Free Throw (US emo group)

Free Throw is an American emo band from Nashville, Tennessee. As of 2025[update], they are signed to Wax Bodega. Free Throw was formed in April 2012 after the members had graduated high school and had met each other through the Nashville music scene while playing in previous bands. Vocalist Cory Castro has stated that they were initially inspired to start a band while listening to Topshelf Records artists together, describing the experience as "a couple of beers and a couple of ideas". The band has since released six full-length albums, titled Those Days Are Gone, Bear Your Mind, What's Past is Prologue, Piecing It Together, Lessons That We Swear to Keep and Moments Before The Wind. They have also released three EPs, titled Free Throw, Lavender Town, and Missing Pieces. After the release of their debut album, the band embarked on a tour opening for Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate). Free Throw has been described as an "emo-punk" band marked by an "energetic sound" that is augmented by a "strong melodic sense" and "gritty catharsis". The group has been categorized as emo, punk rock, pop punk, post-hardcore and indie rock. In an interview, vocalist Cory Castro defined the term "emo" as "taking your emotions and wearing them on your sleeve". He described the band's sound as deriving from bands such as Snowing and Algernon Cadwallader, while also citing Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance as influences on the band's "pop sensibility". Lyrical themes often include topics such as alcoholism, addiction, relationships, and body image. Castro is a fan of the Pokémon video game franchise, and several of the band's song titles are direct references to the series. Examples include "Lavender Town", "Pallet Town", "Cerulean City", "Better Have Burn Heal", "Victory Road", "Cinnabar Island", "Worry Seed", and "Tail Whip, Struggle". The frontman has a Poké Ball tattooed on his wrist. Current band members Cory Castro – lead vocals, additional guitar (2012–present) Lawrence Warner – lead guitar (2012–present) Jake Hughes – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2013–present) Justin Castro – bass (2012–present) Zach Hall – drums, backing vocals (2013–2015, 2022–present) Former band members Wes Winslett – rhythm guitar (2012–2013) Tim Casey – drums (2012–2013) Kevin Garcia – drums, backing vocals (2015–2022) Studio albums Those Days Are Gone (2014) Bear Your Mind (2017) What's Past Is Prologue (2019) Piecing It Together (2021) Lessons That We Swear to Keep (2023) Moments Before The Wind (2026) EPs Free Throw (2012) Lavender Town (2014) Missing Pieces (2018) Border Crossings: Free Throw. YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-09. "Interview: Free Throw". Get Alternative. Retrieved November 24, 2024. Anthony, David. "Stream all of Free Throw's debut album, Those Days Are Gone". A.V. Club. Retrieved 19 December 2014. Sacher, Andrew. "Free Throw releasing an LP, touring w/ Empire! Empire! (dates and new song stream)". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 19 December 2014. Obenschain, Philip (11 September 2014). "Free Throw stream debut full-length, 'Those Days Are Gone'". Alternative Press. Retrieved 19 December 2014. Garza, Mark. "Free Throw To Tour With Empire! Empire!, Premiere New Single From Debut LP". Under The Gun Review. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/free-throw-mn0000197635 "Free Throw Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Border Crossings: Free Throw. YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-09. "Free Throw is Crashing the Emo Revival Party, and They're Not Sorry". The New York Observer. 12 May 2017. "Free Throw is Crashing the Emo Revival Party, and They're Not Sorry". The New York Observer. 12 May 2017. (2025) https://thehandlebar850.com/free-throw, Retrieved May 19, 2025 "Free Throw Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.