After a decade spent as a decorated live rock guitarist, performing everywhere from The Vans Warped Tour to The Grand Ole Opry, singer-guitarist Mikei Gray had something different in mind when he started The Frst, in 2017. “Freedom and fun were the goals with this project,” says Gray, “So as a mission statement there is no I in The Frst.” 

Gray and his ever rotating cast of accompanying music heroes (including Andrew Leahey, Nathan Cogan (Taking Back Sunday), Nate Sandoval (Cassadee Pope) and Justin Smith) spent much of 2017 touring the entire length of the eastern US, from Key West, FL to Niagara Falls, NY.

   In 2018, anthemic protest against distracted driving "Another One" was named "The Best Road Rage Song Since The Offspring" by Alan Cross, while  "Cycles" reached #6 on Soundcloud’s USA Rock Chart in January 2019, paving the way for “Seven Eleven” to debut at 2 on the same chart, earning The Frst a Twitter shoutout from Blink-182 drummer, Travis Barker, as well as a spot on Loudwire’s Weekly Wire.

As noted in Groundsounds, Vents Magazine, and more, “Rules” saw the return of Gray’s “all star” musician line-up, paving the way for the entirely self performed “Ammo”, to reach #1 on Soundcloud’s USA Rock Chart and return to Loudwire’s Weekly Wire.

Released in January 2020 (while attending a Black Flag concert) “Pawn Shop” pushed the band’s boundaries by introducing the track with a Top 10 Cannabis Countdown via the Los Angelos based V13 Media. Quickly followed by “Simulation”, which earned a flattering review from Alternative Press Magazine, writing “The Frst is full of angst-ridden vocals and heavy guitar riffs that are keeping Grunge very much alive.” However, it was truly the groundbreaking augmented reality app, fittingly titled “The Frst”, that earned the group a spot in history as the first rock band to accomplish such a feat.

Meanwhile “Tarantino”, an entirely self written and recorded song (June 2020), introduced The Frst to American FM Radio, earning the band its debut #1 at US Radio (KXFM), alongside a slew of Top 30 spots around the USA.

“Prelude”, the band’s debut full length album released August 14, 2020 via Missing I Records drove them into the spotlight of American Songwriter Magazine, helping propel “Tarantino” to #78 on the iTunes Top 100 Rock Chart.

   With James Paul Wisner (Paramore, Dashboard Confessional), Grammy winner Steve Hardy (Jay Z, Alicia Keys) and Andy VanDette (Sublime, The Beastie Boys, David Bowie) behind the controls, The Frst's anthemic and urgent rock tunes come to life, brimming with heart and urgency. 

Vocals, All Instruments | Mikei Gray