From First to Last

From First to Last
Name	From First to Last
Background	group_or_band
Origin	Tampa, Florida, United States
Genres	Emo, Post-hardcore, Screamo, Alternative rock
Years active	1999–2010, 2013–present
Labels	Epitaph Records, Suretone Records, Rise Records
Associated acts	The Human Abstract, Breathe Carolina, Panic! at the Disco, A Day to Remember, Glassjaw

From First to Last From First to Last is an American rock band formed in Tampa, Florida, noted for blending elements of Post-hardcore, Screamo, and Alternative rock with melodic songwriting. The group gained attention in the early 2000s through energetic releases on Equal Vision Records affiliates and later major-label exposure, touring with prominent acts and influencing contemporaries in the emo revival and scene movements. Their lineup changes and the departure of high-profile members have linked them to acts including The Black Keys, My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, and Panic! at the Disco through tours, collaborations, and shared scenes.

History

The band formed in 1999 in Tampa, Florida and relocated activity to the Orlando, Florida scene, initially circulating demos and self-released recordings that caught attention from Epitaph Records and independent labels. Early lineups toured regionally with Glassjaw, Thrice, Hot Water Music, and Thursday, while participating in festivals alongside Warped Tour alumni. Their breakthrough came in the mid-2000s when they signed with Suretone Records and released a commercially notable album that led to slots on tours with Panic! at the Disco, Fall Out Boy, A Day to Remember, and The Used.

High-profile personnel shifts—most notably the arrival and later departure of a young vocalist who went on to front Panic! at the Disco—altered both public perception and musical direction. Members have since been involved in projects across genres, including The Human Abstract, Breathe Carolina, I Set My Friends on Fire, and production work linked to Dr. Luke-associated sessions. The band officially announced hiatuses and reunions over the 2010s, aligning with reissues and anniversary shows that featured appearances on bills with Taking Back Sunday, Thrice, Circa Survive, and other veterans of the 2000s alternative circuit.

Musical style and influences

Musically, the group synthesizes stylings from Screamo pioneers like Saetia and Orchid, the melodic contours of Jimmy Eat World, and the post-hardcore dynamics popularized by At the Drive-In and Refused. Production choices on key releases evoke comparators such as Glassjaw and Thursday, while electronic textures on select tracks nod toward contemporaries like Enter Shikari and Breathe Carolina. Lyrical themes draw on personal narrative approaches akin to Brand New and Taking Back Sunday, and their use of screamed and clean vocals reflects the duality employed by bands such as Underoath and Silverstein.

Producers and engineers who worked with the band have credits alongside artists like Korn, Linkin Park, and Evanescence, contributing to a polished yet aggressive sound. The group’s evolving style also parallels shifts in the broader alternative landscape—as seen with Paramore’s pop sensibilities and My Chemical Romance’s theatrical rock—while maintaining ties to underground roots found in Screamo and early emo scenes.

Band members

Over its existence the lineup has changed frequently, involving musicians who later associated with notable acts: - Initial members and founding instrumentalists from the Tampa/Orlando scene. - Vocalists who pursued projects with Panic! at the Disco and solo careers. - Guitarists and rhythm section players who toured with Fall Out Boy-adjacent acts and contributed to sessions involving Dr. Luke-affiliated producers. - Touring members and session contributors from bands including A Day to Remember, The Human Abstract, Breathe Carolina, I Set My Friends on Fire, and Dryden Mitchell-led ensembles.

These rotating personnel connected the band to a network including Taking Back Sunday, Thrice, The Used, Glassjaw, Thursday, and festival circuits like Warped Tour and Soundwave Festival through guest appearances and fill-in roles.

Discography

Their recorded output spans independent releases, label albums, and EPs that charted within alternative and rock markets. Major studio albums released on labels such as Epitaph Records, Suretone Records, and later Rise Records featured singles that received airplay on alternative radio and placement on touring setlists with bands like Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco, and The Used. The catalogue includes reissues and anniversary editions that prompted reunion performances and collaborations with artists from Taking Back Sunday and Brand New-adjacent circles.

Key releases showed progression from raw, aggressive post-hardcore to more melodic, radio-friendly arrangements, aligning them with contemporaries such as Silverstein and Underoath while also embracing the broader emo/post-hardcore trend shared by My Chemical Romance and Paramore.

Tours and live performances

Tour activity encompassed headline runs, supporting slots for mainstream acts, and festival appearances. They toured nationally and internationally with Panic! at the Disco, Fall Out Boy, A Day to Remember, The Used, and Taking Back Sunday, and appeared on multi-genre bills at Warped Tour and other major festivals. Live performances were noted for high-energy delivery, alternating screamed sections and melodic choruses, and for lineup variations necessitating guest vocalists from bands like Glassjaw and Thrice.

Special reunion shows and anniversary concerts featured co-billing with peers from the 2000s alternative scene—including Brand New, Thursday, and Coheed and Cambria—and often coincided with reissued material or compilation appearances on label samplers from Epitaph Records and Rise Records.

Legacy and impact

The band’s influence is visible in subsequent generations of emo and post-hardcore artists who blend aggressive vocals with pop-leaning hooks, mirroring trajectories of bands like A Day to Remember and Enter Shikari. Their shifting roster created cross-pollination among acts such as Panic! at the Disco, Breathe Carolina, and The Human Abstract, affecting touring networks and production collaborations in the 2000s and 2010s. Reunion activity and reissues helped catalyze interest during the emo revival and in retrospectives exploring the era shared with My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday, Fall Out Boy, and Paramore.

Through recorded output, touring history, and member affiliations, they contributed to the mainstream visibility of post-hardcore and emo-derived music, influencing bands on independent labels like Epitaph Records and larger imprint rosters such as Suretone Records and Rise Records.

Category:American rock music groups