“What a fine line we walk between life and death? But some of us don’t care.”

There’s something comfortingly familiar about Maine pop-punkers Friday Night Lites. With the emotionally charged lyrics of The Wonder Years, the loud guitars reminiscent of The Story So Far, and a faintly A Day to Remember-esque voice, the band delivers a debut EP full of relatable tunes that remind us that we’re not alone. No matter what you’re feeling, you can bet these guys have felt something similar and came out the other end, stronger and willing to share their experiences with others.  

The first single, “Bases Loaded”, is the perfect embodiment of the band’s mission statement. A retelling of the moment that lead singer Joey Genovese to turn his life around, he takes us on a journey to his realization that “[t]he damages to our own lives begin and always ended with [us]”. Equal parts metaphorical and literal (according to him, he really did wake up on “the bleachers of a ball field”), he shows us that we have the power to take control over our own situations, no matter how bleak it might seem at the time, and we too can change for the better.

While Friday Night Lites may sound like some of the other bands you already listen to, they’re putting their own spin on the genre, focusing their lyrics on showing that life “is so amazing and brilliant” and we shouldn’t let “destructive habits” bring us down.

In the end: Stream it! With a familiar sound and heartfelt lyrics, Friday Night Lites fits right into the scene and we can expect great things from them.