w/ Prince Daddy & The Hyena, Charmer, saturdays at your place (10/27-11/15) / Blvck Hippie (11/17-12/2):
Oct 27 – Charleston, SC – Music Farm
Oct 28 – Orlando, FL – Level 13 Event Center
Oct 29 – Gainesville, FL – THE FEST
Oct 30 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground
Nov 1 – Washington, DC – Black Cat
Nov 2 – Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl
Nov 3 – New Haven, CT – Toad’s Place
Nov 4 – New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge
Nov 5 – Boston, MA – Royale
Nov 7 – Rochester, NY – Montage Music Hall
Nov 9 – Lansing, MI – Grewal Hall at 224
Nov 10 – Columbus, OH – Skully’s Music Diner
Nov 11 – Bloomington, IL – The Castle Theatre
Nov 12 – Madison, WI – Majestic Theatre
Nov 14 – Denver, CO – The Oriental Theater
Nov 15 – Salt Lake City, UT – Soundwell
Nov 17 – Portland, OR – Bossanova Ballroom
Nov 18 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre
Nov 20 – San Francisco, CA – August Hall
Nov 21 – Los Angeles, CA – The Regent Theater
Nov 22 – Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theater
Nov 24 – Austin, TX – Come and Take It Live
Nov 25 – Dallas, TX – Trees
Nov 26 – Oklahoma City, OK – Beer City Music Hall
Nov 28 – Kansas City, MO – Recordbar
Nov 29 – Springfield, MO – The Riff
Nov 30 – Memphis, TN – Black Lodge
Dec 1 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
Dec 2 – Nashville, TN – The Basement East
