Emotionalpunk.com
If you have already read Andrew's review of the ActionReaction/Chiodos/Boys Night Out/Armor for Sleep show, then you have been filled in on how illuminating and energetic the show was; if you have not read it, read it now and find out when the show is coming to a venue near you!
To make a long story short, the show blew me away with its raw power and when Armor for Sleep played their encore and left the stage and the crowd began to disperse, I was satisfied. I knew that this was not the end of the night because when all the music was over, the interview with Chiodos began. Prior to talking with them, I was able to have a conversation with PJ from Armor for Sleep who spoke highly of EP.com; when he was on the road with the band, his mother telephoned him to read him an article from this very website and he explained how touching that was, so thanks for those kind words PJ!
I made my way backstage to meet up with the members of Chiodos or, members of Chiodos; seems that a few of them were asleep but I was able to sit down and talk with Bradley Bell, Derrick Frost, and Pat McManaman about the birth of Chiodos, the future of Chiodos, and more; even Matt Krupanski of Boys Night Out joined in as well.
EP: So how exactly was Chiodos born?
Bradley: Well it originally started out as an acoustic project and then me and Pat were actually in a different band and the band broke up and then we just started up a full band, and we kind of just went through some member changes and thats pretty much the gist of it.
EP: Now I know your name was originally The Chiodos Brothers, so did you guys get that name from the 80's horror movie special effects team that did Killer Klowns from Outer Space and Critters?
Bradley: Yeah, yeah and they actually did the puppet work on the new Team America movie. So they've done a lot of production work like that. We were just big fans back then of like Killer Klowns and Critters and we needed a last minute name for this battle of the bands competition back when we were acoustic and we just thought of the quickest thing we could so, thats where it came from.
EP: What is like seeing that you used to place shows to a crowd of 20 people and now you play to your own huge fan base; I mean, it seemed like Boys Night Out had a huge fan base but you guys just had an amazing reaction from the crowd, so whats that like?
Bradley: We've never even played in Kansas before and to have this fan support is amazing and as we play shows and each time we go through a new city, it is unbelievable because we aren't just playing to our local town anymore.
Derrick: It's kind of a trip because you don't ever expect it because you just play for the music and are having fun then its amazing when you're playing live in front of people and you feel like you are giving back so much more. I don't know, it kind of makes you and ruins your life at the same time because its like, you want to do everything you can for people and sometimes you can't do enough and there is nothing you can do about it; because we aren't headlining this tour and kids will come up to us and be like "Hey hows it going, do you think you could hook us up in the show?" and you are just like "Dude, I really wish I could but there is nothing I can do at all."
Bradley: Did you have somebody do that tonight?
Derrick: No but you know what I'm saying. It's just like you always feel bad when you can't help someone out you know? It's like karma, I mean what goes around comes around and when you can't help someone out, it just sucks. Like I could imagine myself being that person looking to get helped out by a band.
Pat: It's denial.
Derrick: Ya and we have a lot of friends back home in Michigan and the show there is sold out and its like, what are we going to tell all of our friends back home you know?
EP: Do you guys feel more pressure as your fan base grows?
Derrick: No, not really I mean it's not even pressure you know, its more excitement. Because the more people that are into you, the more stoked you play. I'll be playing and kids will be singing along and shit and its like how the fuck am I here? I'm just a dude and I was totally like all of these other people in the crowd singing along; to have kids appreciate your music like that is a great feeling and there are no words to describe it. I know people always say that but I mean, there really are no words to describe it because we are from a really small town and where I live now is with Pat, in his basement. The town is like a couple thousand people at that. Its pretty intense cause I'm not from Michigan so, I'm not down with that small town shit. (laughs)
EP: Your sound is a like a hybrid of different sounds, so how would you describe it?
Bradley: Um, thats a hard question.
Derrick: I guess its just a bunch of different influences from different people.
Bradley: Barfcore.
Derrick: Boycore, whorecore...
Bradley: We try to cover a lot of different types in a really weird way.
Pat: Barfcore?
Bradley: Yeah man. Like throwing up or something.
Pat: Ah dude, I see that now. (laughs) That's good.
Bradley: Yeah, its just everything coming out at once
Pat: (Laughs) Barfcore! That's awesome.
Bradley: I've always been a fan of bands that pioneer new sounds and if we could do something to that extent, then that would be my life goal complete.
EP: Yeah, you guys don't fit the traditional mold of this type of music.
Bradley: Yeah and its hard to get on tours with other bands because we don't sound like a lot of them, except for Boys Night Out because we love them.
EP: If your music could be the soundtrack to any film, what would it be and why?
Bradley: Um, Titanic. (laughs) Because Leonardo diCaprio is the best actor ever.
Pat: No I think he did a good job in that movie.
Bradley: Yeah he did, he's a good actor.
Matt: Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey.
Bradley: Yeah thats a good one. I don't know, I'd probably have to combine some movies. From Bill and Ted to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II and um...
Matt: 3 Ninjas.
Bradley: (laughs) I was going to say that. Um, Black Roses, have you ever seen that movie?
EP: Can't say I have.
Bradley: It's about this 80's hair band and they put off this image of a nice band and parents don't like their shows and music because they feel it is corrupting their kids. So when the parents leave the shows, the band turns into these mutants and come out of the speakers and like (laughs) eat all the children. It's crazy. Yeah, I think we definitely represent Black Roses.
EP: Hmm, I'll check that one out.
Bradley: I don't know, my favorite movie is American Beauty though.
EP: That is a good one. So what do you think about Craig doing a lot with The Sound of Animals Fighting, I mean he isn't here and all, but what exactly is he doing?
Derrick: (laughs) He's stabbing us in the back.
Bradley: I mean everybody has to spread their creativity in one way or another but some of us will be helping with that as well.
Matt: It's weird that they are a racist band, you know, The Sound of Animals Fighting. (laughs)
Bradley: Yeah who knew there are still racist bands around today. (laughs) Nah, they're really great guys.
EP: If there is any message to "All's Well That End's Well", what is it?
Bradley: I don't know, we have different messages in each song. I mean, a lot of it is about, cliche as it is, relationships. But there are some songs about friends leaving you and not being apart of your circle anymore and there are some songs about going back to your hometown. But overall, we try to portray a story of some sort that everyone can relate to in every way. But yeah, I don't know, you got me with that one.
EP: So is there anything we can expect on the horizon for Chiodos, like what might be coming out in the future?
Matt: You guys got that double-disc coming out. (laughs)
Bradley: There won't be another album. (laughs) No, we've started to work on some new stuff but its hard cause we are always on tour but the new stuff has us taking things a lot farther. Our harder parts are going to be even more brutal and we're just going to try and keep it, epic. Ya know what I mean?
So with Chiodos advancing their sound and discovering their ever-growing fan base, the future looks pretty bright.
After the interview, they wandered down the frozen streets of Lawrence, KS to The Replay Bar to kick back after another show with their tour and labelmates; but as they wander down the cracked streets of the next town and the town after that, they will also walk a more paved road towards a career and popularity that will take them to greater heights than they ever imagined.