F.O.C.U.S. The Band

At first glance, F.O.C.U.S. may seem like just another punk band. But on closer inspection of their music, observers find a far more complex picture of a tight-knit unit that has earned the respect and loyalty of fans and peers alike.

"They display more talent than most of the ska/punk bands out there", states dr. deathray, under the volcano magazine. They have been described as "original", "musically talented" and a "fun band lyrically", explains Jimmy Olsen, small town minds fanzine, "they find great ways to talk about self-esteem problems and being unsure about the future, normal things that we all think about, but can't really find ways to express."

The band consists of vocalist/guitarist Jim Prisciandaro, vocalist Mark Tiberio, bassist Peter Pinto and Drummer John Petrovec. F.O.C.U.S. was formed in Long Island, New York when Prisciandaro answered an ad for a guitarist put out by Petrovec and brought in friend Justin Harris to play bass. By the time they got their driver's licences, the trio had released their first demo, One and then some, which became an instant seller across long island. In late 1998, the band released their debut album No Refills on CYG Records. With it's caffeinated tempos, spikey power chords and catchy pop hooks, No Refills quickly became the labels best seller. Since then, the band found a replacement in friend Pinto and have added Davianzo and Tiberio to complement the rest of the group. They have been featured on many compilation cds ncluding the Kaos Compilation #6 (Under the Volcano/Motherbox Records) and Only So Much Can Go Wrong (six pack records), which have faired well not only in New York but across Europe. Despite the flashes of anger and petulance in their lyrics, the guys rarely stray from the breezy attitude and solve espirit de corps that define them as a unit. Their songs never let you get bored and keep you coming back for more.