Further Seems Forever

by Jason MacNeil & Corey Apar
 
The genesis of this Pompano Beach, FL, band started from three groups: Strongarm, Shai Hulud, and the Vacant Andys. Originally led by vocalist Chris Carrabba, Further Seems Forever was rounded out by guitarists Josh Colbert and Nick Dominguez, bassist Chad Neptune and drummer Steve Kleisath, first recording the song &Vengence Factor& for a Deep Elm Emo Diaries compilation. In July 1999, the group released a split EP with Recess Theory titled From the 27th State. The band, known for its power pop but also for its Christian emocore tinges, released its debut full-length, Moon Is Down, on Tooth & Nail in March 2001. The group later changed singers when Carrabba went on to pursue his solo material full-time as Dashboard Confessional.
 
Further Seems Forever continued on with former Affinity frontman Jason Gleason at the helm. He brought an intensity to the music in a different form than Carrabba's previously more vulnerable vocals, and he was first introduced to fans through tracks the band contributed to the Rock Music: A Tribute to Weezer and Punk Goes Pop compilations. Guitarist Derick Cordoba replaced Dominguez for February 2003's How to Start a Fire. It was a powerful effort proving that Further Seems Forever was more than just its former singer (Dashboard Confessional had gone on to be an emo sensation). As luck would have it, though, Gleason exited the group as work on a third album was beginning. Undeterred, the rest of Further Seems Forever got in contact with vocalist Jon Bunch, whose own band, Sense Field, had recently dissolved. Bunch soon signed on for mic duties, and Hide Nothing appeared in August 2004.
 
Autumn of 2004 was spent on tour with Sparta and Copeland before the group headed back out with the Starting Line in the first part of 2005. Further Seems Forever went on a brief hiatus that November, which eventually led to a formal announcement that they were calling it quits in early 2006. A farewell tour happened in spring of that year, following the March release of Hope This Finds You Well, a career retrospective that included fan favorites, rarities, and B-sides. 567 Records then issued the CD/DVD The Final Curtain in early April 2007, which included unreleased material and footage of Further Seems Forever's last show on June 17, 2006 in Atlanta.