U2, Clutch and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are all examples of rock bands whose founding members began playing together before adulthood. In the case of I the Mighty, vocalist/guitarist Brent Walsh and guitarist Ian Pedigo were initially an acoustic duo, bassist Chris Hinkley expanded them into an acoustic trio, and drummer Blake Dahlinger asked to join the trio after seeing them play live. Nine years since its 2007 formation, I the Mighty – a post-hardcore group with indie, alternative and experimental influences – practically lives on the road, having toured alongside Say Anything, Architects, Dance Gavin Dance, and Enter Shikari.
On Mar. 4, I the Mighty comes through New York City with the Color Before The Sun package tour, playing alongside Coheed and Cambria, Glassjaw, and Silver Snakes at the Theater at Madison Square Garden. I the Mighty’s latest release was last year’s Connector, as released by Equal Vision Records. Connector — which found its way onto a few Billboard charts — features an appearance by Say Anything’s Max Bemis. Brent kindly tackled some questions about Connector, Coheed, and what’s ahead for the quartet.
For more info on I the Mighty, click on over to www.ithemighty.com, or follow them via @ithemighty on Twitter.
Regarding your upcoming tour with Glassjaw and Coheed And Cambria, how did the opportunity to be on the tour come about? Did you know the guys in Glassjaw or Coheed beforehand?
Brent Walsh: Yes! We actually went out on the road with Coheed in the Fall of 2013. Great bunch of guys.
Your tour comes through New York with a gig at the Theater at Madison Square Garden. Have you ever been to a show at MSG before?
B: We’ve never even seen MSG. To say we’re excited is a bit of an understatement.
Being from another city, does the idea of playing a venue inside Madison Square Garden have major significance to you? Or is there a venue local to you in San Francisco that means as much or more than MSG?
B: I think there are special venues in the Bay Area that will always be kind of a landmark for us to play – Bill Graham Civic, The Warfield, Fox Theater, The Fillmore — but I mean, it’s Madison Square Garden. That venue is sort of in its own category when it comes to bucket-list U.S. venues.
Where was your first gig in New York City? Do you remember anything about that show?
B: It was at Irving Plaza with Dance Gavin Dance, A Lot Like Birds, Hail The Sun, and The Orphan, The Poet. It was the first full national tour for all of the bands except for Dance Gavin Dance, and we all became fast friends. Serendipitously, A Lot Like Birds and Hail The Sun both eventually got signed to Equal Vision Records with us, and to this day we’re all still besties! Brent and Ian began playing music together while in high school.
Were there any other musicians from your high school that pursued music as a career?
B: I can’t think of anyone from our high school that stuck with it permanently the way Ian and I did, but we did used to play gigs and jam with Rome, who now fronts Sublime. We even played a festival in the Bay Area with them a few years back and I looked over during our set to see him watching sidestage. Pretty cool moment…
In support of Connector, I the Mighty did its first headlining tour. Was that a unique experience for you? Or is touring in clubs and small theaters pretty much the same whether you’re playing support or headlining?
B: Headlining smaller clubs is definitely a different experience than being support on a massive tour like this next run with Coheed and Glassjaw. When you’re headlining, you don’t necessarily have to “win the crowd over” because they are there for you. In the smaller clubs, without the guard rail and with kids screaming right back in your face, the energy is more directly felt. Almost palpable. Whereas in a huge club, you get that insane adrenaline rush from the sheer mass of the show you’re playing, which is accompanied by the extra pressure of knowing that many of the people watching you may be discovering you for the first time. I will say that, when the moment in the set comes where you finish a song and feel like your audience is starting to really get it and vibe with you, it’s a pretty wonderful feeling as well.
One of the songs on Connector features Max Bemis. Were there any other guest appearances considered for the album?
B: Honestly, that was the only one to start with. We were talking shortly with Lyndsey Gunnulfsen of PVRIS for a spot in the song “No Faith in Fate,” but they were on the road and we couldn’t work it out. However, in another serendipitous turn of events, we ended up meeting Sierra from Versa at the video shoot for the lead-off single for the record, and I asked if she’d be interested in laying down the part. She went into a studio the next day and absolutely killed it. It was a great collab to top off the record we were so proud of.
Do you have a follow-up to Connector in the works? Or is the plan to keep touring beyond this run of dates with Glassjaw and Cohered?
B: We plan on a lot of heavy touring this year in the States, as well has hitting some international spots throughout the year. So the next record isn’t really on our minds yet, but we’re always writing bits and pieces when we’re home. Your band began as an acoustic project, and I the Mighty has recorded a handful of its songs acoustically.
Is there any possibility of an acoustic tour or full-length album in the future?
B: You know, I definitely wouldn’t write off that idea. We love playing acoustic and I think a lot of our songs translate really well.
Acoustic influences aside, who was the band that made you want to pick up an instrument for the first time?
B: Honestly, Coheed and Cambria was and remains to be, my biggest influence. I mean, the first tattoo I ever got was their “Keywork” logo on my forearm. There isn’t a band in the world I would rather be going on tour with.
When you’re not busy with I the Mighty, how do you like to spend your free time?
B: I’m always doing music in one shape or another. I have a solo project under my name and I also have a “Song Shop” I open here and there when we’re not on the road.
Is there something that you wish more people knew about I the Mighty?
B: I just want more people to KNOW about I the Mighty, but if you are into the band and ever want a little more information about the songs on whatever record we’ve released, each record has a track by track you can look up to get a more inside look at the songs. Our new album, Connector, has one coming out on Spotify later this month.
Finally, Brent, any last words for the kids?
B: We’re always hanging out after the show. Come by the merch booth and say “Hello!” Thanks for the love and support!
-by Darren Paltrowitz
