FFO: Chillin have a new song out, and it is a fast, giddy rocker that feels like it is about to fall apart at any second — and never quite does. The Concord, New Hampshire band have been making a warm, comforting sound that is weirdly hard to describe, blending big, hearty ’90s-style indie-punk anthems with occasional hardcore breakdowns and songs that tend to be really short. Now comes “Perpetual Motion,” their latest single for DAZE, the hardcore-centric label that released their first single “All I Know” last month.
The Evan Warren-directed video leans on ultra-grainy VHS footage of the band playing live, with a quick cameo from Rachael McAdams in Mean Girls thrown in for good measure. It is a simple visual, but it fits the song’s restless energy. The video is available below, along with the band’s upcoming tour dates with labelmates Dream Fatigue.
The Sound of FFO: Chillin
FFO: Chillin’s music lands somewhere between comfort and chaos. Their songs are big and sturdy, built for singalongs, but they carry a nervous edge underneath. The ’90s indie-punk comparison holds up — think loud, melodic hooks delivered with a punk snarl. Occasionally, those hooks give way to hardcore breakdowns, and the band shifts into something tighter and faster.
The songs themselves are short. That brevity is part of the charm. Nothing overstays its welcome, and the energy stays high from start to finish. The Concord, New Hampshire setting adds a little extra character — this is a band from a small city in northern New England, and their music has a warmth that comes from playing together for years.
The Label Connection
DAZE is known for hardcore, and FFO: Chillin’s debut single arrived last month. “All I Know” was the first release on the label, and now “Perpetual Motion” follows it quickly. The band opened for Joyce Manor and Glitterer in Charlottesville recently, and the performance was described as drunk, sloppy and really, really fun — exactly the kind of energy that makes a new release worth hearing.
The Video: VHS and Mean Girls
The Evan Warren-directed video for “Perpetual Motion” is a straightforward document of the band performing live. It is grainy, VHS-style footage, which gives the whole thing a nostalgic, lo-fi feel. The band is captured mid-performance, raw and unpolished — the opposite of slick studio polish. It is a deliberate choice, and it matches the song’s restless energy.
There is also a quick glimpse of Rachael McAdams in Mean Girls. It is a small detail, but it adds a touch of absurdity to the video. The cameo is welcome, even if it is brief — it is the kind of moment that makes you smile and keep watching. The video is available to watch below, along with the full tour dates.
The Live Set in Charlottesville
The band’s recent show opening for Joyce Manor and Glitterer in Charlottesville was a wild one. The performance was drunk, sloppy and really, really fun. That is the kind of energy that translates directly to a recording — a band that can be sloppy and still be fun is a band worth following.
The short songs help. When a set is full of tight, punchy tracks, the energy rarely dips. The band moves from one song to the next without losing momentum. The combination of short songs and live energy made the Charlottesville show a memorable one.
The Tour Dates With Dream Fatigue
FFO: Chillin are hitting the road with labelmates Dream Fatigue. The tour runs from September 15 through September 25, taking in cities across the Southeast and Midwest. The run opens in Orlando at Stardust Video and Coffee, moves through Florida to Miami and Tampa, then cuts up through Georgia and Tennessee before heading into Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.
Here is the full list of dates:
- 9/15 – Orlando, FL @ Stardust Video and Coffee
- 9/16 – Miami, FL @ Boombox Miami
- 9/17 – Tampa, FL @ Skatepark of Tampa
- 9/18 – Atlanta, GA @ Eyedrum
- 9/19 – Nashville, TN @ The Arcane Workshop
- 9/20 – Louisville, KY @ Camp Spaceman
- 9/21 – Indianapolis, IN @ Healer
- 9/22 – Columbus, OH @ Dirty Dungarees
- 9/23 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Preserving DIY Room
- 9/24 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Palace
- 9/25 – New Milford, CT @ The Maxx
Dream Fatigue joins the bill at most shows. Flatwounds and Juicebox round out the lineup at select dates. The tour is a chance to see both bands in a tight, energetic setting.
What We Make of “Perpetual Motion”
The song is a fast, giddy rocker that always seems like it is about to fall apart but never quite does. That tension is the heart of the track. The song builds energy without collapsing, holding together even when it feels like it should break. It is a confident piece of writing, and the band delivers it with a sense of joy that is hard to fake.
The video’s VHS aesthetic complements the song’s restless energy. The grainy footage gives the whole thing a lived-in feel — this is a band that has played these songs countless times, and the video captures that familiarity. The Rachael McAdams cameo is a small touch, but it adds personality to the package.
FFO: Chillin have found a sound that is instantly familiar without being easy to pin down. They make big, hearty ’90s-style indie-punk anthems with occasional hardcore breakdowns, and they do it with a warmth that sets them apart from the pack. The band’s recent live shows have been drunk, sloppy and really, really fun — the kind of performance that makes a new release worth hearing.
The tour dates with Dream Fatigue give fans a chance to see both bands in action. The run takes in cities across the Southeast and Midwest. It is a busy stretch, and it will test the band’s stamina — but after the Charlottesville show, they seem ready for the challenge.
“Perpetual Motion” is out now on DAZE. The video is available to watch below, along with the full list of tour dates. FFO: Chillin have a busy month ahead, and the early signs suggest they are ready to make it count.
See the video the story is built around at Stereogum.
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