Further Seems Forever

Although Further Seems Forever never kept the same lead vocalist across more than a single record, the Florida outfit still commanded significant respect inside the emo community and earned widespread critical regard even while operating with a fairly modest public presence. The group came together in Pompano Beach, drawing its initial members from three area outfits: Strongarm, Shai Hulud, and the Vacant Andys. Chris Carrabba sang lead while Chad Neptune played bass, Steve Kleisath handled drums, and guitarists Josh Colbert and Nick Dominguez supplied the instrumental foundation. Early momentum built around “Vengeance Factor,” a track cut for Deep Elm’s Emo Diaries compilation, and the July 1999 split EP From the 27th State with Recess Theory soon followed. Blending pop-leaning melodies, spiritual themes, and emocore textures, the band issued its first full-length album, Moon Is Down, in 2001 on the Tooth & Nail label, which maintained ties to Christian music.

Carrabba soon stepped away to launch the solo emo project Dashboard Confessional, an endeavor that, unlike Further Seems Forever, attained both critical praise and broad commercial reach. The remaining members recruited Jason Gleason, previously frontman of Affinity, and the reconfigured lineup pressed forward. Gleason’s voice stressed power and range in contrast to the more fragile, anguished tone Carrabba had brought. Listeners first heard the new singer on the band’s appearances on the compilations Rock Music: A Tribute to Weezer and Punk Goes Pop. Derick Cordoba then took over for Dominguez before the February 2003 release of How to Start a Fire. That forceful second album confirmed Further Seems Forever could stand apart from merely serving as a stepping stone for Carrabba, who had already established his solo identity.

Gleason nevertheless departed just as work on a third album commenced. The remaining members contacted vocalist Jon Bunch, whose prior group Sense Field had recently disbanded. Bunch accepted the role as the band’s third singer, and Hide Nothing arrived in August 2004 to introduce the updated configuration. The group backed the record with shows alongside Sparta, Copeland, and the Starting Line, yet the musicians redirected their energies the following year. Further Seems Forever entered a short hiatus that November after Neptune stated his wish to prioritize family. An official breakup followed in early 2006, accompanied by a farewell tour and the March release of Hope This Finds You Well, a career-spanning collection of fan favorites, rarities, and B-sides. 567 Records subsequently put out the CD/DVD The Final Curtain in early April 2007, containing previously unheard material and footage from the band’s final performance on June 17, 2006.

Further Seems Forever regrouped in 2010 for several concerts that featured Carrabba in his original role. Carrabba stayed on board two years later when the band delivered its fourth studio album, Penny Black, through Rise Records. Additional years passed before the musicians announced another reunion tied to a festival appearance scheduled for early 2016. On February 1, 2016, however, word arrived that former singer Jon Bunch had died suddenly.