There are two versions of me.
Hi, if you don’t know me, my name is Aubree Violet and I’m a content creator turned blogger that bases her content off of metalcore and alternative rock.
There’s one that exists before December 19th, 2024, and there’s one that exists after. Aubree, you may be saying to yourself, what is the difference between these two versions?
The answer? The Funeral Portrait.
One version of me knows of their existence and the other does not.
Very recently, I discovered what may be the best band to come out of recent years (although their debut album says anything but recent). Greetings From Suffocate City, however, is their sophomore effort, and it’s anything but a slump.
*Intermission- Did anyone catch that Fall Out Boy reference? Who’s catching my drift?*
The Funeral Portrait consists of vocalist Lee Jennings, bass player Robert Weston, guitarists Cody Weissinger and Caleb Freihaut and drummer Homer Umbanhower. Nearly 8 years after TFP’s release of their first effort titled A Moment of Silence, Greetings From Suffocate City made its debut in September of 2024. Funnily enough, this record dropped the day after I left my dead end relationship. I could’ve been reborn in not only one way, but two! Oh well, missed opportunity!
Personally, I discovered TFP upon hearing about The Broken Souls tour. As the tour is currently on it’s last week of running, I figured now would be a better time than ever to really get down and discuss what makes The Funeral Portrait such an outstanding outfit.
I had no idea who this band was before December 19th, a mere day before my birthday. At random, I clicked on their song Dark Thoughts from my recommended shuffle on Spotify.
I remember thinking it was ironic I was being recommended them as I had wanted to check them out and just hadn’t gotten to it yet. “Lazy!” My readers shout from the beyond! Truth be told, my hopes were not high. No music had wowed me in a long time, and I was growing restless.
“Can’t drink, can’t drug, can’t drown ‘em away/I can’t sleep, can’t think, can’t find an escape/From these dark, dark thoughts in my mind”
There’s a certain reaction one has to hearing Dark Thoughts for the first time. And I most certainly had it. It’s categorized by the feelings of entrancement, shock and enthrallment.
I remember thinking “Wow! This is great! I don’t like that chorus, though.”
It’s safe to say the chorus has grown on me and I was way too quick to judge. If you continue to read my blog posts, we’ll see that a lot! Sorry!
It was from that moment on, I was changed. You can say that is dramatic all you want, but it’s truthful. The Funeral Portrait has become one of my most played artists of the last 6 months racking up almost 1,000 minutes listened to. No easy feat for a band who’s just now breaking into my Spotify (it’s a tough crowd).
Basically, what I want to discuss here is why I believe TFP to be a band to watch out for and to be placed upon your radar. I’m an AP Lang and creative writing student at heart, what I do best is dissect. So let’s go.
Without further ado, Aub takes on TFP!
It’s not just about music, it’s about attitude.
In the big ‘25, it is almost impossible to be authentic without someone having something to say about it.
As an alternative woman who survived high school in a small town, I know all about it. But I was someone who received the better end of the stick. I was homecoming queen my senior year. I was not bullied for it, nor made fun of. Of course, I was subject to the occasional poking of fun or maybe a joke or two regarding my outfit choice, but it was never inherently terrible and I recognize so many people have had it 100x worse for simply being true to themselves. It is a twisted world we live in.
What I love about TFP is how the negativity is not something they view as a detriment, but rather as fuel. They understand the projection that comes from hatred and they have mastered turning it into something powerful instead.
One of my favorite posts from them is currently up on their instagram dating back to October 9th, 2024.
In which a Facebook comment section finds a man saying “Funeral portrait sucked. Dude twirls all over the stage and is zesty as fuck to say the least. They suck”
To which our savior Lee Jennings says in the caption “The reviews are in! Everyone is talking about how ‘ZESTY AS FUCK’ our Devotion Ceremonies are! We will see you all this fall at a date below.”
First of all, to post the screenshot of the Facebook comment and even leave this guys profile picture in was indescribably baller.
Second of all, to have that be the cover of the instagram post, followed by pictures of the band playing in front of hundreds of people?? Too good.
And finally, to end the post in brazen confidence. “We will see you all this fall at a date below.”
In today’s day and age, it is so rare to see something like that! And I wish deeply we saw it more! I will forever commend TFP for not letting that shit slide.
Technological advances have made people entirely too comfortable with saying things that they would never say to someone’s face.
It’s safe to say there is also a stigma around addressing things like this when you have an image. Sort of a “don’t do that! Be the bigger person! You don’t want to lose your following for calling someone out on having an opinion!” But it should be normalized to call people out when their “opinion” is just pure hatred! We are in an empathy & kindness shortage in this country!
Personable attributes always win!
As someone who attends concerts fairly regularly, I have seen quite a bit. Some good, some bad, some ugly, some darling.
This means that I have met a handful of artists that reside within this genre blend of metalcore and alternative rock, and I will just say, that they have all been indescribably lovely.
Specifically, however, the hospitality of The Funeral Portrait stands out to me.
I feel as if it is very common for artists of this caliber to be very generous and kind, so I will say I was expecting the same from TFP, and I was ecstatic that I was correct.
After I had seen them for the first time, I waited patiently to meet vocalist Lee Jennings for the first time (I wrote a bit more about that experience here) and he was so delightful! Lee greeted me and my boyfriend with nothing but respect and gratitude and thanked me profusely for showing my support and for coming all the way out (From Michigan to Texas baby!). He called me “friend” and gave me not one, but two hugs. His nature was calm and collected and I instantly felt more relaxed in speaking to him!
In addition to the wonderful interaction with Lee, I had the opportunity to sit in on a conversation with bass player Robert Weston, however this was before my meeting with Lee and Patrick (of If Not For Me, another band on the tour) so I was too amped up and anxious to get any words out. Instead, my boyfriend took the lead of this conversation and they talked for a bit as I listened in. He complimented my boyfriend’s fringe jacket, something so small yet meaningful. Paying a compliment to someone, I believe, will always go a long way!
I think it’s also important to note that with every purchase of a piece of TFP merch at their merch table, Lee was giving out free signed posters. I have seen some things attending shows yet I have never seen that and I wish we saw it more. He was a total class act! I was blown away by the generosity.
Along with the kindness they displayed offstage, I find it important to note of the kindness they also provided onstage. Robert Weston did not know this, but my mouth had gone so dry during the show and I almost could not focus on anything else due to the suffocating feeling. Yes, that is dramatic. No, I do not care, it was awful! Damn! However, I digress. My point is Rob took a water bottle from the stage and gazed at the front row to see if anyone needed it. I desperately reached up and he gave it to me without thought. Simply a small moment that had a big impact and reflected this band’s generosity that I wanted to share!
It’s smart. They’re smart. Greetings From Suffocate City is a smart record.
I saw a TikTok probably almost two months ago at this point that encapsulated a great point as to why TFP is making so many waves, and meaningful ones at that: They have mastered the art of creating a safe space for their fans.
The Funeral Portrait has created a gimmick that isn’t just a gimmick. It’s not just themed outfits and themed performances. It is a world in itself, one that is able to welcome the listener with open arms and offer the tranquility of an escape from the craziness of the current state of our country.
Greetings From Suffocate City becomes more than just an album once you really listen to the thick of it. The record touches on the struggles of OCD, grief, heartbreak and more. It paints an eclectic picture of the human experience, but spun to a more haunting essence to fit The Funeral Portrait’s overall aesthetic.
In a world that’s been taken over by greed, division and so on and so forth, people want to feel included and brought together. In a time where having a voice is crucial, it’s important to have bands that put real life experiences and issues on a global stage.
With the inclusivity that TFP presents, it gives the people what they want: The feeling of belonging. People see themselves within this writing and the characters created by The Funeral Portrait (as seen on their single covers and album cover for Greetings)
Specifically, with their song Dark Thoughts, which Lee has exclaimed time and time again is about dealing with OCD and intrusive thinking. In this country, there is sadly still a lingering stigma regarding mental health. As we continue to break down these barriers, it’s imperative to remember the importance of speaking up about it. As someone who struggles with OCD and intrusive thinking myself, it is a horrible disease, and you do not see this topic being addressed much within the realm of rock. To have something like Dark Thoughts combines both the awareness that we need and the importance of The Funeral Portrait and what their doing for their steadily growing fanbase: Giving their listeners (appropriately titled the “Coffin Crew”) a place to belong when at times they may feel like there isn’t a place for them.
You can even connect the same thinking with their song Voodoo Doll, dealing with the battle of addiction. It is yet another heavy topic but smartly crafted to fit the aesthetic of TFP. It’s not just important and severely meaningful writing, it’s clever writing, and it’s incredible that this band manages to do both at the same time.
Some final thoughts; musicality, and likewise.
I believe The Funeral Portrait to not just be a cool, greatly talented band, but a smart one.
They are building a fanbase filled with dedication and loyalty, and at it’s core, devotion. (Anybody see what I did there?)
One thing I didn’t include as much in this post was simply the greatness of TFP’s musical choices.
The way that they have compiled this record is just beautiful. From start to finish, it’s a story, and one you don’t want to end. Anybody can say “They remind me of My Chemical Romance!” “They give me early Fall Out Boy vibes!” But truly, The Funeral Portrait has something entirely unique and against the grain about them. It’s bewitching, and it only makes for the anticipation of a follow up record even stronger.
In my humble opinion, Greetings From Suffocate City is one of the best records to come out of recent years. The musicality, mixed with the subject matter and overall aesthetic is enough to make a rift in the scene, and a good one at that. It’s memorable, intoxicating, and brilliant in a way that isn’t blatant. It’s more of a “When you get it, you get it.“ and I’d like to think that I do in fact get it.
As I mentioned previously, where they have left this album and this introduction to Suffocate City makes for the anticipation of a follow up album incredibly exciting. Now that you’ve had a tour of this world, how do they pick it up and put it back into the hands of listeners in a new and innovative way?
Considering Greetings is already pretty unique and innovative in itself, it should not be difficult for TFP to keep unraveling the seams of Suffocate City for listeners.
TFP, we’re ready for that deluxe edition that drops June 13th, by the way. Don’t miss out! And how on brand, yet again, to release your deluxe edition on Friday the 13th? Just wonderful.
I have to stop talking at some point!
Folks, that’s all I’ve got this time around. Stay tuned because I can guarantee I will be dropping more pieces within the coming weeks. I’m on that blogging grind! Trying to take this seriously, alright!
As always, I thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed my personal thoughts and feelings regarding the greatness of Greetings From Suffocate City and The Funeral Portrait as a whole.
Until next time! That was Aub takes on TFP.
