The Forum

Meet The Forum: The Craigslist Connection Turned Indie Rock Dream

For The Forum, everything started with a Craigslist post.
Michael, a 30-year-old Ohio native who moved to Florida for college, was looking for another musician who shared his taste in early-2000s rock. Jake, a fellow University of Florida student from Orlando, answered the call, or I guess put out the call, — and the rest is history.

“Honestly, not much thought went into the name,” Michael laughs. “We met online, so we figured The Forum made sense. Plus, it sounded cool.”
Now, years later, the band jokes that they’re “terrified of Craigslist,” but they admit that the chance meeting gave them everything: their name, their friendship, and their start.

From University to the Stage

Both Michael and Jake studied telecom production — video, audio, the whole deal — and bonded over their shared love of The Strokes, The Killers, and what they call “all the ‘Thes’ from the early 2000s.”
When drummer Ethan, a Clermont native with a degree in sports management, joined his senior year of college, the lineup finally clicked.

Ethan remembers his introduction to the band like it was yesterday. On his way to play with Jake and Michael for the first time “Michael’s tire blew out on the way to practice,” he laughs. “So we met on the side of the highway while changing it. I guess that’s when I officially joined the band.”
Jake adds: “It’s important to have a good drummer, but it’s even more important that your drummer knows how to change a tire.”

A Sound All Their Own

Influenced by the emo-tinged melodies of Death Cab for Cutie and the melancholic energy of Young the Giant, The Forum’s sound has evolved into something both nostalgic and fresh — guitar-driven rock with pop sensibility and emotional depth.

Their latest album, released in September, marks the culmination of years of work. “We started writing in 2020,” says Michael. “Now, listening back, it’s this funny, surreal feeling — like revisiting an old version of yourself. We got sick of hearing ourselves at one point, but now we’re so proud of it.”

Fans have been responding with love — something the band says makes all those late-night recording sessions and tour van hours worth it.

On the Road (and Sometimes Running from Motels)

Touring has given the trio plenty of stories — both chaotic and hilarious.
“One night in Charleston, we checked into the sketchiest motel imaginable,” Jake recalls. “Cracks in the walls, locks that barely worked… my sixth sense went off. I was like, ‘Nope, we’re leaving.’ So we drove straight to Orlando. Seven hours. Sunset to sunrise.”
“Whenever you see both in one night,” he says, “it’s bound to become a memorable thing.”

Even the exhausting parts — the long drives, tight schedules, and daylight savings time confusion — have become part of their favorite memories. “We did a 10-day run once,” Ethan says. “It was chaos, but looking back, it’s all joy.”

Milestones and Moments

The Forum has opened for several bands they grew into admiring, including Last Dinosaurs and The Wildlife — a surreal full-circle moment.
“Playing with one of your top five favorite bands is something you don’t forget,” Jake says. “It reminds you why you started doing this in the first place.”

They’ve played festivals and toured across the Southeast, from Nashville (their farthest show yet) to Atlanta and Alabama. And though they’re currently taking things slower, they know the journey’s far from over.

Looking Ahead

With Michael recently moving back to Ohio, the band’s pace has shifted. “We’re kind of approaching ‘unc’ status,” Jake jokes. “But the album’s release was a big exhale for us.”
For now, they’re focusing on new musical interests, learning new instruments, and figuring out how to collaborate across states.

“The Forum was never meant to take over our lives,” Michael says. “It was always meant to enrich them. We just wanted to make music we love with people we care about.”

For New Listeners

So how does The Forum describe their music?
“It’s that dream-in-the-back-of-your-head feeling,” Michael says. “The idea that no dream is too big. We’re just kids who wanted to make music together — and we did. Show yourself that you can do it.”