Folly (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Headquarters | Sussex, New Jersey , United States |
| Products | Albums, EPs |
| Website | myspace |
Folly is a band originating from Sussex, New Jersey, known for merging elements of hardcore punk, metalcore, ska punk, and melodic hardcore. The group's final roster featured Arben Colaku on bass, Geoff Towle and Agim Colaku on guitars, Anthony Wille behind the drums, and Jon Tummillo handling vocals. Throughout their career, they produced two full-length albums and a pair of EPs prior to disbanding.
Formation and Early Days
Established circa 1997 at High Point Regional High School, the lineup eventually solidified with only Agim Colaku and Geoff Towle remaining from the original members. Former contributors to the band included Josh Witt, Billy Pouch, Kurt Rohel, Larry Braun, Al Phillips, and Tony Perdisatt. Vocalist Jon Tummillo joined in 1998, followed by bassist Arben Colaku in 1999. Their initial recording took place at Nada Studio located in Orange County, NY. After gaining traction across New Jersey and the broader tri-state region, they established a connection with Jesse and Alex Burton of the independent label New World Records.
Prior to creating their debut EP For My Friends during the summer of 2001 under New World Records, Folly embarked on an East Coast tour alongside Face First. With Anthony Wille now on drums, their touring scope expanded nationally. In the summer of 2002, they recorded a three-song demo at Big Blue Meenie with producer Sal Villanueva, which included backing vocals from members of Shai Hulud. Subsequent touring led to a performance at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken that captured the attention of Fred Feldman from Triple Crown Records.
Association with Triple Crown Records
Their first full album, Insanity Later, was tracked in late 2003 with Sal Villanueva at Big Blue Meenie and released on April 6, 2004. The record features guest vocal contributions from Joey Southside (The Banner), Eric Gunderson (Killed By Memories), and Erin Farley. Additionally, it includes a montage video for the unreleased track "Broken."
The follow-up album Resist Convenience, released on March 10, 2006, was also produced by Villanueva. Guest appearances on vocals were made by Tyler Guida of My Bitter End, Logan Laflotte from Paulson, and Eric Gunderson once more.
Folly supported extensive tours alongside acts such as Senses Fail, Moneen, The Banner, and The Human Abstract. They also took part in notable festivals including Hellfest in 2004 and New Jersey's Saints and Sinners festival in 2006.
Their last offering was a self-released digital EP containing seven tracks titled These are the Names of the Places We Broke Down. Each song title corresponds to locations where their tour vehicles experienced mechanical failures.
Disbandment and Subsequent Endeavors
The band announced their dissolution through Myspace and conducted three farewell performances in April 2008 across Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pompton Lakes. Following this period, members pursued various other musical projects.
In April 2011, Folly reunited for a brief series of shows at intimate venues within New Jersey.
Marking the 15th anniversary of their debut album in 2019, they issued a vinyl re-release of Insanity Later featuring refreshed artwork through Triple Crown Records.
Folly re-emerged in 2022 when RTF Records reissued their 2002 demo as a limited-edition cassette. On September 30, 2022, they unveiled their first new song in fourteen years titled "Walter White Whale," featured on Wavebreaker 3, a split 7-inch release with The Best of The Worst via Bad Time Records. The band also announced plans to perform at Gainesville's The Fest along with several reunion shows across the Northeast supporting acts like Keep Flying and Abraskadabra.
Members
- Al Phillips – trumpet
- Arben Colaku – bass guitar
- Geoff Towle – guitarist
- Anthony Wille – drummer
- Agim Colaku – guitarist
- Jon Tummillo – lead vocals
Discography
- 1998 Demo (1998)
- 1999 Demo (1999)
- For My Friends EP (2001, New World Records)
- 2002 Demo (2002)
- Insanity Later (2004, Triple Crown Records)
- Resist Convenience (2006, Triple Crown Records; reissued in 2024 by Bad Time Records)
- These Are The Names of Places We Broke Down In: EP (2008, self-released digitally)
- Wavebreaker 3 – Split EP with The Best of the Worst (2022, Bad Time Records)