Key Percussion

There’s a lot to celebrate for Frank Iero and his newest musical endeavor, The Cellabration, made up of Rob Hughes on bass, Matt Olsen on drums, and Evan Nestor on guitar. Setting out on the second tour, the first headlining tour as Frnkiero andthe Cellabration, since the release of their first full-length album Stomachaches, the Cellabration has already claimed world-wide recognition. Despite such an aggressive tour schedule, the band has also released three music videos, including the most recent video for the song “She’s the Prettiest Girl at the Party and She Can Prove It with a Solid Right Hook.” Key Percussion caught up with Iero to talk a little about the meaning behind the video and what he hopes is next for him and the band (including winning the lottery and new tattoos). 

 

You wrote “She’s the Prettiest Girl” for Jamia. Does that mean the bears in the music video are supposed to be the two of you? 
No definitely not. The characters are anyone and everyone hiding their true selves from the world. 

 

Is it supposed to be an “us against the world thing” or you did you just think bear suits would be a cool idea? 
It's about allowing yourself to just be and feeling comfortable in that state. We try so hard to be what we think others want us to be in order to gain their love. And only when we finally let our guards down and show our true selves can we find pure love and really be happy. 
 

A lot of the songs on "Stomachaches" are distorted. Why did you choose to use this effect? 
I think for me it ties into the origin of the record. it's about taking something ugly and painful and trying to find the beauty and light in it. I like things that are kind of broken. I wanted you to have to listen close to find the beauty.
 

Frank did all the tracking (excluding drums) for "Stomachaches", but now there’s a full band. How do you think that’s going to affect the sound of the next album? 
I have no idea. I never expected or planned any of this. The songs on Stomachaches formed in my head and I put them down on record without ever hearing them live. And now touring this record, it's the first time I've gotten to hear them really live and breathe. They're changing, evolving. As far as another record goes I really have no idea what will happen. I have new songs in my head and lots of ideas... some of which I've shown the band and we've worked on some stuff. But I don't know what the future will hold. 
 

What’s next for FIATC? Another music video? A new album maybe? 

You're guess is as good as mine. In a perfect world I win the lottery, move my entire family to the big island, and I just make music in my basement and pack school lunches until the light takes me.

 

If you could go out to the streets and yell out something random, what would you yell?

I wouldn't yell anything. I think we need to stop with all this yelling. No one is listening. 

 

What makes and keeps you feeling positive? How do you recover after feeling down?
My family. They are the cure for everything. 
 

What does it feel like having (virtually) no restraints when it comes to creating your music? Does it feel nice, being free and uncapped, when writing your lyrics and strumming tones? 
Yes I suppose it does. But that's not a new thing. We are all free to create whatever we like whenever we like within our means. that is the beauty of art, it's limitless. the stretch of your imagination is the only border.
 

How do you find inspiration for your lyrics?
Life experience. I like to tell stories. I feel like my songs are a collection of stories. sometimes they're clearer than others. 
 

How did you guys all meet in the first place? Did you all instantly hit it off?
Well Evan is my brother, and Rob and I have known each other quite a long time... Ever since he joined Leathermouth. I met Matt last year through a mutual friend and we just kind of hit it off and started playing music and drinking banana king smoothies. It was very organic... the band not the smoothies.
 

Are you planning on getting anymore tattoos in the future? If so what?

Yes. Noodles.

 

xofrnk