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Interview with Chiodos
By: Caz* Bevan
 Chiodos - the greatest band you'll ever see live - is also down to earth. Recalling the last time I truly had the chance of hanging out with Chiodos, prior to their signing with Equal Vision, we reminisced about just
exactly where the title for their song "No Hardcore Dancing
In The Living Room" came from.
Originating from Provo, UT, bassist Matt Goddard and
guitarist Pat McManaman recall with fond humor an
after-show party in which random, drunken hardcore
dancing took place in a mutual friend's living room. If I recall
correctly, we were all dancing to The Locusts. Swinging arms
and ninja kicks flew between a handful of dedicated fans
until the record player was disjointed from the stereo
system, something was sent flying through the front window
and someone attempted to skateboard off of a living room
chair. Good times, indeed.
Chiodos is a band that's memorable in every sense of the
word. A popular band indeed, having been asked nearly
everything, I tried to get a few details on the random
issues.
Who chose the name Chiodos, and what horror film
did it come from?
Matt: It's from Killer Clowns From Outer Space.
Me and Craig picked it out. It was like a vision. An angel
came down and was like, "Watch this movie!"
Pat: Didn't he look like Beelzebub?
Matt: Yes, the devil told us to do it.
I want to hear about the controversy with Sonny
from From First To Last. Why did they try to sue for the tour?
Matt: I don't know if I'm supposed to talk about it. I don't
know. I'm not allowed to talk about that! More fun - less
controversial!
You guys tour a lot, is it something that you like to
do?
Matt: Yeah, when I was growing up I always wanted to be a
Viking and an astronaut. This is kind of like those two jobs
put together.
Pat: We don't rape and pillage as much.
Matt: Yeah, that's where the astronaut part comes in.
How do you feel about the speed of your
popularity?
Matt: It's cool. I mean, going into the band and playing, I
didn't really expect it. I'm just here to play, and anything
good that comes out of it I'm stoked about it. It's pretty
crazy. I didn't know or expect anything like this out of it.
Who are your biggest influences and how did they
change as the band evolved?
Matt: They haven't really changed at all. Stuff I was into,
that I listened to for years was like Saves The Day. Journey.
I love Journey. 311, no, I'm just kidding.
What do you miss most when you're on
tour?
Matt: My bed. Wait. Let me put this in order - my wife, my
bed the obvious. I miss regular food. There's this Thai place
I go to, this shitty bar I go to. I guess my Mom and Dad, my
sisters and my brother.
Pat: You guess?!
Matt: I miss honey bagels with cream cheese and salami, TV
and my computer. That's it.
How is it being married on tour?
Matt: [My wife's] in graduate school. It's probably better that
I'm not home to waste her time.
What's the weirdest way that people have ever
pronounced Chiodos?
Matt: Cheerios. Key-ode-os. Chodes - that one never gets
old.
How do you feel about Sonny and From First to
Last?
Matt: Oh, all the rest of the guys are awesome.
Oh wait, you can't talk about it.
Matt: That's right! Can't talk about it...
That's so funny!
Matt: Sorry.
They had a big thing with the Warped Tour this
year too.
Matt: On and off stage they are totally different people.
How are you different on stage?
Matt: A lot more homoerotic. I do a lot more pelvic thrusts
on stage then I do in the general public.
But you do it at home and in your
shower?
Matt: In the shower I'm singing, pelvic thrusting and
washing!
Pat: I just wash.
Matt: Usually I lay down, take a nap.
Do you all have formal music training or did you
teach yourselves?
Matt: I grew up in orchestra from fifth grade until I was a
Senior. Didn't Jason play the clarinet or something
[emasculate] like that?
Weren't you in High School
musicals?
Brad and Craig were. I went my Senior year and saw them.
What did they do?
Pat: Bye Bye Birdie.
Matt: He had his hair dyed black, and it was all sleeked
back.
What made you guys decide to go from orchestra
to Chiodos?
Matt: I played violin and I had a friend who played bass. He
wanted me to switch over and come to the bass section, the
dark side! I don't really play violin anymore so I went with
that. The bass guitar is the same thing as an upright bass, so
then I played bass guitar.
Ok. If you could be any cartoon character from
anything growing up, who would you be?
Pat: Droopy the Dog.
Matt: You're such a downer! I would be...that's such a good
question...I would be Fry from 'Futurama.' I can relate to
him.
Not a Ninja Turtle?
Matt: They're cool, but I don't want to be a turtle.
What about the Asian kid from Captain Planet?
Power of Heart! Do you remember the Captain Planet song?
Matt: [Sings] 'Captain Planet he's our hero'...I could write
down the whole song.
I'll expect a hardcore version!
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