Free Throw (band)

Free Throw is an American emo band from Nashville, Tennessee. As of 2025, they are signed to Wax Bodega.

Free Throw
Origin	Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres	Emo, punk rock, pop punk, post-hardcore, indie rock
Years active	2012 (2012)–present
Labels	Count Your Lucky Stars Records, Triple Crown Records, Wax Bodega
Members	Cory Castro Jake Hughes Zach Hall Justin Castro Lawrence Warner
Past members	Kevin Garcia Wes Winslett Tim Casey
Website	freethrowband.com

History

Free Throw was formed in April 2012 after the members had graduated high school and had met each other through the Nashville music scene while playing in previous bands. Vocalist Cory Castro has stated that they were initially inspired to start a band while listening to Topshelf Records artists together, describing it as "a couple of beers and a couple of ideas".^[1][2]

The band has since released five full-length albums, titled Those Days Are Gone,^[3][4][5] Bear Your Mind, What's Past is Prologue, Piecing It Together, and Lessons That We Swear to Keep. They have also released three EPs, titled Free Throw, Lavender Town, and Missing Pieces. After the release of their debut album, the band embarked on a tour opening for Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate).^[6]

Musical style and lyrics

Free Throw has been described as an "emo-punk" band marked by an "energetic sound" that is augmented by a "strong melodic sense" and "gritty catharsis".^[7] The group has been categorized as emo, punk rock,^[8] pop punk, post-hardcore and indie rock. In an interview, vocalist Cory Castro defined the term "emo" as "taking your emotions and wearing them on your sleeve." The vocalist described the band's sound as being derived from "underground punk emo" bands such as Snowing and Algernon Cadwallader, while also citing Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance as influences on the band's "pop sensibility".^[9] Lyrical themes often include topics such as alcoholism, addiction, relationship issues, and body image.^[10]

Vocalist Cory Castro is a fan of the Pokémon video game franchise, and several of the band's song titles are direct references to the series. Examples include Lavender Town, Pallet Town, Cerulean City, Better Have Burn Heal, Cinnabar Island, Worry Seed, and Tail Whip, Struggle. The frontman has a Poké Ball tattooed on his wrist.^[11]

Members

Current band members^[12]

• Cory Castro – lead vocals, guitar (2012–present)
• Lawrence Warner – lead guitar (2012–present)
• Jake Hughes – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2013–present)
• Justin Castro – bass (2012–present)
• Zach Hall – drums, backing vocals (2013–2015, 2022–present)

Former band members

• Wes Winslett – rhythm guitar (2012–2013)
• Tim Casey – drums (2012–2013)^[13]
• Kevin Garcia – drums, backing vocals (2015–2022)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

• Those Days Are Gone (2014)
• Bear Your Mind (2017)
• What's Past Is Prologue (2019)
• Piecing It Together (2021)
• Lessons That We Swear to Keep (2023)

EPs

• Free Throw (2012)
• Lavender Town (2014)
• Missing Pieces (2018)