Postcards From Slam Dunk: Frank Iero

Postcards From Slam Dunk: Frank Iero

By Glen Bushell

Mar 15, 2017 16:31

At the end of May, Slam Dunk Festival, one of the most beloved events in the UK festival calendar, will return once more.

In the run up to the festival we are presenting ‘Postcards From Slam Dunk’, a series of quick fire Q+As with some of the bands set to appear at the event.

Next up, we are joined by Frank Iero to discuss festival experiences, UK fans, and what to his last album, ‘Parachutes’.


This will be your first time playing Slam Dunk. How does it feel to be part of the line up?

I’m really excited. I’ve always heard great things about the festival and when I found out so many of our friends were also playing it made me really happy.

Obviously you have played big festivals in the past, but how are you finding it now being centre stage at these events?

Well I think it differs from festival to festival. Just like no two shows or tours are the same. When it’s run well and everyone behind he scenes is on the same page things go great and it’s a really rad time.

What can people expect from your set at Slam Dunk? Do you feel you have to tailor it differently compared to a club show?

I do tend to approach festival sets a little bit different than a club show set. I think when you’re in your natural habitat you have more of an opportunity to take the crowd on a journey with your song selection, where as at a festival setting it’s more of a battleground. You have half an hour to attack people’s fleeting attention spans and you need to make your mark. It’s all about the headshot.

Whether it’s been playing or attending, what have been some of your best festival memories?

Well, even when I’m playing a festival I’m very much also an attendee. I get the schedule early and make sure I see as many bands as possible. I love the buffet of bands, and getting to see artists that normally would never play together in a regular show setting. Two years ago we played Groezrock and Refused headlined, they completely blew my mind. But that same day I also got to see Bane, American Nightmare, Mineral, Knapsack, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Agnostic Front, and Joyce Manor.

…and any bad ones?

A few years back I played a festival in NJ and the day of the festival they found out they couldn’t use the stages they had rented because of some new safety regulation. So they ended up having to build new ones that day out of rickety plywood, with two stages basically connected. Stage times got messed up and they had my band, Leathermouth, and another band play side by side at the same time while it poured rain all over us and our equipment which we had to wrap garbage bags around in order to prevent electrocution. All of this and then later I found out the “sound guy” had forgotten to turn on the vocal mic for the first 3 songs. Rad.

How would you describe your relationship with the fans in the UK?

I think we like each other a lot, and it’s getting kind of serious. We haven’t moved in together yet but I may have left a toothbrush and a change of clothes at their house.

You released ‘Parachutes’ last year. How have you found the reaction to it?

I feel really lucky to have gotten to tour this record the past few months. To see these songs come to life in the eyes of our fans has been a real blessing. It’s something I’ve wanted and thought about ever since I wrote the songs in my basement and I’d say it’s surpassed every expectation. It’s a really great feeling.

It came relatively quickly after ‘Stomachaches’. How do you feel the two records differ, and what did you learn between them?

I learned a lot actually. While touring for ‘Stomachaches’ I learned a great deal about my vocal range and what is enjoyable for me in a live setting. I think while ‘Stomachaches’ was very much a makeshift private project, ‘Parachutes’ is very much the opposite. I wanted you to feel like you were listening in on ‘Stomachaches’ where as ‘Parachutes’ I wanted to hit you in the chest right out of the gate. The songs really dictated how they needed to sound.

Looking past Slam Dunk, what does the future hold for Frank Iero?

Wow I have no idea, and I think that’s kind of the best part. In the near future: a lot more touring and the release of a new EP. But in the grand scheme of things I’m kinda just riding the wave and seeing where it takes me.

Finally, given that there could be clashes, or even people at the festival who don’t know you, why should our readers make sure they don’t miss your set at Slam Dunk?

Sorry I’m not a used car salesman. I tend to feel like if you know then you know, and if you don’t than you’re probably gonna wish you did.


Slam Dunk Festival takes place across the May Bank Holiday weekend at the dates and venues below. Tickets are on sale now from the official Slam Dunk website.

May
27 BIRMINGHAM NEC
28 LEEDS City Centre
29 HATFIELD The Forum