FRND CRCL are a Vineland, New Jersey-based Pop-Punk/Rap-Rock band consisting of vocalist/guitarist/piano player Zac Johnson, vocalist and bassist Adam Skirvin, guitarist Dom Giacalone, and drummer Aaron Smith. Full disclosure: I actually, used to work with Aaron at Shop Rite until about three years ago and I went to high school with a couple of his band mates' older siblings, as well. It's great to see FRND CRCL getting some well-deserved attention and success on a local level and it appears as though the South Jersey Punk/Hardcore scene I used to be a part of is back on the rise! Oddly enough, FRND CRCL are influenced by a lot of the same bands—both local and mainstream—my friends and I used to listen to while we were skateboarding or attending local shows all around South/Central Jersey back in the early 2000's, including: Blink-182, All Time Low, and Green Day, as well as Eminem, Mac Miller, Beastie Boys, and The Dirty Heads.


FRND CRCL initially formed in 2015 as a 2-piece consisting of Zac & Aaron, who met in college, but over time, has morphed into a full-fledged 4-piece band. "The sound of FRND CRCL is in the band's song-writing capabilities, as well as the fusion of two genres that are derivative of street culture: Pop-Punk & Rap. While the root of the music is mainly Rock & Punk, the quartet has been able top make music that appeals to a wide audience of people," reads the band's Spotify Biography. Now, following their 2017 debut full-length, IMMUNITIVERSITY, FRND CRCL have returned with their Promstarr EP. Just in time, before The Year of The EP, Prommstarr is a perfect 4-song collection displaying what FRND CRCL have to offer; it's a nearly perfect summation of their Pop-Punk X Rap-Rock sound! FRND CRCL recorded Promstarr at The LumberYard in Hammonton, NJ, which is owned and operated by Nik Bruzzese of Man Overboard and Ace Enders of The Early November/Ace Enders & A Million Different People.


"Chasing Phantoms" reminds me, in addition to their previously listed influences, of Sum 41 and A Day to Remember and its companion music video boasts a zany early 2000's Pop-Punk scenario reminiscent of Blink-182's "What's My Age Again?" A second single was also, pulled from Promstarr, "UnXpTbL" (read: "Unacceptable") which is reminiscent of bands such as The Early November, Jack's Mannequin, and Fall Out Boy. "UnXpTbL"'s companion music video features FRND CRCL's members working in a restaurant with a new employee, who quickly learns about their time-transporting walk-in freezer. FRND CRCL's Promstarr EP definitely packs a festive punch and if you haven't yet already, you can stream or download it on Apple Music, Google Play, Spotify, and like-minded streaming services. FRND CRCL will be playing a Promstarr EP Release Show/Holiday Party at Bojo's Ale House in Millville, NJ this Saturday, December 22nd with LRS. Festivities will be starting at 7:00pm and LRS will go on from 7:30-9:30 with FRND CRCL playing from 10-10:45, LRS closing out the night.