pics courtesy of Gabriel Gurrola.
(Ed’s Note: Thanks to Alli and Morgan for helping We Out Here out with weekly articles about pop culture. We’re excited about having them on the team!)
Saturday evening before the Panic! At the Disco concert we got the chance to sit down with Funeral Party’s lead singer Chad Elliot. Funeral Party has been the main support throughout the Panic! At the Disco tour and is headed across the pond next month to play. With their debut album The Golden Age of Knowhere landing them gigs on Jimmy Kimmel and the Late Show with David Letterman. Their resolute sound set the tone for the rest of the night.
How did the band meet and who came up with the name Funeral Party?
We met after high school. We were kind of friends in the beginning- before the band. And the name comes from a Cure song. I’m a really big fan of The Cure.
We heard you guys are going overseas in a couple months…
We go to Sweden, France, and the UK to play the Wireless Festival in Hyde Park and come back home for a little bit. It’s completely different. People over there are completely more receptive to music entirely.
Do you have any preshow rituals?
Every individual is different but I personally chug three red bulls.
Is there anything you HAVE to take with you on tour?
A good book and my iPod. I’ve just finished reading Mysterious Skin by Scott Heim.
What’s the biggest crowd you’ve ever played for?
Probably when we were on tour with 30 Seconds to Mars.
Do you get nervous?
No, not really. The pressure is playing show after show and your tired and your wondering if you can bring it as well as you did the other day but I don’t think we get nervous.
If you perform for a huge crowd compared to a smaller one, is the feeling different?
No but personally I like to play for smaller crowds because the energy has nowhere to go and your playing for such an intimate crowd and you want to do a better show for them. When your playing for too many people- it’s like, how far can your message be spread across.
When you first walk out on stage and see the crowd what’s the first thing that goes through your mind?
I like to think of a good documentary of a band I’ve seen. That first moment when they step out on stage, kind of replays in my head when I go out there.
What is the most embarrassing song on your iPod?
There’s this really girly band from the 90’s called The Sundays who I have. It’s like that kind of music you would hear playing at Target while you shop.
If you could tour with any band or artist, who would that be?
Prince. I’m a very big fan of his. The production would be amazing. Playing with Prince- that on your resume- I mean c’mon.
What’s the most unique thing about your band?
That we all secretly hate each other.
What’s the best way for fans to stay in contact with you guys?
There’s Facebook and Twitter but the best way to keep in contact with me personally is this Instagram app. I take pictures all the time and post in it like every five minutes.