Feature Presentation

The release of Feature Presentation’s debut album is an exciting event for Josh Lamore, the rhythm guitar and vocalist, and his band. In a recent interview with Josh, he expressed his excitement to see, a dream since his days in junior high, finally come true in the form of the shiny plastic that has changed the face of the music industry. The Band’s excitement of the release of this album, rightfully so, is extended in their music by a wide array of emotions that is so fully, and vividly expressed by their hopeful and powerful sound, as well as their intense, high-speed rhythms, percussion and solos. This band easily masters every captivating emotion of awe in the listener.

Their low-end balances out the incredible vocals, rhythm, and lead guitar with a very supportive and warm tone throughout the album, this, all thanks to Matt Monfo, the band’s bassist.

The well-timed, up-beat guitar riffs and lyrical nuances of this band are all held together by their lively and defined percussionist, Kurt Skoglund. He offers a dynamic set of rhythms that compliment Feature Presentation’s creative and stylistic sound.

Along with the rest of the band, the importance of their lead guitarist is not easily overlooked when listening to this virtuosic album. Ivan Dunki, too compliments the band’s sound by adding the finishing touches to this phenomenal album and Feature Presentation’s overall sound. His solos, while incredibly impressive, are not over-done nor do they take away from the melodic intensity of the band.

The album starts out with “Matt’s Song,” which starts out as a ballad that inspires a somewhat sentimental nature to the listener. The song then slows and decrescendos to illustrate the incendiary harmonic capabilities of the lead guitarist. The song ends in a juxtaposed, grind-core funk, with deep vocals, muddy rhythm guitar, and forceful percussion.

The album flows incredibly well between songs. Each ending compliments the next songs beginning, to create a fluid and smooth listening experience. The songs are very dynamic and seem to change mood very well throughout the album which allows the listener to constantly maintain an interest in actively listen to the album. It, in a very figurative sense, could be defined as the opposite as stagnant, which is an accomplishment amongst most modern bands. This could be due to the fact that each member of the band has a very eclectic range of influences ranging from Ska, to Metal and even Classic Rock.

When the intro of the final song of the album arrives, it’s slow tempo, clean guitar, and ethereal harmonics suggest a reflection of the album as a whole, at which point it opens up to a comforting tone that wraps up the album with a juxtaposition of the first song. It’s title, “Where To Begin” just reminds the listener that to every ending, is a new and unforeseen adventure that is full of highs and lows, unexpected and exciting experiences, and the overall fulfillment of an accomplishment that has been dreamt about for a period of time that is infinitely in the past. - Screachen Publications

The release of Feature Presentation’s debut album is an exciting event for Josh Lamore, the rhythm guitar and vocalist, and his band. In a recent interview with Josh, he expressed his excitement to see, a dream since his days in junior high, finally come true in the form of the shiny plastic that has changed the face of the music industry. The Band’s excitement of the release of this album, rightfully so, is extended in their music by a wide array of emotions that is so fully, and vividly expressed by their hopeful and powerful sound, as well as their intense, high-speed rhythms, percussion and solos. This band easily masters every captivating emotion of awe in the listener.

Their low-end balances out the incredible vocals, rhythm, and lead guitar with a very supportive and warm tone throughout the album, this, all thanks to Matt Monfo, the band’s bassist.

The well-timed, up-beat guitar riffs and lyrical nuances of this band are all held together by their lively and defined percussionist, Kurt Skoglund. He offers a dynamic set of rhythms that compliment Feature Presentation’s creative and stylistic sound.

Along with the rest of the band, the importance of their lead guitarist is not easily overlooked when listening to this virtuosic album. Ivan Dunki, too compliments the band’s sound by adding the finishing touches to this phenomenal album and Feature Presentation’s overall sound. His solos, while incredibly impressive, are not over-done nor do they take away from the melodic intensity of the band.

The album starts out with “Matt’s Song,” which starts out as a ballad that inspires a somewhat sentimental nature to the listener. The song then slows and decrescendos to illustrate the incendiary harmonic capabilities of the lead guitarist. The song ends in a juxtaposed, grind-core funk, with deep vocals, muddy rhythm guitar, and forceful percussion.

The album flows incredibly well between songs. Each ending compliments the next songs beginning, to create a fluid and smooth listening experience. The songs are very dynamic and seem to change mood very well throughout the album which allows the listener to constantly maintain an interest in actively listen to the album. It, in a very figurative sense, could be defined as the opposite as stagnant, which is an accomplishment amongst most modern bands. This could be due to the fact that each member of the band has a very eclectic range of influences ranging from Ska, to Metal and even Classic Rock.

When the intro of the final song of the album arrives, it’s slow tempo, clean guitar, and ethereal harmonics suggest a reflection of the album as a whole, at which point it opens up to a comforting tone that wraps up the album with a juxtaposition of the first song. It’s title, “Where To Begin” just reminds the listener that to every ending, is a new and unforeseen adventure that is full of highs and lows, unexpected and exciting experiences, and the overall fulfillment of an accomplishment that has been dreamt about for a period of time that is infinitely in the past. - Screachen Publications

Many years in the making, Feature Presentation has understandably gone through quite a few line-up changes since frontman Josh Lamore formed the band in seventh grade.

However, the current line-up has been in place since late 2005, although some of the songs on this, album date back to Lamore's junior high school days.

All of which may explain why the music within is such a wonderful hodge-podge of styles, as if the band are splattering their past about the set. "Matt's Song", which opens the set, is a case in point, a glorious emo-rocker, with big production values, that inexplicably slides into chundering death metal at the end. In total contrast is the album closer, "Where to Begin", that begins and ends in a down-tempo interplay of gorgeous guitars. In between times, Feature bursts out into melodic punk, a flurry of storming beats, powerful guitar riffs, and harmony drenched vocals.

And at their core, the band is a melodic punk group, propelled by a powerful rhythm section and infectious melodies, all lashed by a dual guitar attack and strong harmonies overhead, with "February" and "Sleepless Nights" best illustrating the band's undiluted melodic punk soul.

But elsewhere the band splash other styles into the mix, like the metal that cuts across the otherwise bright and breezy "I Wonder" or the classic rock that slides into "Never Be the Same". There's a great military tattoo break in the middle of that latter number, while "Seeing Dead" boasts some surprisingly delicate vocals early in.

"Sunlight" defies its title with slow ominous passages and threatening atmospheres, while the aptly titled "Change of Pace" swings from sweet harmonies to gruff howled vocals, while the music shifts between crunchy speed-punk and slower passages.

Yet for all its dramatic shifts in style, what holds the set together is the band's core assault of ringing guitar leads and propulsive riffs, compulsive rhythms and anthemic choruses. I'm not sure what the questions were, but Feature Presentation seems to have all the answers here. - All Music Guide

LOS ANGELES (Top40 Charts/ Feature Presentation) - For residents of this small town in Illinois, it's probably hard to believe that the same kids in the local band FEATURE PRESENTATION who once stuffed flyers for their shows in pants on sale at the local JC Penney are about to go national. However this time, instead of pants pockets, they'll be stuffing venues, media and fans' ears with music that's much bigger than their hometown. Gearing up for the release of their debut album To You, The Past, And The Questions Left Unanswered on One Iron Records on May 8, 2007, these boys are preparing for a journey that has been a dream since their Junior High days, which was just a few years ago.
"We are eager and ready to spread our music to everyone who is willing to listen," exclaims band leader Josh LaMore (guitar, vocals), "It's a huge step for us and we are proud to be taking it!" Alongside LaMore are Kurt Skoglund (drums), Ivan Dunki (lead guitar, vocals) and Matt Monferdini (bass) - a lineup that has been going strong since Fall 2005.

Add famed producer Enoch Jensen (Kaddisfly, Amber Pacific, The Number 12 Looks Like You) to the mix, put them in East Lake Studios in Shelbourne Falls, MA for a month and out pops the album that LaMore had been dreaming about since 7th grade. "Enoch was more than a producer to us," explains LaMore. "He became a close friend and it was pretty clear that the project was just as important to him as it was to us. We pulled out all the stops and really gave it our all. This album is Feature Presentation at full throttle." The record resounds with a genuine adoration of music, combining soaring guitars, a propulsive rhythm section and Lamore's urgent vocals. Opener "Matt's Song" immediately reveals the group's introspective side, infusing Lamore's voice with a palpable ache and explore ballad-like heights with the music, while "February" offers a more rollicking, hook-laden aesthetic, chock full of sing-a-long choruses and radio-ready guitar riffs. "I Wonder" follows suit, combining pop-rock guitars, driving beats and a strikingly memorable melody that will surely glue fingers to the repeat button.

Currently on an acoustic tour, LaMore has been promoting some of the new material while keeping fans of the first record satisfied with their old favorites. "It is a great way to personally get in touch with fans on a more intimate level. The stripped down acoustic versions make the band and the songs seem more real."

Currently, Feature Presenation are doing an acoustic tour throughout the Midwest but a national tour will be announced shortly. To You, The Past, And The Questions Left Unanswered will be in stores nationally on May 8, 2007.

- Top 40 Charts

Many years in the making, Feature Presentation has understandably gone through quite a few line-up changes since frontman Josh Lamore formed the band in seventh grade.

However, the current line-up has been in place since late 2005, although some of the songs on this, album date back to Lamore's junior high school days.

All of which may explain why the music within is such a wonderful hodge-podge of styles, as if the band are splattering their past about the set. "Matt's Song", which opens the set, is a case in point, a glorious emo-rocker, with big production values, that inexplicably slides into chundering death metal at the end. In total contrast is the album closer, "Where to Begin", that begins and ends in a down-tempo interplay of gorgeous guitars. In between times, Feature bursts out into melodic punk, a flurry of storming beats, powerful guitar riffs, and harmony drenched vocals.

And at their core, the band is a melodic punk group, propelled by a powerful rhythm section and infectious melodies, all lashed by a dual guitar attack and strong harmonies overhead, with "February" and "Sleepless Nights" best illustrating the band's undiluted melodic punk soul.

But elsewhere the band splash other styles into the mix, like the metal that cuts across the otherwise bright and breezy "I Wonder" or the classic rock that slides into "Never Be the Same". There's a great military tattoo break in the middle of that latter number, while "Seeing Dead" boasts some surprisingly delicate vocals early in.

"Sunlight" defies its title with slow ominous passages and threatening atmospheres, while the aptly titled "Change of Pace" swings from sweet harmonies to gruff howled vocals, while the music shifts between crunchy speed-punk and slower passages.

Yet for all its dramatic shifts in style, what holds the set together is the band's core assault of ringing guitar leads and propulsive riffs, compulsive rhythms and anthemic choruses. I'm not sure what the questions were, but Feature Presentation seems to have all the answers here. - All Music Guide

Rating: 7 out of 10
Reviewed by: Jen Conrad

Hailing from Manteno, Illinois, Feature Presentation is a young band who has a collective enlarged persistence gene when it comes to getting themselves noticed! Passing flyers out at shows, working the Myspace friend zone and playing anywhere and anytime are definitely ways to get your band name out there, but what about stuffing flyers in the pockets of every pair of pants in the local JCPenney store? Yep, Feature Presentation did that! FP members Josh Lamore (vocals & guitar), Kurt Skoglund (drums), Ivan Dunki (guitar & vocals), and Matt Monferdini (bass) have had a dream since junior high school to make a record and have it available to the world! The May 8th release of their debut album, To You, The Past, And the Questions Left Unanswered, is FP’s self-fulfilling prophecy! The hard work and originality has paid off and has landed FP on the launching pad to getting themselves a spot among the elite Illinois bands creating quite a stir in the music world today! I think you may have heard of those bands…do the names Fall Out Boy and The Academy Is… ring a bell? Big footsteps to follow in, I’ll admit, but FP is positive, poised, and ready to go! So, how about the music now? FP plants its feet firmly in the melodic punk genre while delicately incorporating aspects of the metal game. Abrupt tempo changes, staccato drumming, blistering guitar work, and the occasional guttural outburst are the most obvious nods to metal…but watch out for the poppish, toe-tapping, radio-friendly tunes like “I Wonder” and “February.” I suspect that these will probably turn up on your local stations soon! I really dig the guitar work doled out by Lamore and Dunki! Those guitars are driven by the equally impressive rhythm section of Skoglund and Monferdini. Combine these elements with Lamore’s “made-for-pop-punk” voice, and you’ve got the total package! Ultimately, I think that Feature Presentation can gas up the van and forward their mail because they’ve got chops to take on most bands on the Warped Tour bill this year! Favorite tunes include “I Wonder,” “February,” “Seeing Dead” and “Where to Begin.” The guys are hitting the road soon, so check out their Myspace page to see where they are and where they’ll be! Be sure to grab this album when it hits stores on May 8th! You’ll be glad you did! www.myspace.com/featurepresentation
07 May 2007 by jen - Away Team

Feature Presentation is one of those bands who have a unique feel to them. You can never really put your finger on it, but something about them just sticks out. You can feel their talent seeping through this new record; but it seems they may have limited themselves.

When I think of the vocals, it’d probably be New Found Glory meets Senses Fail. You are able to hear the pop-punk melody with some alternative roughness. The vocals project and stand out on this album. This cd starts out strong. They show good duel vocal work. There’s a strong drum beat. They don’t seem to use as much vocal range as they could, and at time, the vocals can be hard to understand. However, the lyrics are beautifully put together and laced over the talented work of Feature Presentation. The second track "Februrary", stands out to me the most, It has a fast and jumpy vibe to it. The vocal work on this track is absolutely amazing. It is a very different feel than the rest of the cd. This song gets harder toward the middle, and then as it nears the end, builds up, let’s down, builds up, let’s down repetitively.

The following track "Change Of Pace" Is also one of my favorites, it is a bit faster from the rest of the songs, and showcases some mellow screams for the first time on CD. They should've had more screaming in some of the songs, I actually like it alot. Right off the bat I can easily tell this song is going to be a fan favorite.

The cd flows together nicely, It seems as though you could put all the songs together and listen as a beautifully creative 37-minute song. There is a head-bobbing beat throughout the cd. The cd ends strong with the extensive vocal range on the last song "Where To Begin". This song is a powerful catchy pop-punk song, and is a great ending to an amazing cd.

~ Derek
April 23 2007

- Skyline Press

Rating: 7 out of 10
Reviewed by: Jen Conrad

Hailing from Manteno, Illinois, Feature Presentation is a young band who has a collective enlarged persistence gene when it comes to getting themselves noticed! Passing flyers out at shows, working the Myspace friend zone and playing anywhere and anytime are definitely ways to get your band name out there, but what about stuffing flyers in the pockets of every pair of pants in the local JCPenney store? Yep, Feature Presentation did that! FP members Josh Lamore (vocals & guitar), Kurt Skoglund (drums), Ivan Dunki (guitar & vocals), and Matt Monferdini (bass) have had a dream since junior high school to make a record and have it available to the world! The May 8th release of their debut album, To You, The Past, And the Questions Left Unanswered, is FP’s self-fulfilling prophecy! The hard work and originality has paid off and has landed FP on the launching pad to getting themselves a spot among the elite Illinois bands creating quite a stir in the music world today! I think you may have heard of those bands…do the names Fall Out Boy and The Academy Is… ring a bell? Big footsteps to follow in, I’ll admit, but FP is positive, poised, and ready to go! So, how about the music now? FP plants its feet firmly in the melodic punk genre while delicately incorporating aspects of the metal game. Abrupt tempo changes, staccato drumming, blistering guitar work, and the occasional guttural outburst are the most obvious nods to metal…but watch out for the poppish, toe-tapping, radio-friendly tunes like “I Wonder” and “February.” I suspect that these will probably turn up on your local stations soon! I really dig the guitar work doled out by Lamore and Dunki! Those guitars are driven by the equally impressive rhythm section of Skoglund and Monferdini. Combine these elements with Lamore’s “made-for-pop-punk” voice, and you’ve got the total package! Ultimately, I think that Feature Presentation can gas up the van and forward their mail because they’ve got chops to take on most bands on the Warped Tour bill this year! Favorite tunes include “I Wonder,” “February,” “Seeing Dead” and “Where to Begin.” The guys are hitting the road soon, so check out their Myspace page to see where they are and where they’ll be! Be sure to grab this album when it hits stores on May 8th! You’ll be glad you did! www.myspace.com/featurepresentation
07 May 2007 by jen - Away Team